The Longest Hatred: Anti-Semitism

The WH should marginalize Helen Thomas for her awful anti-Semitic remarks (see below).  Her apology is not adequate and does not make up for her remarks.  Whatever one thinks of Israeli policy towards the Palestinians, it does not justify hateful anti-Semitism.  While bigots have the right to free speech like everyone else, failure to marginalize such views will only encourage the anti-Semities to disrupt a more rational discussion on Israeli policy, and US relations towards Israel.






Anti-semitism is the one of the oldest prejudices around, and as the Optimistic Conservative points out, based on the victim narrative.  This narrative basically states all our problems are the Jews' fault, whether they are a minority or the state of Israel. Another popular variant that is often invoked domestically involves the conspiratorial claim that powerful Jewish lobbyists are controlling our foreign policy (for an excellent refutation of the Israel Lobby myth, see former Secretary of State George P. Shultz).  Some of the rhetoric coming out of the MidEast is no different than Nazi Germany's propaganda against the Jews during WWII.  Worldwide, anti-Semitism has grown into a worrisome trend, and morally bankrupt politicians excuse this rhetoric and worse, violence against Jews since, they claim, look at Israel's policy towards the Palestinians. This is akin to the logic that well, she had a mini-skirt on so she can't blame her attacker from raping her. We see this same logic from those on the far Left who believe that America had it coming on 9-11 due to our foreign policy.  To question the victim's judgement is one thing, but to shrug your shoulders and imply she deserved the attack shifts blame to the victim and exculpates the attacker from his crime.  This is what anti-Semitism does; it encourages the metaphorical raping of Israel and Jews in general.

Recent anti-Semities have learned to hide their bigotry through one-sided criticism of Israeli policies while nary a word on Palestinian terrorism or genocidal rhetoric against Jews.  That does not mean criticism of Israeli policies itself is anti-Semitic, but those who want an honest critique of Israeli policies to be part of our political discourse should agree that anti-Semities should not be invited to that discussion since there's no way for rationality to prevail when its permeated with bigotry.  It's difficult to tell at first who the anti-Semities are, but they always reveal themselves in time.  Helen Thomas can continue to squawk and write about other issues, but regarding Israel, the WH Press Secretary should refuse to take any questions from her.  For when she discusses Israel, we know where her views come from, just as we tune out Pat Buchnanan when he discusses Jews (or come to think of it, any minorities).  As the Corner over at NRO pointed out, this incident brings to mind Andrew Klavan's newest video when he asks "You know what's great about anti-Semitism? It lets you know exactly who the dirtbags are."


The WH should not give any journalist, no matter how distinguished, a platform to spew bigotry.  For if the WH doesn't push back on this type of rhetoric, expect the anti-Semities to be emboldened. Their cacophony will doom any honest or rational discussion of US-Israeli relations.

Update: Helen Thomas just announced her retirement. One of the better recent decisions she has made; it's in the best interest for everyone to include Thomas. Any shred of credibility she had as a journalist is gone.