Say It Ain't Jew, Joe

Ever since their diaspora, Jews have been accused of putting something else -- themselves, the dispersed Israelite people, then Israel itself -- ahead of their own country. Jewish citizens of Russia, Germany and America, to pick just a few, have been slandered (and sometimes killed) for allegedly putting their allegiances to the Hebrew nation ahead of their patriotism toward the motherland, the fatherland or the homeland. This is vintage Protocols of the Elders of Zion.

And yet what do we hear today from Orthodox Jew Joe Lieberman?

"In my opinion, the choice could not be more clear: between one candidate, John McCain, who's had experience, been tested in war and tried in peace, another candidate who has not. Between one candidate, John McCain, who has always put the country first, worked across party lines to get things done, and one candidate who has not."

And just in case the media failed to notice, the McCain campaign -- whose slogans include "Country First" -- has now sent Lieberman's remarks to the entire political press corps.

What is to be made of this? Does Joe Lieberman not realize that he is using one of the oldest anti-semitic tricks in the book to accuse Obama of being the Islamic candidate?

Follow Marty Kaplan on Twitter: www.twitter.com/martykaplan

Comments

[veracity]

"Ever since their diaspora, Jews have been accused of putting something else -- themselves, the dispersed Israelite people, then Israel itself -- ahead of their own country. Jewish citizens of Russia, Germany and America, to pick just a few, have been slandered (and sometimes killed) for allegedly putting their allegiances to the Hebrew nation ahead of their patriotism toward the motherland, the fatherland or the homeland. This is vintage Protocols of the Elders of Zion.

And yet what do we hear today from Orthodox Jew Joe Lieberman?"

Thanks for that, Marty. For the alignment of the Neo-Conservative, often (usually, mostly) Jewish "Israel first" intellectuals and money-men (Abramoff, Wolfowtiz, Greenspan, Kristol, Kagan, Kruathammer, Kurtz, Feith, Safire, Sulzberger, etc.) with the reactionary Southern neo-Confederate right-wing (of whom Cheney, Bush, DeLay, Lott, Frist, carpet-bagger psuedo-intellectual New Gingrich, & Thurmond and Helms are/were the perfect expressions) see Michael Lind's book, "Made in Texas: George W. Bush and the SOUTHERN TAKEOVER of American Politics."
http://www.amazon.com/Made-Texas-Southern-Takeover-American/dp/0465041221
(googleBooks has selected chapters on-line)

[billw8017]

Mr Kaplan is stretching a bit when -- provided he is giving us all of the salient remarks -- he says that calling Senator unpatriotic amounts to calling him a Moslem.

Firstly, McCain has said he would rather lose an election than America should lose a war and this is a distinction between him and the Democrats. This amounts to calling Democrats unpatriotic even while McCain is merely posing, and has no particular concern for the Iraq war. His arguments are too routine to be serious, merely a matter of saying it is more important to look tough than to do the right thing by America, but an argument to appeals to some foolish people who over rate looking tough as opposed to being tough and tough minded.

Secondly, Islam, though not Christian, is not inherently evil of itself. Islam is very nearly Christian as it honors Christ as a major prophet. Its diverse sects mirror divisions among Christians and it shares many Christian biases.

[Cherlesq]

And you believe McCain?!
There is the problem right there

[Nato Green - Huffpost Blogger]

As my late bubbie would say, Lieberman is Bad For the Jews. The country and the world too, but he's ours unfortunately. Rise up Connecticut!

[stepintothelight]

For??? Or against???

[delightman88]

Sounds like the usual political jingoism to me. If Joe Lieberman were still a Democrat, his tune would be the same but the words would be different.

[grannysharp]

When Gore ran for president some relatives who were democrats in Kansas City wouldn't vote for him because of having a Jewish VP on the ticket, which surprised me as I never consider religion when I vote. When there was the flurry of activity involving Israel I commented to my daughter who is married to a Baptist preacher I thought it was so unfair for the US to give them guns, tanks and planes when those that were fighting them were using stones and I was promptly informed I was wrong that we had to help Israel because it was Gods chosen, but then I have to admit she also informed me i was unpatrotic ,when my grandson was leaving for Iraq for the 3rd time that I didn't think this war had been worth the life of even one of our boys. The Bible Belt is a strange place to live when it comes to politics and think I should have stayed in Arizona. As always Mr.Kaplan a good article, thank you

[Manchurian]

And there's the crux of the problem, Gran. Religion (or whatever belief system an individual embraces) should be intensely personal and has no place in politics or government. Unfortunately, the uninformed speculations of ancient peoples looking for answers still taints the thinking and actions of government officials and the people who vote them into office.

