CBS News reports on claims of anti-Semitism at OWS

Sad, isn't this? It reminds me of the conspiracy theories after 9/11 that blamed the terrorist attacks on Jews on Wall Street. Crazy. Sometimes, I have seen this type of anti-semitism from extreme anti-Israel groups. I notice more subtle forms of anti-semitsm in jokes and conversations with friends. It is something we all need to be self-aware of, and do better at, including me.

I have not read enough about this issue to know what is really happening in these protests. The Republican National Committee is claiming that anti-semitism is widespread in the anti-Wall Street movement. However, according to the article below, Jewish anti-defamation watchdog groups say they have found few instances of anti-Jewish messages. (On Friday morning, I saw no such signs when I passed the OWS protesters on Market Street in SF.) But one thing is for certain: if there is anti-Semitism, racism, sexism, homophobia or any other form of hatred in these protests, these protestors should be renounced by the organizers AND be allowed to exercise their First Amendment rights. Just like the hate-filled members of the Westboro Baptist Church do at funerals...no matter how it boils my blood.

I also applaud the GOP's decision to come out so strongly against hate and fear, and I will hold them to this standard in the future when they are discussing LGBT rights and equality -- a topic that I follow closely. And I urge the Democratic party to renounce anti-semitism one more time, which should a non-issue given the long-standing inclusion of Jewish leaders throughout the Democratic party and its historical rejection of anti-semitism, sexism, racism, and homophobia.

I have bolded the sections of the article below that merit further scrutiny and investigation from the general news media, especially more objective news sources like the three networks, PBS News Hour, WSJ, NYTimes, Washington Post, CNN, and USA Today. (I don't consider Fox or MSNBC to be objective...both specialize in opinion journalism, speaking for the Right and for the Left. They have a place in society but generally they are not objective news sources since what they do is more entertainment-oriented and blatantly partisan.)

"RNC blast Dems for lack of "outrage" at alleged anti-Semitism at Wall Street protests"

by Lucy Mason, CBS News

As Democratic leaders increasingly begin to lend their support to the "Occupy Wall Street" protests, the Republican National Committee (RNC) is targeting those who have supported the movement for a lack of "outrage" over a string of alleged anti-Semitic incidents that have recently been reported at the protests.

In a memo on Tuesday, the RNC's Sean Spicer writes that Democratic leaders who have come out for "Occupy Wall Street" (OWS) have "been silent" when it comes to "protestors' extreme anti-Semitic, anti-Israel comments."

"Where's the outrage?" he asks. "While protestors are seen spewing hate against Jewish Americans, President Obama, Nancy Pelosi, and DNC Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz have declared their support for the demonstrations. Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chair Steve Israel even circulated a petition saying he's 'standing with' Occupy Wall Street."

A handful of conservative blogs and Jewish organizations have recently pointed to anti-Semitic incidents at the Wall Street protests - most recently in the form of a video put out by the Emergency Committee for Israel (ECI), among whose board members include former presidential candidate Gary Bauer and conservative columnist Bill Kristol.

The video shows protesters making disparaging and offensive comments about and/or directed at Jews, including one man's cry that "Jews control Wall Street."

"Why are our leaders turning a blind eye to anti-Semitic, anti-Israel attacks?" the narrator in the ad intones. "Tell President Obama and leader Pelosi to stand up to the mob. Hate is not an American value."

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL), which fights anti-Semitism in America and abroad, has also called on OWS organizers to condemn the remarks - but the organization has noted that the incidents do not appear to be widespread or characterize the protests.

"I really don't see any endemic anti-Semitism at these rallies at all. Anybody can show up at these things," said Oren Segal, director of the organization's Center on Extremism, in the Jewish Week. ADL National Director Abraham Foxman noted in a statement that "There is no evidence that these anti-Semitic conspiracy theories are representative of the larger movement or that they are gaining traction with other participants."

Jesse Ferguson, a spokesperson for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, argued in a statement that the calls of anti-Semitism had been "discredited" and that Republicans were using the issue as a "distraction" from the real issues at play.

"We're not going to listen to lectures on anti-Semitism from the same Republicans who continue to stand behind one of their biggest donors, the Koch Brothers, doing business with the Iranian regime that threatens Israel's very existence," said Ferguson, referencing reports tying the Koch brothers to business deals with Iran.

"Republicans are casually throwing around discredited accusations of anti-Semitism against top Jewish leaders in an attempt to distract from the fact that hundreds of thousands of Americans are rightfully angry about Republican economic policies that led to lower home values and incomes, fewer jobs and weaker retirement savings."