June 14, 2006
YOU CAN FEEL THE ENTHUSIASM BUILDING:
Webb Wins Democratic Nomination In Virginia: Ex-Republican to Face Allen for U.S. Senate (Michael D. Shear, June 14, 2006, Washington Post)
Virginia Democrats yesterday chose Vietnam War hero James Webb to challenge Sen. George Allen (R), siding with their party's national leadership, which had declared the former Republican to be the only candidate with a chance to beat Allen in November. [...]The springtime squabble between Democrats produced a near-record low turnout that a state election official described as "dismal." Polling places across Virginia reported being empty for long stretches, even though voting was open to all of the state's 4.5 million registered voters.
Webb now faces the challenge of raising millions of dollars in an attempt to oust Allen, a popular ex-governor who is considering a bid for the presidency in 2008. Allen has more than $7.5 million in the bank and a long history of winning in a state that usually votes for Republicans in federal contests.
Good to see the Democrats havve widened the tent enough that a little old-fashioned anti-Semitic propaganda is no bar to being their standard-bearer, huh? Posted by Orrin Judd at June 14, 2006 8:59 AM
When faced with a choice between an anti-semite newcomer and a stalwart life-long member of the party machine who happens to be Jewish, the Dems choose the anti-semite.
Posted by: Mike Morley at June 14, 2006 10:23 AMExcept that the cartoon in question's not anti-semitic.
Posted by: Barry Meislin at June 14, 2006 10:39 AMIt's certainly not coincidental.
Posted by: oj at June 14, 2006 10:45 AMWhere's the cartoon?
Posted by: erp at June 14, 2006 11:45 AMWell, the cartoon is borderline but if you add it to the text, it clearly crosses a line.
From the article:
"The text on the flier refers to Miller, a former lobbyist for the IT industry, as the "anti-Christ of outsourcing."
Use of the anti-Christ term to describe a Jew is clearly aimed at invoking Christ killer stereotypes.
"Webb didn't invent that label, Denny-Todd said. Instead, it comes from a column written in January by a senior editor for InformationWeek, a magazine for IT professionals."
Well, all right then. Using an anti-semetic term that someone else invented is perfectly fine.
Posted by: Bob at June 14, 2006 12:00 PMI'm with erp. I've heard about this cartoon but haven't been able to find it online.
Posted by: Bryan at June 14, 2006 1:05 PMHere's a PDF of the flyer. Judge for yourself.
Posted by: Mike Morley at June 14, 2006 2:28 PMIt was not markedly anti-Semitic (like the stuff we occasionally see on the web taken from the Arab media), just poorly drawn. But the words are what stink. Any national candidate spouting that bile should be defeated for that reason alone. I don't know much about Webb, but he seems like a crank who is mad because no one listens to his opinions anymore (kind of like Lawrence Korb).
Posted by: jim hamlen at June 14, 2006 2:29 PMYou're all missing the point. There's a reason a bunch of Cold Warriors oppose the WoT.
Posted by: oj at June 14, 2006 3:32 PMAnd that reason is . . . . ?
Posted by: Mike Morley at June 14, 2006 3:44 PMNo war for Jews.
Posted by: oj at June 14, 2006 3:48 PMAmateurish comic book style aimed at middle aged adolescents. I don't see it as anti-Semitic. The anti-Christ refers to the devil, the epithet for Jews is Christ-Killers.
If anything this endorsement The AFL-CIO has labeled Miller “truly one of the bad guys. was probably what turned off most people and helped defeat Webb.
Webb won. Anti-Semitism is especially good politics in states where the Democratic electorate is heavily black.
Posted by: oj at June 14, 2006 4:09 PMOops, is my face red. I guess I should have read the article instead of the cartoon.
Posted by: erp at June 14, 2006 6:06 PM