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

[Triciann]

Did I miss something? When did Obama put the country second or third or whatever? Lieberman looks more like his personality by the day, a weasel.

[oogabooga]

I wish Lieberman and the other neo-con, pro-war Jews would be Americans first, Israeli second, instead of the other way around.

[mivogo]

I wish Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Rice and the other neo-con, pro-war Christians would be Americans first too. And I wish there was less bigotry on this board.

[Fight4USA8]

There are many Jewish-Americans who say American First, unlike Lieberman, so they should speak up and show that they are against what Lieberman stands for.

[Fein]

X2

Funny, how any criticism of Israel immediately causes invokes the Right Wing to invoke the 'Race Card'. 'The pot calling the kettle black!'

As usual, Right Wing propaganda assumes we're all stupid.

[Roll451]

The quote is obnoxious enough on its face without having to read any racial or religious references into it.

[RichardIII]

A couple of weeks ago, the McCain ads were saying that Obama iw willing to lose the war in order to win the election, and that McCain was willing to lose the election in order to win the war. Hense the expression that McCain puts country first. The "put country first" lingo also works against the many who say that Lieberman puts the interest of Israel ahead of America's.

My take is that John McCain is willing to lose his soul in order to win an election, and that Joe Lieberman is willing to lose America in order to protect Israel. How ironic that it is these two men, self-centered beyond measure, who are crowing about putting America's interest ahead of their own.

Also, how one person can be considered a suitable runningmate for candidates as different as Gore and McCain is beyond my comprehension. I mean, how (and why) did he do it?

[jpaultel]

Secretary of State Lieberman? No. I think he wants to be VP (if possible) with Cheney kind of influence -- The de facto President in the shadows directing things. Boy, will that shake up the US deep to its core! Why, you ask? Well, if you think the Middle East is unstable now and that the relationship between the United States and Africa barely exists and if you want the United States to develop a one-issue litmus test for every country in the world, then let Lieberman get into a real position of power. Mark my words... The de facto Presidency position a la Cheney, in the shadows (the dark side) is what Lieberman wants. The neocons will rule the world and any security company (Blackwater) will invade and demand regime change in any country. Kill their leaders and convert them to Christianity!

[Beckyjo]

The previous post is right on. Even McCain's staff is trying to control his t elephone time because he takes advice from the last person he listens to. Imagine him with Joe Lieberman as VP. Lieberman is slick and wiley...he will be able to control John McCain just like Cheney manipulates Bush, and for Lieberman this will be as good as being president himself. This is true especially as Joe Lieberman is a hawk and will want to send troops all around the world like Geo. Bush, and like John McCain.
American voters, we cannot allow this to happen! John McCain is drunk on the very thought of being president and getting his way toward other countries. At the best, he will be always in conflict with a Democratic congress and nothing will get done in any area of our lives. We can keep this from happening by electing Obama. I am terrified of McCain.

[appleknocker]

The really sad thing is that anyone is paying attention to Joe Lieberman.

[white mende man]

Praise the Lord and Pass the Tax Cuts...

[white mende man]

In the imortal words of Umberto Eco, Joe Lieberman should "Put A Cork In It"

[IntExec]

Just saying that someone is more American is stupid. Please define more American.

[queenru]

Unfortunately it seems, being "more" American, may mean being the perfect "picture" of what the world (and all Americans) have seen represented (in commercials, ads, history books, etc.). Those pictures used to be of mostly white men and women building this great country and serving in every area of American life (to the exclusion of others): the military, in boardrooms, delivering the mail and even taking vacations! Fortunately, things have and are changing and the "definition" of being American has evolved. Some are still unwilling to do just that.

[foxfan]

So Joe compares McCain to Obama as being more American and the responses are anit-semetic and racist. Hard to make an argument from that viewpoint.

[MoeB]

well, foxfan, how would you access it? What qualifies one to be "american"? For most of us sane folk, it means being born in america. Since Panama was a US territory, that means, BOTH candidates are american. So how can one be more "american" than another? Please explain to us what LIEberman meant by that comment.

[nynhlinchs]

Panama was not a U.S territory when McCain was born. He's just that old.

[foxfan]

That is a narrow point of view. (Sure you're not a closet republican?) I wasn't arguing citizenship. Both need to be Americans to run for the office of President. I was referring to Lieberman's comment about "putting country first" as if to say that McCain supported the interests of America more than Obama does. That would be open to debate, but to say Joe "means Israel", is calling Obama "Muslim" or is comparing McCain as "white" to Obama being "black" is just plain stupid.

[Czoe]

.......and McCain was born in the Panama Canal Zone which is not in the United States.........

[Jakealoper]

Yes it was at the time.

[foxfan]

I see your point. Certainly justifies use of racist and anti-semetic rhetoric towards Joe Lieberman's remarks.

[CrankyCurmudgeon]

Joe Lieberman is an Orthodox (read fundamentalist) Jew. Since when have fundamentalists of any stripe been known for reason, integrity, honesty, etc? Joe Lieberman almost makes me ashamed to be Jewish.

[ditsylilg]

There should be no "shande" (shame in Yiddish) at being Jewish. It is Joe's complete 180 degree turn against his party that should be the real shande.

[yappnmutt]

joe's reference for his remarks is buried in the recent jstreet poll that showed 48% of american jews are likely to support a presidential candidate that would support a preemptive strike on iran by israel.

[ditsylilg]

Interesting, since American Jews only make up .5% (that is half a percent) of the total American voting citizenry.

[yappnmutt]

the jewish vote is very important to new york and FLORIDA. reference it if you like. joe's just being a politician. a lot of stuff will be said and done for very good reason having nothing to do with the welfare of the usa until nov and probably for a long time afterwards.

[BottomLine2008]

I don't see what you see.

[Darwinita]

substitute "Jew" for "Islamic" and it's the same argument.
Thus, Joe Lieberman is a hypocrite.

[kanrei]

It is not a religion thing in Lieberman's quote, but rather race. Look again at the words used:

"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."

Country first is what stands out to me. This says "McCain=American while Obama=African-American." It is like this, I once saw a bumper sticker that said "Proud to be American and if you Need a Hyphen you aren't"

[foxfan]

Just curious. Where in the quote does Joe say Obama is the Muslim candidate? You certainly didn't reference it.

[FanofPaine]

It's implied. Do you think Joe would be dumb enough to say it like that? He's counting on people not being bright enough to know they are being played. Fortunately, some people are bright enough. You just read the words of one of them: Marty Kaplan.

[foxfan]

Is that like when Sen. Obama speaks of hope, he's really implying that he has no plan. Or when he speaks about "all" America, he's really implying just the black people? ey I'm god at this implied reading stuff, huh?

[Mustang Sally]

Sorry, I'm not seeing the Islamic or Jewish reference here - just the presumption that, somehow, Country is not first priority for BO. Huh??