Comments from Congressman "I'm an anti-semetic" Moran

My only problem with that is that in Jewish leaders eyes you are either pro-semetic or anti-semetic and there is no middle ground for the sorta-semetics.

 

Moran is in some quality company, here's an editorial from Pakistan's Balochistan Post by another white Southern guy:

"This is a war that has been promoted for years by the most radical Jewish supremacists in Israel and America....Pro-Israeli, Jewish supremacists are found in key government positions all over the world and they also hold powerful positions in the ownership and hierarchy of media....Yes, there are certainly Gentiles who support the war for varying reasons, but how many of them have been influenced by the weight of Jewish power?"

http://www.balochistanpost.com/item.asp?ID=3436

 

I don't believe any one group can truly control this country, but groups can influence this nation.

It is a well known fact that the Jewish/Israeli lobby is the largest and most powerful in the nation. I'm sure if they wish for the US to go to war with Iraq they can push their influence and their significiant ties in the media and in the political arena. Its strange that the democrats were more pro-Israeli in the past, but this administration seems to pull many Jewish groups to the republican party because they allow Israel to basically do what it wants and also because of the war in Iraq stance.

But this lobbying is completely legal just as the Lawyer groups support the democrats and corporations predominantly support the republican party.

Would there be this much outcry if he said that the Muslims don't want war with Iraq and are stopping it from happening?? I don't think so.

I think its quite childish to simply state someone is "Anti-Semetic" if they state anything not positive about Israel or Jewish Politics.

 

As much as I dislike Israel, I really can't think of anything to say to defend this guy in the least. I think part of Bush's Iraqi war calculus is to help protect Israel, and I think we have the relationship that we do with Israel because of our own Jewish population (in part). But even still, I don't see how Jewish support for the war (do they even support it any more than the general public?) would really have an effect on our foreign policy. If the American Jewish population opposed the war, would Bush be singing a different tune? I doubt it. It seems to me to be simply erroneous.

If he were talking about a group besides the Jews, I don't think it would be widely perceived as racist. But, it smacks too heavily of Zionist-conspiracy allegations that we've seen so much of in the last century. So, it does sound racist.

Btw, I thought the AARP was the most powerful lobby in the country.

 

couldn't agree more.

 

Are you sorta-stupid?

I never heard of sorta-racism.

Regardless, I think I understand your intention.

Whether Israel is or is not a part of the Administration's decision-making process should be assessed. To make a unsupported claim that it not only is a decision-factor, but THE decision-factor, stinks of some other motive.

There are many knowledgeable 'in-the-know' people (and not just ones in this Administration) which 'see' the threat that saddam is to the US.

That said, I think it would be perfect timing to force Israel to stop building settlements. I would prefer to see a plan to schedule the dismantling of them, but something must be done now. The timing may seem as self-serving or political, but I am willing to risk that to prove to the Muslim world that we are not anti-Muslim. (I think that getting rid of the settlements will ultimately help Israel also anyway)

 

According to Fortune, AARP is 2, the NRA is 1. An Israel lobby is 4.

Beer is 8! What do they have to lobby for? We're not drinking enough?

http://www.fortune.com/fortune/power25/0,15233,,00.html

 

Do you know how Fortune measures lobby power? I did some cursory reading and couldn't find any guidelines.

 

by height

 

Moran has had many "questions" about his "ethics." (Taking loans from companies while at the same time sponsoring bills favorable for those companies--MBNA, Schering-Plough Corp. , and AOL.) He also came up with the brilliant compromise of keeping the Starr report secret if Clinton would resign.

Bye-bye James P.

 

It's pretty clear anti-semitism, IMO.

Look at the circumstances in which the comments were made- they were not just in an ordinary speech.

He spoke at an anti-war rally, and claimed that the Jewish lobby is the reason we are on the brink of war, and that the Jewish lobby could end it if they so wanted. This at an anti-war rally. Clearly, he was giving the rally members someone to put the blame of war on: the Jews.

This guy is a 7-term Congressman. He should know the importance of not saying dumb things, especially in public.

FD Khan: "It is a well known fact that the Jewish/Israeli lobby is the largest and most powerful in the nation."

Huh? What percent of the nation's wealth is Jewish? What percent of Congress is Jewish? Is our President not a born-again Christian? Did the first Jewish Vice Presidential candidate not lose the election?

Sounds like someone has been listening to a little too much propoganda.

 

what an excellent point i hadn't even considered, NIKE...he was speaking at an anti-war rally...blaming the Jewish leadership in our country for the path to war. man...that's so much worse than I even thought about it in my head!

 

Update:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A25844-2003Mar14.html
Moran Ousted From Leadership Post

By Jim Abrams
Associated Press Writer
Friday, March 14, 2003; 2:26 PM


Rep. James P. Moran Jr. (D-Va.), was forced out of his party leadership post Friday after a furor over his remarks about the role of American Jews in a possible war with Iraq.

Moran stepped down from his position as regional whip at the insistence of Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi of California. In a statement, Pelosi said she spoke to Moran on Friday and he agreed to accept responsibility and give up his post.

"I have taken this action because Congressman Moran's irresponsible remarks were a serious mistake," Pelosi said. "As I said earlier this week, his comments were not only inappropriate, they were offensive and have no place in the Democratic Party."

Speaking at a northern Virginia forum a week ago, Moran said that "if it were not for the strong support of the Jewish community for this war with Iraq we would not be doing this. ... The leaders of the Jewish community are influential enough that they could change the direction of where this is going and I think they should."

Moran apologized for his comments on Tuesday. The seven-term lawmaker said he framed his comments as he did because he was responding to a questioner who said she was Jewish. "I regret doing that," he said.

Moran on Friday issued a statement saying he was stepping down from his leadership position "as a way to demonstrate acceptance of my responsibility for insensitive remarks I recently made."

"I will continue to reach out to the Jewish community and others who were offended by my remarks," he said. "Most importantly, I will strive to learn from my mistakes and listen to the concerns of my constituents."

Moran's controversial remarks drew sharp criticism from the White House and calls from some Jewish leaders for his resignation. Six House Democrats, all Jewish, on Wednesday made public a letter stating that Moran should not seek re-election in 2004 because of his comments.

The House's lone Jewish Republican, Rep. Eric Cantor of Virginia, on Wednesday urged Democratic leaders to remove Moran from the two powerful committees, Appropriations and Budget, where he holds seats.

The House Democrats have 24 regional whips for 12 regions. Moran was elected by his colleagues three years ago to represent the mid-Atlantic region.

The whips are responsible for getting information on legislation out to people in their area and informing the leadership of the positions of members. The whips also sit on the party steering committee.

 

Too bad the Democrats aren't in power because he'd be in line for a committee chairmanship.

 

Six House Democrats, all Jewish, on Wednesday made public a letter stating that Moran should not seek re-election in 2004 because of his comments.

Wow. I'm pretty surprised by this. Good job Democrats.

Why hasn't anyone asked Byrd not to seek re-election again?

 

i knew that was coming...

 

We have a word for people like Moran.

That word is...

Schmuck

 

L'Chaim!