[Sherman Logan]

Answer: Never, as proven by Exhibit B–the administration’s silence in the face of an anti-Semitic slur against some even closer allies that same week. I’m referring, of course, to New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman’s outrageous assertion that lawmakers are siding with Israel against Obama on Iran not “from any careful consideration of the facts,” but “from a growing tendency by many American lawmakers to do whatever the Israel lobby asks them to do in order to garner Jewish votes and campaign donations.”

Here's my problem.

The claim is that even a discussion of the extent of Jewish influence on American policy supposedly constitutes anti-Semitism. This influence is, or should be, a question of fact.

To my mind this taboo against discussing actual Jewish influence in politics was merely an early example of political correctness, going back long before it became verboten to even bring up other political issues.

A very major factor in "Jewish political influence" not mentioned here is the very strong support for Israel among many Christian conservatives. Certainly this accounts for a LOT more votes than those of the Jews, though possibly not a lot more in campaign funding. Possibly this doesn't get mentioned because it makes most liberals and Jews very uncomfortable.

To my mind, Jewish influence in politics and society should be as open for discussion as for any other group. But I guess that POV makes me anti-semitic.

[rmlew]

By all means discuss it. But you are being rational. Support for Israel in America comes from Christians. Blumenthal promotes a fantasy where there is no criticism of Israeli actions allowed.

[Jewbacca]

“To my mind, Jewish influence in politics and society should be as open for discussion as for any other group. But I guess that POV makes me anti-semitic.”

No, it’s not anti-Semitic.

But because so much of such “discussion” has historically been anti-Semitic and, at least on the left, is really anti-Semitism dressed up in new clothes, it’s a delicate discussion to be had.

[lentulusgracchus]

Political discussion should always be all-in, with no subject ruled out.

People asserting Jewish influence in American politics need only quote PM Menachem Begin's first visit with newly-elected President Ronald Reagan in 1981 and Begin's offer to "help out" with some votes in Congress, which was an insult to the integrity of the U.S. Government (and yes, we still believed in it back then). Which is not to say that Israel was any sort of national adversary then or now.

All that said, one doesn't have to stretch at all to see how virulently anti-Semitic the Iranians are, and it should disturb anyone to see the Obama Regime hesitate to call the Iranians out on it, and to worry about the Regime's motives in hesitation.