[chosenson]

COUNTRY FIRST? If we were a country of LOBBYISTS!

[JanP]

Where has Lieberman ever called Obama a Muslim candidate?

[goodspeed]

The answer JanP is never !

However, Lieberman in the article below found in The New York Observer, doesn't really shut the door either on the matter either.


The Politicker

Lieberman on Confronting the Muslim-Obama Rumor
by Azi Paybarah | February 1, 2008 |


“...I was campaigning in Florida for Senator McCain. I spoke to a large group and a man stood up and asked me about it, or he referenced it. And I said, of course, that I know Senator Obama pretty well. Obviously one’s religion is a matter of choice. Everything I knew said he was Christian. So, I don’t know how widespread it is but that’s the one time I confronted it. And of course the most important thing is that Senator Obama said it’s just not true.”

Lieberman added, “I don’t have to say it again but I will. We’re not in a war against Muslims, we’re in a war against extremists. A lot of them happen to be Muslim.”


And in this New York Times article was this interesting comment about Jewish beliefs, particularly the last sentence.

By JODI KANTOR
Published: May 22, 2008

"Many here suspect Mr. Obama of being too cozy with Palestinians, while others accuse him of having Muslim ties, even though they know that his father was born Muslim and became an atheist, and that Mr. Obama embraced Christianity as a young man. In Judaism, religion is a fixed identity across generations. "

Personnally, I don't care.

[wbramh]

Only the Republicans could paint Obama as a gee maybe Muslim while criticizing him over the choice of Christian churches he attended.
And 12% of Americans are stupid enough to believe it.

[realistic2008]

Yeah, Lieberman is the ephitome of patriostism, puts his country first, what he has never said is which country and we know which one he pledges allegiance first.

[wbramh]

Lieberman is pledged to Lieberman.
If it advanced Joe Lieberman, he'd screw Israel as quickly as he's screwed the United States.

[CarmanK]

You know that's the impression I have of Joe Lieberman. He is all about Joe. The Democrats in CT were right when they did not vote for him in the Democratic Primary. The people of CT should have listened. Who knew his true stripes better than the CT Dems who are active in the local politics.

[11907281]

I think supporting R's for nothing more that war in Iraq and the hard line position on Iran shows that his main concern is the supposed protection of Israel, even though both only increase the pressure in the ME pressure cooker.

[PoliSci2008]

Back in 1999, when Gore picked Liberman as his VP, I knew then that Gore wouldn't win b/c of Liberman position to put his religion before his duties as an elected official. Since then, Liberman has taken his position even further by putting Isreali's agendas before American's interests. For Liberman to advocate US presence in the turbulent Middle East, a region beset with volience since the beginning of time, imo will back fire on Liberman and Isreali govt when the US citzens will turn their whole focus on US economy & prosperity.

[MsLiz]

Did you intentionally misspell Lieberman's name are are you just being unfunny?

[SunlightAndShadows]

MsLiz, if you read the rest of his post, you'll see it's riddled with spelling and grammatical errors. Why pick only Lieberman's name?

But reading through the spelling errors, I think I see what this person is trying to say
and, whilst I agree that it's going to backfire of Lieberman(it HAS already! The Democratic Party voters saw through him, as a Republican in Democratic clothing)I disagree with the second part, because of the US political/religious situation the way it is currently, that being intertwined.
Enough people are still blind to the fact that the US religious right and Israel are playing a dangerous game here. This has been touched on by some, including Matt Taibbi.

The US religious right sees Israel as allies only insofar as they "have to convert at the end or they'll have the mother of all holocausts", and US politics sees them as an ally in the area, and a foothold in the Middle East(where the oil is/was).

Israel itself, on the other hand, is happy to take whatever help it can get, because they're surrounded by nations hostile to them, so they'll take support from a nation as powerful as the US in a heartbeat, because it makes sense to have someone powerful on your side. It's a case of both countries trying to play each other.

I think that, while it's possible that people are beginning to see the light, I'm not going to be convinced until I see something concrete.

