ADL slams two U.S. Republicans for calling Jews penny-pinchers

I have noticed several people on this post who are so opposed to the unintentional bigotry exposed here that they intentionally vilify the entire state of South Carolina for the statements of these two men. I suppose it is only bigotry if it is directed against one's own group.

we are cheap, we are extravagant, the deep seated hostility always finds an outlet.

Christian Penny-Pinchers & worse. It's a fact: muck always floats to the surface.

It's almost impossible to live among American gentiles & not see anti-Jewish conduct. If you're born a gentiles & live among them, you're taught it. I'm an American born gentle. I'm 72. I un-learned anti-semitism as an adult. It was worth the effort. I ignnore genriles who do the anti-Jew thing. I walk out on them. I do that for my peace of mind.I'm seen as a snob, so what. Peace is my goal, not conformity. Hatred ages you. Who needs it?

Concerning the popular conception about Jews being tight-fisted on money, everyone knows this to be true. what is there to be concerned about? Many hope the American Congress would be a little more conservative with our tax dollars than they are now.

Scots often take humorous pride in being called "thrifty," even mocked as "cheap." But Jews take umbrage because of one obvious difference: Scots have never been massacred for being Scottish. Massacred for other reasons, sure. So bringing up negative Jewish stereotypes is harmful, and groups like the ADL were organized precisely to combat them. Joking that one group is lazy, another stupid, another smells of garlic -- these also are harmful. But in history, perhaps less harmful than anti-Jewish stereotypes. The stereotype about Jews being "tight" is false in any case. Jewish philanthropists, from Annenberg to Ziff, are famous. In fact,in sharp contrast, Pres. Obama and VP Biden each gave remarkably little to charity, per their published tax returns.

I'm not trying to speak for Swiss Dino, but I don't think its real jews he "hates." But he may have a strong aversion to phony Talmudic Khazars. I could be wrong- just a guess.

If your post #11 was satire it was brilliant.

War is not cheap. Freedom is not free. Someone had to finance the majority of that war and pay for soldiers pensions and the number 1 financier of the USA's revolutionary war in 1700's was Jewish patriot Haim Solomon. I am not a Jew. I am not a Christian. This is a historical fact. My family was there fighting. And...I am 35 years old...believe me - I have my own children and my own books, honey.

Funny, you should pay attention to your own stereotyping of certain ethnic groups before crying about two rednecks doing what rednecks do...

Israel does a damn fine job of soaking the people of the USA out of BILLIONS every year.... and what do we get for it? Not a damn thing. In fact, we get a negative return on that investment, don't we? In fact, you could say that our politicians put us in the position of having to take the heat for your nations bullshit. Quit whining because two chuckleheads from South Carolina say something stupid. You should hear how they talk about black Americans, Mexicans, and poor people....

...anymore, do you? How do you find the time to spew your Jew-hatred every minute of every day? And, of course, this is all in the name of 'humanitarianism', right? You're just looking out for the 99.5% of the world which is suffering at the evil hands of the 0.5% of the world who are Jews. Very admirable of you. Oops, almost forgot. ....???? ()() "" :):):). (I know how you love your idiotic hyper-punctuations.)

We have a country because brave men decided to stand up against a major power, not because it was financed by some man who practived Judaism. What conspiracy theory books have you been reading in the basement of your parent's house?

This statement about Jews and penny pinching has long been associated with Jew hating and bashing. I find it ridiculous and actually sad that in this day and age people need to fall back on this old and sorry adage. Funny, Jews are considered cheap and miserly and Christians,who can be some of the cheapest people I know,are considered frugal. Words can be so hurtful and mean when addressed at Jews and complimentary when directed at Christians. These two "fools" apologized...let it be. In a way it is good for Jews who live in the U.S. to see that this rhetoric is still alive and breathing quite well on its own..no respirator needed. A little dose of reality is good for the Jews in America...they have become to complacent and fat and comfortable especially in their support of numero uno empty suited one..obama. As for dutch and palestinian...a couple made for each other in hell.

Tell us Mrs. Palestinian, exactly when you became the spokesmen for ?Billions of people?. At most you may speak for the Muslims that support terror which Im told is only 1 percent of Islam. I see you live in Israel. I hope you are thankful for the freedoms you have. Unlike Islamic countries like Iran, Syria??. where you would be raped and stoned to death for having an opinion other than that of the religious zealots.

