Chris Close to Claiming Anti-Semitism Key to WH Criticism of NY Times

Hardball/NewsBusters ^ | Mark Finkelstein

[TigersEye]

TigersEye to NYTs:

It's the treason, stupid!

[Cicero]

Yes, there are a fair number of Jews at the Times. But they are leftist, secular Jews. Paradoxically, most of them are antisemitic Palestinian lovers.

The last real defender of Israel at The Times was Bill Safire. He was often no better than a token conservative, but he did stand up for Israel consistently.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

To doubters of my theory, I'd encourage you to read the San Francisco Chronicle column linked in my original NewsBusters piece. It includes this paragraph:

"Also, the name of the New York Times contains the word 'New York.' Many members of the president's base consider "New York" to be a nifty code word for "Jewish." It is very nice for the president to be able to campaign against the Jews without (a) actually saying the word "Jew" and (b) without irritating the Israelis. A number of prominent Zionist groups think the New York Times is insufficiently anti-Palestinian, so they think the New York Times isn't Jewish enough."

Chris Matthews was a San Francisco Chronicle columnist himself for a number of years. You might imagine he remains familiar with the paper. When, on the very same day the above appears, Matthews goes on at length about White House animosity toward the New York Times and 'ethnic' New York, do you think its pure coincidence?

[Pharmboy]

Both Chris Matthews and Tim Russert have become contemptible...

Were they ever not contemptible?

[BenLurkin]

Mathews is a certifiable moron, in my opinion.

The NYT has sided with the sworn enemies of Israel -- how could stopping the NYT be anti-semitic? It really makes no sense.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

I see that point, but I believe that for Matthews, the Times is still the "Jewish" newspaper. Who knows, perhaps he's projecting in some way. Indeed, later in the program, Matthews explained Cong. Peter King's anger at the Times as "a good old irish attitude toward the New York Times."

[TigersEye]

Tim Russert was not contemptible when he screamed, red-faced, for weeks that "Clinton's missile-tech-for-campaign-contributions was treason and why wasn't it being investigated." Before and after that I'll leave for you to decide.

[liberte]

I think it falls under either of these definitions:

unthinking (i.e. hall-of-fame stupid)

or

untruthful (deliberately misleading)

Hard to know which to choose with today's left.

[Rightwing Conspiratr1]

Really? Who do you think Chris had in mind when he talked about 'ethnic' New York? Dominicans, perhaps? - or the owners and operators of the New York Times? Couple it with the column appearing today in the newspaper where Chris worked for years - the San Francisco Chronicle - flatly accusing Bush of anti-Semitism, and I'd say he's buying into the theory.

Clearly, the reason the WH is going after the NYT is because Bush hates Puerto Ricans. /sarc

[Enterprise]

If I recall correctly, speaking of the NY Times, didn't they want an investigation and a prosecutor appointed during the Valerie Plame "leak" affair when they thought it would bring down Rove and Cheney? And I think the liberals in general supported that position. Indeed, the "outing" of a "covert" agent had "National Security" written all over it!

[zimdog]

Also, the name of the New York Times contains the word 'New York.' Many members of the president's base consider "New York" to be a nifty code word for "Jewish." It is very nice for the president to be able to campaign against the Jews without (a) actually saying the word "Jew" and (b) without irritating the Israelis.

I don't know who the article thinks "the president's base" is but "New York" (the implication being New York City) has long been a code for bigots on the Right (and we all know there are some) when talking about (depending on the issue and the context) Jews, Catholics, homosexuals, etc...

Whether this is what's behind the Administration's pressure on the New York Times is another question but "New York [City]" is unquestionably an arched eyebrow among anti-semites in polite company.

[nopardons]

The Sulzbergers became PROTESTANTS many generation ago.

Oooooooooooops, there's goes the anti-Semite crack.

[Ancesthntr]

I'm Jewish, and originally from the NY area. I grew up reading the Slimes, mainly because it was the only paper with a reading level above 6th grade. As I learned more about politics and the world, I grew to despise it.

There's no anti-semitism here - just leftism.

[beyond the sea]

even going so far to affect a 'New Yawk' accent, it could be inferred that he is accusing the Bush administration of anti-Semitism

I'm from PA. Is a "New Yawk" accent, as you write, specifically Jewish? I didn't think so.

You may be taking a leap here.

[beyond the sea]

"It's the old trick, go after New York, go after big ethnic New York way up there in the northeast that never votes Republican, blame everything on them." That's when Chris went did his best [not very good], impression of a New York accent: "You know, it's 'New Yawk.' Isn't that what the game here is being played?" Wallace: "We're well beyond tricks, and certainly --" Matthews: "Why not the L.A. Times,the Wall Street Journal, why not go after all three that ran the story? It seems like the old Barry Goldwater trick of saying 'cut off the eastern seaboard and we'll have a better country. It seems such a cheap political move."

If that is anything like a hint of antisemitism, then you have a better sniffer than me.

[YaYa123]

"Chris seems to be accusing the Bush administration of animosity to Jews,"

You almost hope the libs decide to use this in November, so Republicans can remind them of their "animosity" to Joe Lieberman.

[beyond the sea]

By the way, I saw the segment last night. Nicolle Wallace was very cool and very attractive. I saw no antisemitism.

(jmo)

(And believe me, Chris Matthews is not one of my favorite people.)

[beyond the sea]

This is one of the silliest and sloppiest leaps of logic I've read in a long time.

Completely agree ........ bordering on a little paranoia (imo).

[beyond the sea]

Chris Matthews, you're a nutty fruity granola bar. STFU.

Matthews could use a nice cream pie in his face for the way he treated Michelle Malkin a while back.

;-)

[beyond the sea]

BTW...one of his guests tonight was Tom Oliphant of the Boston Globe...who is a prissy little man

He couldn't put those french fries down at the end of the show could he? He was talking through a mouthful.

;-)

Didn't those folks look silly shilling those french fries?