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Democrat McKinney, Capitalism and Anti-Semitism
The defeat of two black Democrats, Cynthia McKinney by Denise Majette in Georgia and Earl Hilliard by Artur Davis in Alabama for congressional seats recently, has been the excuse for a torrent of anti-Semitic trash from writers Alexander Cockburn and Edward Herman and their friends, who allege “Jewish money” rather than their own capitalist party defeated them. This stupidity has been lapped up by the bourgeois Babbitts who claim to be “progressive” but insist on voting either Democrat or Republican, or at least support capitalism.
The defeat of two black Democrats, Cynthia McKinney by Denise Majette in Georgia and Earl Hilliard by Artur Davis in Alabama for congressional seats recently, has been the excuse for a torrent of anti-Semitic trash from writers Alexander Cockburn and Edward Herman and their friends, who allege “Jewish money” rather than their own capitalist party defeated them. This stupidity has been lapped up by the bourgeois Babbitts who claim to be “progressive” but insist on voting either Democrat or Republican, or at least support capitalism.
While Stephen Zunes, a political science professor, has attempted to respond to this blatant anti-Semitism from an anti-Zionist perspective, his arguments are weak because he does so within the framework of supporting the capitalist Democratic Party, which, like its Republican twin, must be cast into the dustbin of history with all deliberate speed if humanity is to advance.
One excellent commentary on the defeats of McKinney and Hilliard was on the World Socialist Website on August 28, 2002 by Patrick Martin and Barry Grey entitled “Behind the Defeat of Georgia Congresswoman: Republican right, Israel lobby Unite to Silence Criticism of Anti-Terror War.” See: http://www.wsws.org/articles/2002/aug2002/mcki-a28.shtml
As you can see from their analysis, McKinney in particular did not do her homework. She ran to fascists like the anti-labor, election-frauding, pro-Nazi thugs, the Nation of Islam, instead of the workingclass . She chose black nationalism over workingclass solidarity and the result was a “lack of serious and active mass base of support in the working population.”
Let’s start with the basics:
1. The primary contradiction is between capital and labor and both the capitalist class and the workingclass are international.
2. It makes no difference if the capitalist class is Christian, Jewish, anything else or any mix thereof; it is still a capitalist class.
3. The US ruling class, of which George War Bush is an excellent example and proud spokesperson, is overwhelmingly Christian.
4. Israel is a US military base that exists to protect US oil imperialism.
5. George War Bush and his Nazi friends do not support Israel because they like Jews . They are anti-Semites and most non-Jewish supporters of Israel are anti-Semites. They support Israel because it is a reliable puppet government of US oil imperialism in the Middle East.
6. No capitalist government or capitalist party, such as the Democrat-Republicans, gives a damn about Jews. They care only about the primary law of capitalism: Maximization of profit. The purpose of a capitalist government and a capitalist party is to guarantee maximum profits to the capitalist class.
7. While it is true that the oppression of African-Americans is significantly different form anti-Semitism in the US, the fact remains the US reeks of anti-Semitism. The latest proof is all the anti-Semitic trash complaining about “Jewish money,” and “Jews controlling America.” The daily proof is the anti-Semitism every single person of Jewish descent experiences all their lives constantly, whether they are atheists of Jewish descent, the most common variety of Jewish in the US, or they believe in the Jewish religion; whether they are communist or capitalist; whether they are for the fascist, theocratic, anti-women, anti-gay, racist, anti-labor Zionist government of Israel or they support a socialist secular state of Palestine as being the only viable option for peace in the Middle East.
I am one of those Jews Without Money (also the title of a classic American novel by Michael Gold, available in all major big city public libraries) who is a lifelong socialist and atheist, who does not support the Democrat-Republicans, and who supports a socialist secular state of Palestine. I experience constant anti-Semitism because I “look Jewish,” and nobody asks about my position on Israel.
Most of the people howling about the defeats of Hilliard and McKinney have only recently questioned US support of Israel and only recently made a little effort to learn what is taking place there. In fact, what we are seeing in Israel today in relation to the attacks on the Palestinians has been going on since 1947. The founding of the State of Israel consisted of the same terror that Israel perpetrates today against the Palestinians supported by both the Democrats and Republicans. This is nothing new. Thus, I can only ask, where have you been?
Let’s look at solutions:
1. Are you still a registered Democrat or Republican? If so, then the US support of Israel is your fault, not “the Jews’ fault.” You must leave the twin parties of capitalism, the Democrat-Republicans, and register decline to state (no party) or find a party that supports a socialist secular state of Palestine.
2. Do you routinely support the Democrat-Republican incumbent even though you know they support the Zionist government of Israel, because you think a capitalist candidate is “viable” and preferable to a socialist candidate? If so, then you are to blame, not “the Jews.” I suggest you run for office yourself on a platform of supporting a socialist, secular state of Palestine, and you campaign vigorously by precincts on foot and by phone to get your message across, for all campaigns are decided in the precincts. It is people who vote, not money ,and people can defeat big money campaigns with a strong precinct-based campaign.
