Posted on 05/19/2004 6:42:16 AM PDT by veronica
Column alleging Bush invaded Iraq to please Jews draws accusations of anti-Semitism
WASHINGTON In the face of charges of anti-Semitism, U.S. Sen. Fritz Hollings on Tuesday defended a newspaper column he wrote alleging President Bush went to war in Iraq to defend Israel and please American Jews.
Hollings declined a request for an interview Tuesday, but he released a letter defending his comments and calling ridiculous any criticism of them as anti-Semitic.
One S.C. Jewish leader was horrified by Hollings writings. The nations most prominent Jewish civil rights organization called on Hollings to renounce his charges.
The whole foreign policy of the United States is based on Israel? What kind of ridiculous statement is that? said Rabbi Philip Silverstein of Columbias Beth Shalom synagogue. It makes him anti-Israel. Its anti-Semitic ... its dangerous.
Throughout his 38-year Senate career, Hollings, a Charleston Democrat, has apologized for remarks that have been decried as callous toward Jews, blacks, Japanese and other groups.
In the column, published this month in The State and two other S.C. newspapers, Hollings wrote that Israeli officials had known there were no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.
With Iraq no threat, why invade a sovereign country? The answer: President Bushs policy to secure Israel.
He also wrote that Bush came to office with one thought re-election. Bush felt tax cuts would hold his crowd together, and spreading democracy in the Mideast to secure Israel would take the Jewish vote from the Democrats.
Hollings also named three people as particularly responsible for Bushs zeal to invade Iraq Richard Perle, the former chairman of a board that advises Pentagon leaders; assistant Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz; and syndicated columnist Charles Krauthammer. All are Jewish.
Abraham Foxman, president of The Anti-Defamation League, urged Hollings to renounce his latest comments.
This is reminiscent of age-old, anti-Semitic canards about a Jewish conspiracy to control and manipulate government, Foxman wrote in a letter to Hollings.
Foxman said he knows some will dismiss Hollings choice of words as simply Hollings being Hollings.
To them we say one doesnt take bigotry in stride, Foxman said. He is one out of 100 (senators). These are 100 of the most prominent people in the country. To hear such crudeness, such ugliness, such classical anti-Semitism. Its sad.
In place of a statement, Hollings staff made available a letter to a constituent whom they would not identify who had written to Hollings to take issue with his column.
It is my experienced opinion from supporting Israel here in the Senate for almost 38 years, that diplomacy and negotiation is the route we should take, not the military, Hollings wrote. I could cite numerous quotes to support my mentioning Perle, Wolfowitz and Krauthammer and otherwise give quotes of distinguished leaders of the State of Israel that support my position.
Hollings wrote that calling his opinion anti-Jewish stereotyping or scapegoating is ridiculous.
U.S. Rep. Jim DeMint, R-Greenville, wrote a letter, that was published in The State, after he read Hollings piece. DeMint called the column bizarre and, at worst, chilling.
DeMint is seeking the GOP nomination for the Senate seat from which Hollings will retire next year.
DeMint said Tuesday he has refrained from criticizing Hollings but felt he had to respond because Hollings had so mischaracterized the presidents decision to go to war.
I dont know how anyone sitting in all those briefings for all those years could possibly bring it down to the motive for going into Iraq having anything to do with a focus on our friendship with Israel, DeMint said. Its something Congress voted heavily in favor of doing.
Hollings voted in 2002 to give Bush permission to attack Iraq but later said he was misled and that the war is a mistake comparable to American action in Vietnam.
Yeah, and I'm a little pregnant!
> He also wrote that Bush came to office with one thought re-election. Bush felt tax cuts would hold his crowd together, and spreading democracy in the Mideast to secure Israel would take the Jewish vote from the Democrats.
The man has lost his mind. Dem anger and hatred has gotten to him. He's overstepped on this one, big time.
"The Democrat party is filled with anti-Semites, just as is liberal Europe."
Actually, he sounds like certain Freepers.... :p
Do you have a link to the actual column? I have a friend who is a talk show host who might be interested in talking about this. I sent his the article but would like to have the actual column to send him.
You're forgetting he's a Dem (and a "he") so he gets a pass. Only the occasional plantation hand must be sacrificed (e.g. McKinney). Other 'Rats are virtually incapable of "overstepping," even if they do it with jackboots and a goose-step.
Funny how the liberal media spent so much time on the other Senator (Thurmond) from S.C.'s history and yet they continue to give this windbag a pass for his present behavior.
Except for the ACLU liberals, this election will be much different in terms of the Jewish vote and more importantly, the Jewish money.
Perhaps Jessie Jackson or Al Sharpton could give him some equally good things to say about Jews.
<< The Democrat party is filled with anti-Semites, just as is liberal Europe. >>
All of the various fascisocialist totalitarians, including our "DemocRATS" and their crime-family sub groups -- and dead and decadent Euro-peons' -- are for sure antisemites.
For sure.
But their envy-motivated and rage-engined hatred is non-specific.
Starting with themselves they hate everything and everybody!
Fine. Hollings is merely giving Jewish votes to Bush. Works for me. :)
Yep, we see where your real loyaties lie.
You're a real American.
<< Fine. Hollings is merely giving Jewish votes to Bush. Works for me. :) >>
FRom your lips to G-d's Ear!
[Please, Dear Lord?]
Shalom -- B A
I didn't think that "Hey, Byrd was in the Klan, and Dodd openly endorsed that...." was really meant to be a "defense" per se....
The guy really does sound like ol' Foghorn
"I say boy, Listen here boy. It's dem Joooze that done it." --
BTW. Did you know that Fritz was the Governer of S.C. back in the 1960s when they first raised the rebel flag over the state house to protest desegragtion? Funny that Jessi Jackson never mentions that, isn't it?
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