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What's Right, What's Smart [Why Jews should support Jihad Cindy McKinney]
The Forward ^ | July 9, 2004

Posted on 07/11/2004 1:40:29 PM PDT by SJackson

The hot topic of discussion among Jewish political mavens right now is the Democratic primary contest in the Fourth Congressional District in Georgia, where former Rep. Cynthia McKinney is seeking to recapture the congressional seat she lost two years ago. McKinney, a five-term House veteran, had developed a national reputation as a defender of Palestinian rights and a critic of the administration's war on terrorism. Her record helped unleash a flood of support for her opponent, Denise Majette, who emerged victorious in a primary that was widely seen as driven by Jewish campaign money. Now Majette wants to move on up to the Senate, and McKinney has reemerged as the lead candidate for her old seat. Unless a surprise emerges, only a repeat of the nationwide stop-McKinney mobilization in 2002 will keep her out.

That would be a mistake. A national anti-McKinney mobilization, particularly one seen as mounted by Jews to defend Israel, would cause a backlash of serious proportions. The last time she was defeated, the mobilization of Jewish political and financial clout to block an outspoken black politician gave rise to a wave of trash-talk from the left about Jews manipulating the political system for Israel's benefit. It would only be worse the next time.

The complaint, it must be noted, was largely unfair. Much of the opposition to McKinney came from political moderates and conservatives still grieving over the September 11 attacks a year earlier and angered by the congresswoman's contrarian views. Pro-Israel activists were only part of that coalition.

Moreover, there's something offensive in the very notion that Jewish citizens fighting for their favorite causes is somehow wrong. American Jews feel a deep commitment to Israel's safety, and they need not apologize for that.

In politics, however, right and wrong are only half of the calculus. The other half is what's smart. The current reality is that anti-Jewish conspiracy theories have become part of mainstream political discourse here and around the world in a way that could not have been imagined five years ago. The quagmire in Iraq and the continuing Israeli-Palestinian confrontation have combined to create an incendiary atmosphere in which simple advocacy of Israel's cause seems suspect in many mainstream circles.

Acknowledging that reality does not make it right or moral. But ignoring reality is an invitation to disaster. And there's nothing noble or moral about courting disaster.

The demonization of Israel by its enemies has created a distorted political atmosphere in which defending an embattled Middle Eastern democracy appears to much of the public to be less legitimate than coddling dictators and fanatics.

Regrettably, Jewish conservatives and hawks have played into that debased discourse, basing many of their political choices first and foremost on Israel's needs and then attacking anyone who notices that fact. It's a dangerous short-sightedness masquerading as hard-headed realism.

In politics as in war, it's smart to pick one's fights carefully, examine the battlefield and plan two moves ahead, with one eye always peeled for the consequences.

Even if the prospect of McKinney's re-election does represent a significant threat to Jewish or Israeli political interests — and we doubt it does — the benefit of fighting it would not justify the long-term damage.


TOPICS: Editorial; Politics/Elections; US: Georgia
KEYWORDS: jewishvote; jihadcindy; mckinney
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1 posted on 07/11/2004 1:40:30 PM PDT by SJackson
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To: dennisw; Cachelot; Yehuda; Nix 2; veronica; Catspaw; knighthawk; Alouette; Optimist; weikel; ...
If you'd like to be on or off this middle east/political ping list, please FR mail me.

In politics, however, right and wrong are only half of the calculus. The other half is what's smart.

Bull, what's smart is opposing loonie like Jihad Cindy, it's right too.


2 posted on 07/11/2004 1:44:28 PM PDT by SJackson (Be careful -- with quotations, you can damn anything, Andre Malraux)
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To: SJackson
Cynthia McKinney makes Lumpy Riefenstahl look ethical and honest.

I will certainly contribute to anyone running against her.

So9

3 posted on 07/11/2004 1:47:27 PM PDT by Servant of the 9 (Goldwater Republican)
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To: Servant of the 9

Anything to keep this idiot out of Congress is good. I was born and raised around Atlanta and have been listening to the idiotic screed from her and her father Billy's mouth for far too long. The freakin' woman is a communist white hating racist. When her father was in the state house he pulled a knife on a legislator friend of mine right on the House floor. My God the city of Atlanta has gone to Hell since I grew up.


4 posted on 07/11/2004 1:53:36 PM PDT by fuzzycat
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To: SJackson

So the gist is: the Jews should shut up and get in the gas chamber, lest the Left say bad things about them?

Its always tough when someone you consider a good friend turns on you--but that is just what has happened with the Left and the Jews. The main reason for is simple: there are now more Muslims in the US than Jews. That is the only calculus (moral or otherwise) that the Left considers relevant.

Luckily, some in the Jewish community have awoken to what's going on. They should't sell their soul for trash like McKinney.


5 posted on 07/11/2004 2:01:41 PM PDT by rbg81
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To: veronica

You'll like this one. A shame I didn't save my Jihad Cyndi graphics.


6 posted on 07/11/2004 2:03:50 PM PDT by SJackson (Be careful -- with quotations, you can damn anything, Andre Malraux)
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To: fuzzycat
The freakin' woman is a communist white hating racist.