3. Do you think that voting once in a while is sufficient political work? If so, the US support of Israel and the problems of this society are your fault, not that of “the Jews.” All politics are local, and the change must come form this country, because the problem originates in US capitalism, not in Israel, and not with “the Jews.” It is not “the Jews” who are in control, but the capitalist class, and the capitalist class will prevail so long as labor does not move. You must participate in community activities, labor organizing, tenant organizing, campaigns for progressive ballot initiatives and many other pro-workingclass efforts. With such actions, you will thereby end up demanding your representatives transfer the wealth from the military/prison/police budgets to the education/housing/healthcare an social services budgets . That is how we will stop sending money to Israel. When we demand money for butter, not for guns, there will be no more money for any US puppet government, including Israel.
It is election season now, with all of the House and one-third of the Senate up for election. Do not vote for any Democrats or Republicans as they are all pro-Israel by definition. The same is true at the state, county and city level. You will have to find pro-Palestinian candidates or skip those positions where the only candidates are pro-Israel. We have a lot of grassroots campaigns which need your help on the state and county propositions. It is by building alternatives at the grassroots that we can put pro-Palestinian candidates in Congress and put an end to propping up all the fascist dictatorships around the world, including Israel. The only hope for peace in the Middle East is a socialist, secular Palestine.
While Stephen Zunes, a political science professor, has attempted to respond to this blatant anti-Semitism from an anti-Zionist perspective, his arguments are weak because he does so within the framework of supporting the capitalist Democratic Party, which, like its Republican twin, must be cast into the dustbin of history with all deliberate speed if humanity is to advance.
One excellent commentary on the defeats of McKinney and Hilliard was on the World Socialist Website on August 28, 2002 by Patrick Martin and Barry Grey entitled “Behind the Defeat of Georgia Congresswoman: Republican right, Israel lobby Unite to Silence Criticism of Anti-Terror War.” See: http://www.wsws.org/articles/2002/aug2002/mcki-a28.shtml
As you can see from their analysis, McKinney in particular did not do her homework. She ran to fascists like the anti-labor, election-frauding, pro-Nazi thugs, the Nation of Islam, instead of the workingclass . She chose black nationalism over workingclass solidarity and the result was a “lack of serious and active mass base of support in the working population.”
Let’s start with the basics:
1. The primary contradiction is between capital and labor and both the capitalist class and the workingclass are international.
2. It makes no difference if the capitalist class is Christian, Jewish, anything else or any mix thereof; it is still a capitalist class.
3. The US ruling class, of which George War Bush is an excellent example and proud spokesperson, is overwhelmingly Christian.
4. Israel is a US military base that exists to protect US oil imperialism.
5. George War Bush and his Nazi friends do not support Israel because they like Jews . They are anti-Semites and most non-Jewish supporters of Israel are anti-Semites. They support Israel because it is a reliable puppet government of US oil imperialism in the Middle East.
6. No capitalist government or capitalist party, such as the Democrat-Republicans, gives a damn about Jews. They care only about the primary law of capitalism: Maximization of profit. The purpose of a capitalist government and a capitalist party is to guarantee maximum profits to the capitalist class.
7. While it is true that the oppression of African-Americans is significantly different form anti-Semitism in the US, the fact remains the US reeks of anti-Semitism. The latest proof is all the anti-Semitic trash complaining about “Jewish money,” and “Jews controlling America.” The daily proof is the anti-Semitism every single person of Jewish descent experiences all their lives constantly, whether they are atheists of Jewish descent, the most common variety of Jewish in the US, or they believe in the Jewish religion; whether they are communist or capitalist; whether they are for the fascist, theocratic, anti-women, anti-gay, racist, anti-labor Zionist government of Israel or they support a socialist secular state of Palestine as being the only viable option for peace in the Middle East.
I am one of those Jews Without Money (also the title of a classic American novel by Michael Gold, available in all major big city public libraries) who is a lifelong socialist and atheist, who does not support the Democrat-Republicans, and who supports a socialist secular state of Palestine. I experience constant anti-Semitism because I “look Jewish,” and nobody asks about my position on Israel.
Most of the people howling about the defeats of Hilliard and McKinney have only recently questioned US support of Israel and only recently made a little effort to learn what is taking place there. In fact, what we are seeing in Israel today in relation to the attacks on the Palestinians has been going on since 1947. The founding of the State of Israel consisted of the same terror that Israel perpetrates today against the Palestinians supported by both the Democrats and Republicans. This is nothing new. Thus, I can only ask, where have you been?
Let’s look at solutions:
1. Are you still a registered Democrat or Republican? If so, then the US support of Israel is your fault, not “the Jews’ fault.” You must leave the twin parties of capitalism, the Democrat-Republicans, and register decline to state (no party) or find a party that supports a socialist secular state of Palestine.
