Great LTE (Letter to the Editor) by our own Teddy Goodson, on this ridiculous, batshit-crazy concept that Jim Webb is in any way, shape or form "anti-Semitic." Thanks to Teddy, who is extremely busy helping to get Jim Webb elected and asked me to post this, for writing the following:
Edie Gross's article on 8 June on the Webb-Miller contest for the Democratic nomination to run against George Allen in November raises the question of anti-Semitism, based mainly on what is described as a hook-nosed caricature.
Did no one compare the photo of Mr. Miller with the cartoon? I think it was a pretty good likeness. I fail to see any malicious intent or any subtle anti-Semitism. Mr. Miller looks the way he looks, and anyone who attempts to find racial slurs in the caricature likeness is maybe a little bit ant-Semitic themselves, or else they are overly sensitive and looking for something to whine about.After all the negative, intemperate, and inaccurate flyers Mr. Miller has issued against Mr. Webb, with very little positive about them, I find it peculiar some folks are straining to find something to complain about in Mr. Webb's straightforward response. But then, I have made up my own mind: Mr. Webb will clearly make a much better Senator of the United States than either Mr. Miller or the present Senator, Mr. Allen, and I will be voting for Jim Webb on 13 June.
By the way, Mr. Webb's slogan "Born Fighting" actually refers to the Scots-Irish heritage in America, of which he is very proud.
Theodora Goodson
Fairfax, VA 22030
Well said. I am Jewish, and I also fail to see ANY anti-Semitism or malicious intent here whatsoever. Utterly ridiculous. Let's put it this way: I'm very sensitive to anti-Semitism. To an extent, I have experienced anti-Semitism in my life. And, frankly, this cartoon is NO anti-Semitism! (apologies to Lloyd Bentsen, R.I.P.)
By the way, Ben Tribbett has a comparison of Harris Miller's ACTUAL likeness with the caricature in the cartoon (see above). As one commenter points out, "Miller has a heavy face and swarthy, Nixon-like features. Thats just the way he looks." Personally, I think Miller looks better in the caricature than in real life. But either way, "anti-Semitism" is simply a meaningless and despicable charge by an increasingly desperate Miller campaign. What on earth will they say next? Lame.
Now, more to the point, why don't you just admit that you're terrified of Jim Webb and stop wasting our time with your nonsense?
As I recall, you are a fairly diehard Republican. A big supporter of Kilgore - many negative things to say about Kaine.
And as such, wouldn't it be in your own best interest to throw support behind the weaker of the two candidates? Sure, Allen looks like a lock, by why risk it? What good, from your perspective, could possibly come from putting up the stronger Democratic candidate?
So, Webb being the weaker candidate in your opinion, why aren't you pushing for him? Isn't everyone at RK just hurting the party by supporting Webb? That should bring a smile to your face and I'd think you'd want that to continue.
Like it or not, looks like all us will be supporting Webb. Glad to have you on board Ipub. ;-)
You are serious about voting for Webb, aren't you?
If I get around to it, I'm hitting the "James Webb" button on the touchscreen. (And man, how I miss punchcards. Those really made you feel like you were voting, and made it tangible. But I digress. Sorry.)
So, is this Fredericksburg newspaper:
a) In the Miller camp trying to help out?
b) In the Allen camp trying to help out?
c) Trying to sell more papers by stirring up an anti-semitism controversy?
To their credit, they did include a Sabato quote about these accusations being total bunk. But it was still wrong and misleading to present the issue in the way they did.
The Miller campaign has spent the better part of a week trying to get someone in the news media to bite on what a terrible slur the Webb flyer contains, and, finally, someone did.
and
Obviously, the Webb folks deny any anti-Semitism, with good reason: It's a pretty big stretch to find anything anti-Jewish about the Webb flyer. The flyer is avowedly and crashingly anti-Miller, and it's a fun, populist piece, focusing on the obviously uncomfortable position Miller's lobbying work has put him in as he now tries to persuade Virginians that he's somehow a man of the people.But anti-Semitic? First of all, until the Miller campaign started to make noise about this flyer, hardly a soul in Virginia knew that Harris Miller is Jewish. And there was no sign that anyone cared. Second, I showed the flyer to 22 Jews and not a single one saw anything remotely wrong with it. Only after I prompted them did people see the exaggerated nose, but since not a one of them knew what Miller really looks like, no one could tell whether this was a fair caricature or not. Well, it is.
SNAP!!!