The Democratic Party’s Antisemitism Problem
With highly visible spokespeople like Al Sharpton, Cynthia McKinney, and Michael Moore, it’s no longer possible to ignore the Democratic Party’s anti-Semitism problem. (Hat tip: Allah.)
One of the most prominent figures at John Kerry’s nominating convention was the Rev. Al Sharpton, who seemed almost as fixed a presence at Kerry’s side the night of his acceptance speech as were the nominee’s wife and vice presidential candidate John Edwards.
Yet, it is common knowledge that this failed contender for the Democratic nomination incited anti-Jewish violence in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn in 1991 and in Harlem in 1995. In the latter incident he encouraged the explicitly anti-Semitic boycott and picketing of a Jewish-owned store named “Freddy’s.” Eight employees of the store were killed in a fire started by one of Sharpton’s followers.
But none of this unpleasantness has kept Sharpton from being treated with oily sycophancy by the Democratic leadership.
Among the victors in the July 20 Democratic primary in Georgia was Cynthia McKinney, who served five terms in Congress before being defeated in the 2002 primary by Denise Majette. Like many other inhabitants of the fever swamps of the Democratic Party, McKinney believed and said that President Bush knew in advance about the 9/11 plot but allowed it to proceed in order to line his pockets.
She also, as The New York Times said in reporting her victory, had made “a series of other incendiary, often racial comments.” This is The New York Times’ delicate way of alluding to the stridently anti-Semitic character of McKinney’s 2002 campaign, in which “Jews” were repeatedly blamed for her faltering in the polls and for her eventual defeat. Her behavior did not deter House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, then the Democratic whip, from backing her to the hilt.