Cantor Called Upon To Repudiate Rush By Jewish Dem Group

In the wake of comments from Rush Limbaugh equating Barack Obama to Hitler, a leading Jewish Democratic organization is calling on the House of Representatives' lone Jewish Republican to repudiate the talk show host.

On Friday, National Jewish Democratic Council David Harris called on House Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-Va.) to denounce Limbaugh's remarks. Pointing out that the Virginia Republican had said more "Limbaughs" were needed in the GOP just last week, Harris called on "Cantor and the Republican Party to condemn Limbaugh and these utterly contemptible tactics."

"Mr. Cantor, after Rush's website antics today and comments yesterday, do you really still think you 'need' Limbaugh?" his statement read.

The question wasn't immediately answered, with Cantor currently traveling in Israel. But Harris' statement got to a larger point: to what extent should the GOP -- and, in particular, its Jewish members -- be held accountable for the recent bout of Obama-Nazi comparisons?

Not all Jewish organizations agree on the issue. Marc Stern, the acting executive director of the American Jewish Congress, said that it wasn't fair to tag the congressman with Limbaugh's remarks "because a week ago he said something nice about Rush Limbaugh."

That said, Stern added, "I think everybody in the political system ought to eschew these remarks. I think this sorts of fire-bomb labeling is McCarthyism at its worst, whether from the left or the right... It is destructive of our politics. We don't need talk show hosts of either stripe, making informed and intelligent debate impossible."

Indeed, while GOP lawmakers have gone somewhat unscathed, conservative groups and figures have been unusually willing to slap Rush Limbaugh down for this latest rhetorical splurge. Salon's Glenn Greenwald asked commentators who condemned a 2004 anonymous MoveOn.org ad comparing Bush to Hitler if they would offer similar denunciations now. Some did.

"It is wrong, outrageous and damaging for Rush Limbaugh to compare Obama to Hitler," said the National Review's Cliff May. "Such hyperbole only serves to confuse and trivialize issues much more grave than tax rates and health-care plans."

Reached by phone, Abe Foxman, national director of the Anti Defamation League and another individual critical of MoveOn.org, also criticized Limbaugh.

"Regardless of the political difference, regardless of the substantive differences, the use of Nazi symbolism, Nazi comparison, is outrageous and inappropriate and its not where the debate should be," he said. "Disagree on the merits and the issues without collaring it with this imagery."

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Comments

[4MARLA]

WHY IS CANTOR IN ISRAEL WHEN HE IS A USA CITIZEN, WHEN WE HAVE SO MANY PROBLEMS HERE. STENY HOYER IS ABOUT TO BRING ANOTHER GANG TO ISRAEL NEXT WEEK. THESE TWO ARE FIXTURES AT THE AIPAC (AMERICAN ISRAELI POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE) MANIPULATING MEETINGS THAT DO NOTHING TO PROMOTE PEACE IN THE MID EAST. CANTOR CONDEMNS THE PRESIDENT BECAUSE HE IS TRYING TO BRING PEACE TO THE AREA. CANTOR DOESN'T WANT THAT NOR DOES HOYER. DEMAND AN EXPLAINATION FROM THEM...IT IS TIME TO DEBATE THE SUPPORT AND HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS OF AMERICAN TAX DOLLARS THAT GO TO ISRAEL IN ORDER FOR THEM TO BOMB EACH OF ITS NEIGHBORS.­..IRAQ...S­YRIA...PAL­ESTINE...L­EBANON....­ALL ON OUR DIME. THEY NOW WANT US TO GO AFTER IRAN....WHEN WILL IT END!!!!!!!­!!!!!!!!!!­!!!!!!!!!!­!

[justoverit333]

Cantor is a wimp.

[tailgateshirts]

cantor is to busy undermining the Obama Administrations efforts in Israel (foreign policy meddling, from a minority party ?? how thats legal, beyond me) to bother with American efforts to undermine Obama, regardless of the comments.

Patriotism at its best

[ladydragon]

I applaud your efforts Mr. Harris, this rehtoric is disgraceful and unpatriotic; but Rush speaks to the base of the Right; the ones who are scared of Neeegros and the fear and resentment of a Black President, they are still fighting the Civil war. If Eric Cantor knows what's good for him; he'll keep his mouth shut! or Rush will go after him then Mr. Cantor will have to worry about the vigilantis that show up at the Townhall mtngs.

[Bude]

Regurgitate him?

[dax49]

cantor is much too cowardly to cross the oxycotin kid

[Paisano]

He cares more about El Rusho than his heritage..­.C'mon...h­e's a repooplican!

[jennylynn]

Freedom of speech is for everyone, even Rush.

[emrogers]

how profound

[johnie2xs]

Last week Cantor, in the position of spokesman of the delegation of 25 Rethuglicans visiting Israel, actually had the temerity to speak in terms contrary to our positions on Israel, diplomatically.
He said something to the affect that the administration is spending too much time concerning themseves with the problem of "Illegal" settlements.

Two questions from this. 1) How the hell does he get away with countermanding stated US policy, with no repercussions, and 2) How come I have heard nothing, nothing at all from anyone in the media. God forbid any Democrat should have done anything similar during the Bush Dynasty.

Somebody got and answer?

[littlechuckie]

anybody?

Post has been pretty quite - maybe it's being scrubbed by RNC....

[emrogers]

As a wise Jewish male, Cantor should more often than not make better decisions than the racists in his party.

[tailgateshirts]

thats assuming he is infact, wise

[emrogers]

I'm hoping...

[1murillo]

Cantor won't repudiate Limbaugh, it would be political suicide. Cantor's support is part of the Limbaugh crowd, he would lose his seat.
Principals don't matter to him.

[CarbonCreditSeller]

Both parties have referred to the other as Nazis or individuals as Hitler.

[Dustee]

Proof please.

Only heard Repubs talk that way.

[johnie2xs]

The worst thing about this statement is that you really believe it.

Then further, by you repeating the lie, someone will believe you.

And it goes on,and on, and on,......

[littlechuckie]

No proof yet..... Guess you can just say cr@p.

[realpolitic]

Rush, Fox News, and the rest of the haters on the far right in the long run drive the moderate Republican suburban vote from the party and therefore help the Democrats.

[write2bheard]

Obama has criticized the holy trinity of politics: Israel, the police, and unregulated capitalism. Therefore the war is on, we can expect all kinds of low blows and propagandistic tactics in retaliation. In the land of the far right, anyone who does not grovel at the feet of the trinity and declare their every action holy is the enemy and fair game (and I do mean that literally). The right will seek to discredit Obama and defeat him by any means necessary. The GOP is the national party of lies and torture -- if they will lie to start a war to benefit them and their interests, what do you think they will do against one man who dares to stand against their interests?

[maryjflyfree]

hear hear !

[TexasDem0]

If Eric offends Rush, who will tell him what to think and say?