Crazy Like the ADL’s Foxman

Abe Foxman of the ADL has a funny way of viewing bigotry, anti-Semitism, and hate speech in general — namely, that if a Republican is connected to it in any way, it’s just fine with him.

The latest example: Sarah Palin’s connections to the Dominionist End-Times movement – you know, the folks that are "friends" with Israel only because they want to see it destroyed in Armageddon? More specifically, her pastor Larry Kroon’s links to Joel’s Army (who want to purge America of everything that isn’t Christian) and the "Jews for Jesus" crusade. As Jeffrey Goldberg notes, Foxman told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that he "didn’t have much problem" with Larry Kroon and his Jews for Jesus ties, even though Foxman wasn’t so forgiving in 1997: "’Christians have been trying to make us disappear as Jews for 2,000 years. Now they’re trying a different method, which is for them to tell us that you can believe in Jesus and still be Jewish. It’s baloney, of course."

Remember: Foxman was all upset over Obama’s pastor. But when he sees a Republican whose pastor has Jews for Jesus and Joel’s Army connections, he does a flip-flop and throws out his long-held stances just to give her his seal of approval.

My favorite is when Foxman, trying to justify his hypocrisy, claims that unlike Catholics, Protestant denominations such as that of Larry Kroon’s don’t have a history of Jew-hating. As Charles J. Brown says, Foxman needs to read what Martin Luther wrote and preached about Jews: Luther’s infamous pamphlet "On the Jews and Their Lies" was one of the Nazis’ favorite pieces of writing. In it, Luther called the Jews a "base, whoring people" and – in a chilling foreshadowing of what the Nazis would four centuries later – advocated their being put to forced labor and even stating that Christians "are at fault in not slaying them".

But of course, Larry Kroon’s famous parishioner is also John McCain’s running mate. And Foxman has also given a free pass to John McCain’s infamous spiritual guru, John Hagee — whose endorsement McCain openly sought though he lied about it afterward. (Then again, one shouldn’t be surprised that McCain thought enough of Hagee to seek his endorsement. The guy whose school nickname was "McNasty" has been known to shove around oxygen-dependent women in wheelchairs and to attack even fellow conservative Senators like John Cornyn. But I digress.)

Here’s what Abraham Foxman has to say about John Hagee: "I think there is a role for [Pastor John Hagee]. He has earned a certain recognition with the community because of his support for Israel."

Here’s what John Hagee has to say about Jews: "It was the disobedience and rebellion of the Jews, God’s chosen people, to their covenantal responsibility to serve only the one true God, Jehovah, that gave rise to the opposition and persecution that they experienced beginning in Canaan and continuing to this very day."

Just in case you didn’t get the point, Hagee also gives some good ol’ Blame The Victim Theology: "How utterly repulsive, insulting, and heartbreaking to God for his chosen people to credit idols with bringing blessings he had showered upon the chosen people. Their own rebellion had birthed the seed of anti-Semitism that would arise and bring destruction to them for centuries to come."

This is the guy that Foxman gave and still gives a free pass, even as he spent months bashing Obama over Jeremiah Wright. This is a pattern that Foxman’s shown for a long time: Come down hard on non-righties, but give handslaps at most to righties, and then usually only if forced to do so by guys like Glenn Greenwald. Such a fair and balanced guy.

Related posts:

1. Teabagging Rep. Todd Akin Recites Pledge to “Drive Liberals Crazy,” Then Botches the Words
2. Crazy Pete Hoekstra’s Pre-Emptive Disavowal of C Street
3. J Street Slams Palin’s Crazy Comments on Israeli Settlements
4. More Insane Rantings from the Crazy Man in the Attic
5. How The Media Enables And Amplifies The Crazy