Has anyone seen original (firsthand) source for this news story on the rise of American anti-semitism? The story as-reported seems a little distorted.
I don't have a problem believing some parts of the survey. They are disturbing, even if they aren't very surprising:
Twenty percent of Democrats and Independents tend to "view Jews as caring only about themselves," compared to only 12 percent among Republicans.No huge shocks there, except for how high the last two numbers are.1 in 4 adults believes that Jewish control of the media distorts the news.
37% believe that Jews are Christ-killers.
34% believe Jews have too much influence on Wall Street
But that's what got me thinking: gosh, that does seem awfully high. How were these questions asked? Does anyone have original source on this we can get ahold of? Either the survey or the reporting may be slanted.
For example, it seems to me that there's nothing anti-semitic about thinking that a Jewish President might have conflicted loyalties vis-a-vis Israel. It strikes me as a perfectly fair question that someone like Joe Lieberman should be asked. It's only sensible. There wasn't anything wrong with asking John F. Kennedy if he would allow his Catholicism (and therefore the Vatican) to divide his loyalties. Kennedy said "no," explained why, and most voters believed him.
If this is what people are calling anti-semitism, then Jewish people have it pretty good I'd say.
On the other hand, some of it seems almost freakish. Yes, I know some anti-semites, and some more genteel about it than others. But more than 1 in 3 people believing that Jews excessively control Wall Street? That sounds crazily paranoid.
I've Googled around and I can't find much on this story, but I may have missed something.
I didn't go read the article, and I do think there is increasing (or more evident) anti-semitism now. But the surveys I've seen just aren't very good as surveys - which is to say, they don't ask the questions in a way that truly captures what they purport to capture. For example, Jews as Christ-killers. If you want to be historical about it, that's true - it was the Jewish community, specifically the Jewish leaders of the time, who conspired and had Jesus killed. So if you asked the question straight up, I'd have to say I think the Jews were Christ-killers. However, that's a matter of acknowledging history, not a matter of anti-semitism today. After all, Jesus on this earth was Jewish too. And I don't hold Jewish people living now responsible for his crucifixion, and certainly feel no animosity for either Jews or the Jewish religion. Before I start believing those surveys, the questions need to be couched differently: for example, instead of, "Do you think the Jews were responsible for killing Jesus Christ?", which touches an historical fact, they should ask, "Do you hold Jews today accountable for the death of Jesus Christ?" That's a matter of personal attitude, and I could answer "not at all" with good conscience.
Long answer, but I really have not been impressed by the questionnaires on anti-Semitism that I've seen, even from the Jewish research organizations.
The article was I think pointing out that Joe might be unelectable because he is jewish. I don't think that far fetched in fact I was surprised when Gore choose him for that very reason.
Even before looking at the poll results my feeling has been that there is little chance of a jew being elected president in the near future. There is just too much anti- jewish feeling still around.