I will be heading out to vote shortly. Straight Dem ticket, of course, but Dems are looking in tough shape here in my 6th Congressional District in Massachusetts. Recent polls suggest that Charlie Baker, the Republican, seems likely to win the Governor's race and despite this being a Blue district, the Democratic candidate for Congress Seth Moulton only has a tiny lead.
My question is: why are supposedly "moderate" Republicans not required to explain their membership in an organization that is arguably racist, homophobic and plutocratic, and, prima facie, antisemitic?
Now I am sure that our local Republicans would heatedly deny that their party is antisemitic -- after all, it strongly supports Israel! But of course,for Republicans it may be a lot easier to support Jews who live 5,000 miles away than American ones.
If someone said that they belong to a national organization in America in which, out of its 300 most important leaders, not a single one was Jewish, would that not give you slight pause? Make you wonder? Even if it were 1% -- but zero?? Can that really be just an unrelated accident?
Did you know that there are more Jews who are professional Indian cricketers than there are among the approximately 300 Republicans who are senators, governors and members of the House?
More who were mandarins of the Ming dynasty?
More who were generals in Mao Zedong's People's Liberation Army?
More who were members of Sun Yat Sen's personal bodyguard?
More Algerian World Champions in boxing?
More Chinese-born Nobel laureates in Medicine?
More senior advisers to 21st century Moroccan kings?
Moreliving Lieutenant Generals of the Indian Army?
More Tunisian World Top 10 men’s tennis players?
More Iranian national wrestling champions?
Yes, Jews have been accepted in many organizations, in many eras, in many fields of endeavor, and in many countries. But apparently not too much in American 21st century elective offices requiring Republican votes. As Eric Cantor noticed, it's hard for a Jew to win a Republican primary.
I am sure there lots of people today who are going to vote GOP, including right here in my own 6th Congressional District of Massachusetts, who have no idea of this aspect of the Republican party. (Not even ONE?) It would have been nice if the Republican "moderates" for whom they are voting at least called upon the GOP explain what at least amounts to a prima facie case for a charge of de facto antisemitism.
And as they haven't, shouldn't they should be called upon to explain it themselves?