Tell us Mrs. Palestinian, exactly when you became the spokesmen for ?Billions of people?. At most you may speak for the Muslims that support terror which Im told is only 1 percent of Islam. I see you live in Israel. I hope you are thankful for the freedoms you have. Unlike Islamic countries like Iran, Syria??. where you would be raped and stoned to death for having an opinion other than that of the religious zealots.

I agree with Mark Jeffrey Koch # 2. The fact is the United States is a Jewish-Christian Republic. The reason we have a country is Haim Solomon, a Jewish colonist here in the 1700's financed our revolutionary war. The United States would not exist today is a rich Jewish man had not decided to to into poverty by starting our new government. That is why our dollar has "In God We Trust" and other Jewish symbols on it. It's really a compliment....

Dutch instead of spewing venom use your time to study about what you bark about, you look and sound uneducated bigot with Muslim Arab following. remember Silence Is Golden.

That, of course is a total croc. Apparently, anyone who thinks peace is the best outcome in the holy land is against Israel. Think about that. Is that where you really want to be? The truth is that all the Christian right support of Israel, is a facade. Only when the Jews all convert will these extremists be happy. You open your doors to them and they come as Wolves in sheep's clothing.

South Carolina politicians suffer from stupidity. What do you expects from a state that rates on the bottom of the 50 US states when it comes to education. Both senators need to check a little better and see who is supporting most charities in the US and around the world. Certainly not this two bozos. An Idiot for a governor and two stupid ignorant senators explains why beautiful SC is in such a bad shape.

are you sure you are not a NY loaner? LOL BTW, your analysis of the spending practices of Barak is misleading. Most people (Jews included) will happily spend other peoples (especially tax-payers) money. But if you are trying to say Barak is a the worst and most selfish Israeli politico ever, I have to agree. That said, the comments of the two GOP's is stupid to say the least. However, having spoken to several Americans in my life, its a general truth that these comments come out of respect of certain perceived "Jewish" traits. I would not be very surprised if they meant it as a compliment and thought this is "general knowledge".

It is about time Israelis started supproting Barack Hussein obama. maybe now they will take the Peace process seriously.

once again Doris bores us with her tired spew of hate. what a twisted little world she resides in!

your statement is totally correct!

being a supporter of israel today is much harder and more embarassing than it was decades ago... israel is hurting itself left and right...

no doubt the u.s.a is Israels best friend ,but it is still very common to hear north american say that israel is getting tens and hundred if billions of dollars from the states.the exact amount of american money alocated by congress to israel was 2,5 billion dollars in 2008 and 2.1 billions as a military loan for the purchase of military equipment from american companies.these are the facts and i wish they are published so americans get the facts right.one more thing Israel has NEVER requested american souldiers to shed their blood fighting its war and the U.S.A DID NOT GO TO THE WAR IN IRAQ BECAUSE OF ISRAEL.THE TRUTH IS THAT ISRAEL DID NOT DEFEND IT SELF AFTER BEING BOMBBED BY SADAMS MISSILE DUE TO AN EXPLICIT AMERICAN REQUEST.

Zionist apologists have been pinching pennies and now billions of dollars from the US Treasury and little old Jewish ladies and men and charitable groups all to promote their tribe and its illegal pre sence on Palestinian land beyond the partition & Green Line today. They have a lot to answer including depriving Palestinian refugees their inalienable right to return to "their homes" in Israel where they were uprooted from in 1948 and 1967 to promote illegal confiscation and settlements on Palestinian land. I imagine people will demand they pay back a lot of this money one day and pay Palestinianms for the illegally occupied without a day's rent. That would be the decent and moral thing to do not to stiffle legitimate criticism that sheds light on this injustice. Dutch

Being called "thrifty" is not a bad thing. I do not think this warrents such a reaction. Actually, I for one feel it is a compliment.

James -- I don't believe they intended it as an insult, and I, personally, didn't take it that way. However, you have to understand that there is a long line of anti-Semitism which claims that all Jews are rich and, perhaps, not justly so. I know the two men did not say that, but the fact is that there are people who would use the statements of public figures such as these to reinforce their own prejudices -- even if the speakers didn't intend for that to happen. The simple truth is that when you occupy a position of public office or are otherwise prominent and respected in your community, you really need to be careful about what you say, not just what you mean, but what other people might think you mean.

