Many of Chuck Hagel’s defenders are rallying around the fiction his opponents impugn him as an anti-Semite because he does not agree that a strong partnership with Israel is in U.S. interests. The most recent example is this piece from the New Yorker. The straw man defense does not work because it avoids the key issue: Chuck Hagel (or Chas Freeman, or Richard Nixon, or Pat Buchanan, or Charles Lindbergh, or Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, or Juan Cole, or W. Pat Lang) engages in the conceit that anyone who disagrees with him must have dual loyalties and therefore not be “real Americans.”
To question a Jewish American’s loyalty rather than debate the issues with him is not borderline anti-Semitic; it is anti-Semitic. The same holds true for the anti-Catholic bigotry that once surrounded John F. Kennedy’s campaign, the anti-Muslim bigotry that many moderate Muslims face, and the anti-Mormon bigotry in which many engaged during Mitt Romney’s campaign.
What is truly disappointing is how far from progressive many progressives have become. They will accuse others of McCarthyism for the temerity to disagree with them and will then respond with the truly McCarthyite canard that their opponent is anti-American and holds loyalty to a foreign power.
Hagel has apologized for his bigotry toward gays. Will he apologize for questioning whether his political opponents hold dual loyalties?
Hand in hand with dual loyalty charges are the double standard to which Israel is held. The US may conduct targeted killings and go to war without UN approval (in Libya or Kosovo) (both of which I approve of), and other nations may put down terrorism without any real condemnation, but if Israel does any of those things–even in a far more careful manner–it is subject to howling oprobrium. This is the essence of ant–semitism, just as the dual loyalty charge is.
yes, Kosova was a real victory for humankind-just ask Kejda Gjermani (Madaura18586)-Commentary's Albanian muslima assistant publisher- (kedja dot net) n nIt's sooooooo gratifying to see NATO funding and fighting the jihad. n n(I do not have to describe the horrific history of the Balkans under islam) n nNATO bombing the shit out of Serb Christians, in response to moslam lies about alleged Christian atrocities. Makes one feel satisfied how NATO comes to assist moslams take over and destroy another Christian community. n nWhen will NATO similarly respond and help the arabs crush those JEws intent on stealing the holy islamic sites; those genocidal, war criminal Jews deliberately JUDIAZING Jerusalem? n nBecause as we all know…….the Serbs lied,and moslams always tell the truth to Christians; and of course arabs and Europeans all know, the Israelis/Jews/zionazis are enemies of humankind.
It's an oft used tool of the 'antizionist's kissing cousins, the holocaust deniers.
Hagel had to apologize for the anti-gay remarks. gays are one of the protected grievance groups. OTOH, he doesn't have to apologize for the anti-Semitic remarks, as the Jews are not important anymore–certainly not to Barack Obama. n n
The Jewish vote for Obama went from 78% to 68% although this was GENERALLY lost in the euphoria of his reelection (yet Obama was able to win despite this in Florida and Ohio). However, should he make this nomination, it will be made known and let's hope it will be built upon.
oy
"Will he apologize for questioning whether his political opponents hold dual loyalties?" NO.
When and where did Hagel ever say that "anyone" who disagrees with him (about what?) must hold "dual loyalties"? When did he say this, and what, exactly, did he say? Since there are no links in this article, no one should take it seriously — but, just out of morbid curiosity, what the heck are you talking about? Do you even know?
One need not be Jewish nor a fundamentalist Christian to be a strong supporter of Israel; I am taken aback by the implied notion that support for Israel is centered around the American Jewish community . . . that is a tired straw man argument. Israel is the only proper democracy in the region (though Jordan and Iraq are making a go of it), the only country in the region that largely shares our values, and one of our most reliable allies.
One also need not be a neocon to detest what passes for Hagel’s foreign policy vision. Says a *lot* that Obama shares that (lack of) vision.
Best Regards,
Chuck Hagel is scum. n nThat's why he'd fit so perfectly into an obama government. n nLet's see what the Democ-rats of Jewish origin do on this one. Let's see how the Senators vote and what the big mouth House members say! n nConfirmation of Hagel will also be confirmation of what we Jewish Republicans have been saying about the Democ-rat Party since at least Andrew Young Week of 1979.
I do believe that it was scum ejected into your mother that led to you being conceived, levine…. n nlet's not attempt to pretend that you're any better than you are.
" the anti-Muslim bigotry that many moderate Muslims face…" n nSo, is "Commentary" going to come out for, say, Imam Faisal Rauf now and admit the supposed "Ground Zero Mosque" was not, in fact, a mosque? I'm waiting. n n"the anti-Mormon bigotry in which many engaged during Mitt Romney’s campaign…" n n"Many?" Like whom? And was anyone at "Commentary" bothered by, say, the anti – black bigotry of Mitt Romney's "I've never had to worry about my birth certificate" joke? n nJust asking. n n
Perhaps Rubin wouldn't be quite as enfecalated here if he had posted proof for his deposit on the page of the claim that Hagel questions the loyalty of anyone disagreeing with his positions. n nFOS, mickey.