Recognizing and calling out antisemitism in dog whistles and euphemisms
Echo opinion published in the Baltimore Sun by Howard Libit:
Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson (D-Baltimore district 49) blocked redrawing the maps because he’s bought and paid for by Jewish donors.
Yes, you’re reading that correctly. During the recently concluded legislative session, emails landed in the president’s office making that antisemitic accusation.
A decade ago, we might have dismissed these kinds of letters and emails as conspiracy foolishness to be ignored, tossed right onto the crazy pile. But today, after years of surging antisemitism in all parts of American society, we don’t have the luxury of disregarding any hatred against Jews. All accusations must receive pushback.
Whether it comes from the dog-whistle social media posts of elected officials and those who want to play a role in local and national politics, or podcasts filled with references to writings and ideas of antisemites, hatred against Jews is making its way into too many areas of our political discourse.
And the drive to say our elected officials are controlled by Jewish donors continues to infect our political debates.
Frequently, this antisemitic talk is masked by linking Jewish donor donations to organizations that support Israel or other Jewish causes, such as the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) and the Democratic Majority for Israel.
Where did the specific antisemitism conspiracy about Ferguson originate from❓ It’s hard to say for sure, but a good place to start looking for answers is the Reddit posts from his primary election opponent. These posts talk about campaign contributions from a donor who also happens to be an AIPAC board member. He continues to target the evil AIPAC donations in literature he is distributing within the legislative district.
Across our political landscape in Maryland and across our country, we are seeing growing references to the supposedly evil intentions related to campaign donations coming from members of the Jewish community.
If an elected official or a candidate for office makes a commitment or takes an action that we don’t like, it must be because they’re controlled by Jewish money. We’re seeing that implication being raised in congressional primaries here in Maryland — much like we did two years ago — and we’re sure to see more of it as Election Day approaches. One primary congressional challenger here in Baltimore seems to be centering much of his campaign around calling out the incumbent for having been backed by donors who support a strong U.S.-Israel relationship.
It’s antisemitism, pure and simple.
When leaders in the Catholic community (or pick your faith of choice) make campaign contributions to a particular candidate, no one accuses that candidate of being controlled by that faith group. We only see that smear being made when Jewish campaign donors are involved.
The Jewish community is being held to a different standard than others, and this creates an atmosphere ripe for the antisemitism pervasive in today’s society. And it isn’t much of a stretch to see words get translated into action.
Consider the vandalism this year of Shaare Tefila Congregation in Olney. Or the murders last May of two staff members of the Israeli embassy outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C. Or the arson attack on a peaceful march for the hostages being held in Gaza in Boulder, Colorado, over the summer that left a Holocaust survivor fatally burned. And, most recently, the attack on a synagogue and its preschool in Michigan.
Of course, our leaders who create this atmosphere through their not-so-subtle social media posts and coded language insist they’re not responsible for the threats, vandalism and violence against Jews. They say they’re just exercising their free speech and that they can’t be held responsible for what their statements and actions ultimately encourage their supporters to do.
This isn’t partisan. It’s coming from the left and the right. This must stop💥❗ The dog whistles. The wink-and-nod statements about Jewish money. We must tell our elected officials and those who want to get elected that there’s no place in our public discourse for antisemitism and hate against Jews.
And getting back to the Jewish donors who supposedly manipulated Ferguson’s efforts to block mid-cycle congressional districting. As best as I can tell, many of those Jewish donors gave campaign contributions to Gov. Wes Moore and lots of other Democrats — including many who were champions of the effort to redraw Maryland’s congressional districts. Hmm. Somehow, the Jewish donors don’t control them, only Ferguson.
It’s essential for all of us to disinfect antisemitism from our politics — locally, in Maryland, and nationally.
Howard Libit (hlibit@baltjc.org) is the executive director of the Baltimore Jewish Council.
Where did the specific antisemitism conspiracy about Ferguson originate from❓ It’s hard to say for sure, but a good place to start looking for answers is the Reddit posts from his primary election opponent. These posts talk about campaign contributions from a donor who also happens to be an AIPAC board member. He continues to target the evil AIPAC donations in literature he is distributing within the legislative district.
Across our political landscape in Maryland and across our country, we are seeing growing references to the supposedly evil intentions related to campaign donations coming from members of the Jewish community.
If an elected official or a candidate for office makes a commitment or takes an action that we don’t like, it must be because they’re controlled by Jewish money. We’re seeing that implication being raised in congressional primaries here in Maryland — much like we did two years ago — and we’re sure to see more of it as Election Day approaches. One primary congressional challenger here in Baltimore seems to be centering much of his campaign around calling out the incumbent for having been backed by donors who support a strong U.S.-Israel relationship.
It’s antisemitism, pure and simple.
When leaders in the Catholic community (or pick your faith of choice) make campaign contributions to a particular candidate, no one accuses that candidate of being controlled by that faith group. We only see that smear being made when Jewish campaign donors are involved.
The Jewish community is being held to a different standard than others, and this creates an atmosphere ripe for the antisemitism pervasive in today’s society. And it isn’t much of a stretch to see words get translated into action.
Consider the vandalism this year of Shaare Tefila Congregation in Olney. Or the murders last May of two staff members of the Israeli embassy outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C. Or the arson attack on a peaceful march for the hostages being held in Gaza in Boulder, Colorado, over the summer that left a Holocaust survivor fatally burned. And, most recently, the attack on a synagogue and its preschool in Michigan.
Of course, our leaders who create this atmosphere through their not-so-subtle social media posts and coded language insist they’re not responsible for the threats, vandalism and violence against Jews. They say they’re just exercising their free speech and that they can’t be held responsible for what their statements and actions ultimately encourage their supporters to do.
This isn’t partisan. It’s coming from the left and the right. This must stop💥❗ The dog whistles. The wink-and-nod statements about Jewish money. We must tell our elected officials and those who want to get elected that there’s no place in our public discourse for antisemitism and hate against Jews.
And getting back to the Jewish donors who supposedly manipulated Ferguson’s efforts to block mid-cycle congressional districting. As best as I can tell, many of those Jewish donors gave campaign contributions to Gov. Wes Moore and lots of other Democrats — including many who were champions of the effort to redraw Maryland’s congressional districts. Hmm. Somehow, the Jewish donors don’t control them, only Ferguson.
It’s essential for all of us to disinfect antisemitism from our politics — locally, in Maryland, and nationally.
Howard Libit (hlibit@baltjc.org) is the executive director of the Baltimore Jewish Council.
Labels: Baltimore Sun, Maryland, Shaare Tefila Congregation Michigan
posted by Juliana L'Heureux | 5:25 AM
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