I thought they were busy 24/7 supporting right-wing Israels policies in Palestine.....

Ben takes offence. He calls these gentlemen bigots and morons. They themselves could take offence with such a response. In fact so many of these Talkbacks show real hate against those who have a different opinion.

The two clowns are just a pair of jerks. The party of racists and bigots - especially in The Treason State of South Carolina - has loads of them. it was no big thing, just good old petty racism.

I do not understand why the two republicans statement is taken as anti-Semitic. It is intended as a compliment in its context. God knows we (USA)need frugal congressmen after the extravagant spenders we have now. The point made was that the subject would control spending. Why is that taken by ADL as an insult?

I am sure these southern gentlemen were surprised by the backlash thinking they were paying tribute to Jewish ingenuity and skill rather than consciously playing into anti-Semitic stereotypes. Stereotyping is a disease of the thoughtless and the careless. There is a difference between education as indoctrination and education as intellectual inquiry. Both of these men are well-educated, but they are also well-indoctrinated in their culture's prejudices. Believe me, they didn't know what they did because they love the Jews - they really do. That said, I hope these gentlemen will become spokesmen against the influences that cause these kinds of gaffe. If they have any kind of conscience, they will spend a lifetime trying to right the wrongs of their forbearers by teaching this generation that their lack of sensitivity and lack of historic awareness promotes unjustifiable prejudice. This goes for any kind of bias that would improperly harm any law-abiding member of our society.

The statement is not at all offensive. What Obama wants to do to Israel is offensive.

. . . but were not intended to be vicious. I think the ADL spokesman is correct. They need to be educated about anti-Semitism and why remarks of the kind they made reinforce negative stereotypes about Jews. But I think removing them from office because of this is overly harsh and counter-productive.

We don't expect much from South Carolinians. There are worse sterotypical remarks that can made; therefore a little "thick skin" may help.

Obama is friends with farakan and sharpton and jackson. All have made worse comments about jews and I dont recall ADL going after obama and demanding he denouce them. ADL is a liberal groups that will go after republicans for anything. You dont speak on my belhalf. So what if i am a penny pincher? Would you rather I spend other peoples money like liberals?

The two making the Jewish analogy deserve the criticism. But DeMint should be scrutinized more heavily, too. Almost daily, his office sends out veiled death threats to elderly Americans, not just in South Carolina, but all over the USA. The letters carry his signature and tell very elderly seniors that "Obama care" and the government is out to kill them. But that the "Senate Health Care Task Force" can stop that with their contribution of $25 to $2500. After my 90 year-old mother-in-law's second stroke, I now can screen these death threats out of what she reads. Don't just look at the sleazy antisemitic stuff and ignore the other sleazy stuff on these politicians.

Offensiveness of the comment aside, why would anyone holding public office refer to any negative stereotype like that? It is disturbing that they think that such a derogatory statement is appropriate at all. Not only are they bigots, but they're huge morons. All people in South Carolina should be outraged that such idiots are in office. Oh wait, they're the ones who put them there.

Wow! I have to agree, the remark was insensitive and ignorant. Stereotyping entire ethnic groups is the first step to genocide. Oddly, Southern GOP leaders are usually born-again Christians and they support the Jewish State's right to exist, as an article of faith. Theodor Herzl predicted that anti-Semitic nations would support Zionism, because anti-Semitic nations would welcome an opportunity to dump their unwanted Jews. When one reads remarks like those of these two Republican leaders, one might conclude that Herzl, the Father of Zionism, was probably right on that fundamental point. As we all know, Jews can be spendthrifts and profligate spenders - case in point: The Israeli Defense Dept's expensive junket to this year's Paris Air Show. The Israeli officials stayed for 4 nights, but paid for 6 nights, at some of the most expensive hotels in town. They booked too late. No, the stereotype is not only ignorant, insensitive and hurtful, it is downright inaccurate.

Anti Semitism in America? In the golden land? No way! LOL!

As disgusting as these comments may have been the reality is that in America talk radio and television that are hosted by conservative republicans are vehemently pro-Israel and the anti Israel pro-Palestinian faction is almost entirely liberal and left wing Democrats. With the exception of former President Bill Clinton, a substantial number of Democrats are not supporters of Israel whereas a substantial number of Republicans are.

Now that these two officials have been publically chastised, perhaps the two will push to draft legislation requiring ADL and AIPAC to register as agents of a foreign government.