[Fatman40]

As the polls widen in favor of Sen. Obama, these sutle statements will become outright slander. What is the Neocon's only answer... You guessed it:

1. You are anti American
2. Flag pins
3. Rev Wright
4. Communist
5. But, But, But, But, he's Black

[ruthross]

I am thoroughly disgusted by both Joe Lieberman and Michael Mukasy. Both profess to be Orthodox Jews, but they sure have forgotten that 2 tenets of Judaism is 1) curing the ills of the world (Tikkun Olam) and 2) pursuing Justice. If they go to synagogue services every day/Sabbath, they would hear those words and ideals reiterated over and over. But even worse than betraying their faith, these two jokers are terrible human beings, with no compassion, and ass-kissers of the worst sort, one willing to slander another over patriotism (when he knows it's an outright lie) and the other to refuse to prosecute government officials who commit crimes. Shame on Hillary Clinton and Barak Obama for supporting Lieberman and shame on Chuck Schumer for supporting Mukasy.

[Trogenhorse]

I think both Muskasy and Lieberman have a lot to answer for. To us it is why they have taken the political and judical stances they promote. But later they must confess their hearts. It is not for us to condem them on religion or person.
I am not happy with either of them but must remember how short I fall. I hope this country will grow from this experience and learn to chose the man/woman based on political issues only.

[Artos]

This accusation that Marty refers to in his first paragraph is specious. First of all the accusation can be made toward any individual or group of individuals whether it be religious, ethnic or racial, when they are invited guests in a nation not of their origin. No country has to tolerate naturalized citizens whose loyalty is questionable. When you become a citizen in America you are asked to give up your loyalties to your former birth nation. You are made to take an oath of loyalty and you are not even allowed or encouraged to have dual citizenship. If you came here to enjoy Americas rights and freedoms why would you need to have divided loyalties anyway. Whether Jew or German, Italian, Irish, English or Iraqi. When you come here and swear allegiance and become a citizen you are bound to this country. If you don't want to observe those strictures then stay where you came from or go back.

[randyjet]

LIeberman has always been a Republican. My mother was active in the Democratic Party in CT, and she NEVER ONCE voted for him. He was supported by William Buckley in all of his campaigns too.

[research]

It seems there are a lot of republicans in democrats clothing.

[Javani]

"Does Joe Lieberman not realize that he is using one of the oldest anti-semitic tricks in the book to accuse Obama of being the Islamic candidate?"

Uh, no. Obviously it is a standard charge of anti-Americanism against a person of left persuasion.

If it is a "trick" it is Cold War related, not religion. The cliche that the right uses against the left for siding with the Soviets, or apologizing for Communist states, privileging "Europe" with correctness.

As Obama's seeding his narrative about being a world leader, McCain is seeding the counter-narrative.

[TheKiddy]

I agree. Good post.

[dbm1966]

And by doing this, McCain (through Lieberman) is trying to scare voters into thinking that Obama is not "American" enough to lead this country, building upon the fake rumors that he is Muslim. It does relate to religion. As a Jew, Lieberman should know that this is a low blow. He's completely sold out, not just his former party, but his morals as well.

[razajac]

Right, Javani. It was my intent to plunk down a comment to this effect, but you've done it already. And you nailed it.

Thanks.

It may be there's additional verbiage in other Lieberman public excrescences to support Marty's thesis; the quote given here isn't sufficient.

I'll give Marty this, though: He may be sensitive to a social reality where, in fact, Lieberman is cleverly tapping a plethora of ill-founded fears in the electorate, one of which could plausibly be the occasionally reported concern that Obama "isn't American enough" because his father wasn't, say, a sex-neurotic Catholic alcoholic, or because he was born and raised on an ostensibly American island a little too remote from Kansas for comfort.

So Kaplan gets a point for tapping one fear out there, but loses a point for not highlighting the real issue with Lieberman; that he's willing to play the Republicans' tactics with excruciating attention to detail, and yet dally with trying to pass himself off as a "Democrat."

And, of course, Lieberman's willing to do this in the interest of remaining in lock-step with Republicans on their one big gambit; keeping Americans engorging the military-industrial complex beast until it explodes and takes us all with it.

A cause so great, they'll do whatever it takes; even exploiting language, and killing common decency.

[AnnieinOR]

his esteemed dishonorable senator of Israel.