Un-American activities and Kucinich's Lew Rockwell

Haviv Rettig has an outstanding article in the Jerusalem Post regarding the way in which Jewish support for Israel is increasingly characterized as “un-American” or “against American interests.”

In defending Israel’s right to exist, American Jews say they are pursuing the Jewish interest of providing safe haven to fellow Jews.

In the view of the [Alexander Hamilton], this interest does not have to be shared by other Americans in order to be legitimate. That one could find Americans who believe Israel’s existence may go against what they see as their own interests does not make Jews “un-American” in pursuing Jewish interests.

Rettig concludes his article with an oblique warning about the rise of fascism in the United States that seems to echo the concerns I’ve expressed about Ron Paul tapping into anti-Jewish and anti-Israel sentiment in order to bolster his campaign.

On that note, I’m still somewhat concerned by last week’s Kucinich affair. Before the rumor started circulating that Kucinich threw AIPAC out of his office, his Congressional campaign had no cash on hand. The following week, after the rumor had burned through the web leaving a trail of anti-Jewish outpourings in its wake, he had $4 million he was the fundraising leader.

I don’t wish to smear Kucinich by proposing a link where there is none. But it may perhaps be worthwhile to ask Kucinich’s campaign whether they received any messages thanking him for “standing up to AIPAC,” whether any such messages accompanied donations, and if so, in what volume.

I also find it troubling that this rumor allegedly originated with people high up in his campaign. Does Kucinich have his own Lew Rockwell in the wings?

While we’re on the subject of anti-Zionism and anti-Jewish discrimination, I suggest you take note of Bradley Burston’s piece in Haaretz Monday. Burston is perhaps my favorite contributor to Haaretz at this point. He, like myself, is as critical of Israel and Zionism as one can conceivably be, and his writing often lends expression to my own thoughts. Thus, when he says that Palestinian solidarity movement has crossed the line into outright racism, I take it very seriously. And I actually don’t think he goes far enough.

Everything old is new again.

[Update] Kucinich doesn’t have $4 million on hand. I misread his district’s profile on Open Secrets. He has $700,000.