That's true, but I'm sure she likes whales, caribou too. No ones perfect.

7 posted on 07/11/2004 2:05:39 PM PDT by SJackson (Be careful -- with quotations, you can damn anything, Andre Malraux)
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To: SJackson

Written by editors with a shtetl mentality. I wrote them and said they were half-right--they shouldn't oppose her because she is a bit less subtle than the McDermott, DU, Hollings, Jackson, Sharpton crowd that now dominates the Democratic party and allows us to see more clearly what it has become.


8 posted on 07/11/2004 2:22:56 PM PDT by the Real fifi
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To: SJackson

Much of the opposition to McKinney came from political moderates and conservatives still grieving over the September 11 attacks a year earlier and angered by the congresswoman's contrarian views.

No! It's because she's a moral midget and symptomatic of all that's wrong with the democrat party.


9 posted on 07/11/2004 2:48:09 PM PDT by Valin (Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. It's just that yours is stupid.)
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To: SJackson
Regrettably, Jewish conservatives and hawks have played into that debased discourse, basing many of their political choices first and foremost on Israel's needs and then attacking anyone who notices that fact. It's a dangerous short-sightedness masquerading as hard-headed realism.

I couldn't have said that better myself ;o).... except I don't think I would have used the term "debased discourse" in the same article where I had done such a thorough job of explaining the legitamacy of a great deal of that exact "discourse".

Sounds like the guys at the Forward are ready to lay low for a while and then re-emerge under the John-John regime.
10 posted on 07/11/2004 2:48:58 PM PDT by mr.pink
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To: SJackson

What crap. The argument appears to be this:

Don't dare oppose lunatics when they run for office because you will be perceived as being unfair.

I repeat:

What crap.


11 posted on 07/11/2004 2:49:39 PM PDT by samtheman (www.georgewbush.com)
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To: fuzzycat

When her father was in the state house he pulled a knife on a legislator friend of mine right on the House floor.

Stupid question time
were any charges brought?


12 posted on 07/11/2004 2:50:13 PM PDT by Valin (Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. It's just that yours is stupid.)
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To: SJackson

The less lefty nutcases we have in Congress the better, we should put a good conservative to run against her and he would probably win no matter what.


13 posted on 07/11/2004 2:50:55 PM PDT by Fred22
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To: Valin

Good thing for dad your friend wasn't armed at the time.


14 posted on 07/11/2004 2:52:16 PM PDT by SJackson (Be careful -- with quotations, you can damn anything, Andre Malraux)
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The Jews should keep quiet, not cause trouble and maybe it will all go away. Sounds familiar.

For a Jewish publication to even think this way is an aberration. Mckinney is such a nasty racist, they will be thanking, not damning the Jews,for trying to keep her out of Congress.


15 posted on 07/11/2004 2:53:12 PM PDT by catonsville
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To: catonsville

The Foward is left-wing trash. Anti-Semites enthusiastically put one of their articles on their websites.


16 posted on 07/11/2004 3:01:54 PM PDT by Stepan12
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To: catonsville
It's not an aberration, The Forward has been thinking this way since 1897.

After the experience of the last century, from pogroms to the Final Solution to the creation of the State of Israel.

This is the sum total of over a century of insight, shut up and maybe no one will notice you're around.

17 posted on 07/11/2004 3:07:54 PM PDT by SJackson (Be careful -- with quotations, you can damn anything, Andre Malraux)
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To: SJackson
Problem is the district is a very safe democratic district. McKinney's chief opponent is her democratic rival Liane Levitan. Levitan's commercials put Moveon.org to shame. I swear levitan's campaign is based on her hatred of Bush and not one local issue.

I'm glad I don't live in this district because it's a lose-lose situation
18 posted on 07/11/2004 3:12:24 PM PDT by Republican Red (“‘I could give you an answer to that question if you give me a little time to think about it.’)
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To: SJackson
This is ridiculous, McKinney is a brain-dead, race-baiting, anti-semitic bigot but...... she's also a black female southern Democrat with a big mouth and there's no way the Democratic Party would disown someone with all those attributes.

So this article reads like leftest Democrat Jews should learn a new PC rule just for them. Be nice, (above all keep donating or the DNC will go broke), and maybe the fact that the political party that has been "home" for the Jewish vote since FDR is now turning anti-semitic will just go away somehow. It's like: "If we're real quiet they won't notice us and we can still be liberal Democrats."

What maroons, there's only one way I can think of to bring them out fighting against McKinney, whom any intelligent voter would oppose anyway. Start a rumor (it would be completely false, but these are Democrats) that McKinney had something to do with Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ". Link her to that movie and Foxman, the whole ADL, all the Jewish left-wingers will rise up and charge at her.

19 posted on 07/11/2004 3:13:28 PM PDT by xJones
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To: SJackson

That was fuzzycat. Of course your reply still applies.
Never bring a knife to a gun fight.


20 posted on 07/11/2004 3:19:17 PM PDT by Valin (Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. It's just that yours is stupid.)
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