2. Do you routinely support the Democrat-Republican incumbent even though you know they support the Zionist government of Israel, because you think a capitalist candidate is “viable” and preferable to a socialist candidate? If so, then you are to blame, not “the Jews.” I suggest you run for office yourself on a platform of supporting a socialist, secular state of Palestine, and you campaign vigorously by precincts on foot and by phone to get your message across, for all campaigns are decided in the precincts. It is people who vote, not money ,and people can defeat big money campaigns with a strong precinct-based campaign.
3. Do you think that voting once in a while is sufficient political work? If so, the US support of Israel and the problems of this society are your fault, not that of “the Jews.” All politics are local, and the change must come form this country, because the problem originates in US capitalism, not in Israel, and not with “the Jews.” It is not “the Jews” who are in control, but the capitalist class, and the capitalist class will prevail so long as labor does not move. You must participate in community activities, labor organizing, tenant organizing, campaigns for progressive ballot initiatives and many other pro-workingclass efforts. With such actions, you will thereby end up demanding your representatives transfer the wealth from the military/prison/police budgets to the education/housing/healthcare an social services budgets . That is how we will stop sending money to Israel. When we demand money for butter, not for guns, there will be no more money for any US puppet government, including Israel.
It is election season now, with all of the House and one-third of the Senate up for election. Do not vote for any Democrats or Republicans as they are all pro-Israel by definition. The same is true at the state, county and city level. You will have to find pro-Palestinian candidates or skip those positions where the only candidates are pro-Israel. We have a lot of grassroots campaigns which need your help on the state and county propositions. It is by building alternatives at the grassroots that we can put pro-Palestinian candidates in Congress and put an end to propping up all the fascist dictatorships around the world, including Israel. The only hope for peace in the Middle East is a socialist, secular Palestine.
For more information:
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2002/aug2002/...
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There must be some campaign reform. I'd rather have some of my tax dollars going to support equally a public program of campaign contributions, whereby all candidates get the same amount of money from a public campaign fund. No private contributions allowed. Equal TV time would be alloted to all. Politicians should not be allowed to be bought off to support the apartheid country of Israel. I'd rather the US went to war with Israel than Iraq! Put that in your pipe and smoke it!
Furthermore ZOG is a concept of the far right propaganda community; your use of the term exposes you as someone in contact with them.
True, lately the presidents are of English/Irish heritage, but they are just front men for the Zionist agenda which is their obsession: Israel. The presidents we've had lately also worship at the temples of greed and gold, along with the elite Zionists in our government today and the Zionist lobby groups. Perhaps many Americans would not vote for a Jew, but that doesn't stop Zionist influence. Not at all. By the way, in the last election I voted for Gore, and it didn't bother me one bit that Lieberman was his choice for Vice President at the time .
NOW however, the truth about apartheid Israel has been revealed. Now I know the truth about the ethnic cleansing that our tax dollars are paying for as greedy, racist Israel continues with its goal of a Jewish state in a land that is naturally Arab and predominately Muslim, with some Christians. And I will never vote for a Jew again unless I know for sure that he / she is anti-Israel.
It would bring great joy to my heart if the US were to threaten war with Israel instead of Iraq. The US should threaten war with Israel until it transforms to a completely democratic, secular country, and allows the return of all four million Palestinian refugees to their ancestral homes, as is their right according to international law and UN Resolutions. The new country should be called Palestine-Israel. There should be no military, except for international peace-keeping troups.
If Israel is such a client state, why did the USS Liberty tragedy happen? http://www.ussliberty.com I'll tell you why. Because Israel didn't want anyone, not even the US, interfering with its unbridled aggression against its neighbors and wanted no witnesses. Sound familiar?
I'll tell you why no one was in an uproar about racist Israel back in the 60's and 70's. Because no one knew about it! Thanks to the media towing the party line, and being quite populated with Zionists I might add.
I'll tell you exactly how I feel about Israel: FUCK ISRAEL!
I'll tell you exactly how I feel about Zionists who insist on a racist, discriminatory Jewish state: ANGER!
Jews should forget about Zionism, and forget about Israel, and put America first. Accept that America is their homeland as equals along with the rest of us. And instead of putting all that energy towards Israel, put it here in America. Israel is not your homeland. It is the Palestinians homeland, and that includes Palestinian Jews. Jews who are not from Palestine, should live under Palestinain rule or at the very least work out a secular, democracy, where everyone has equal rights, regardless of religion, ethnicity or sex.
And I don't want to hear one more damn word about the stinking Holocaust. That is SO HYPOCRITICAL when what Israel is doing right now to the Palestinians is just as bad, short of putting them in ovens!
Israel is more of a threat to the world right now, threatening to suck the whole world into its black hole of unbridled ambition, self-centered greed and gross paranoia. Israel has alot more weapons than Iraq too!
FUCK ISRAEL!
YOU are a ZIONAZI in the first degree.
Asshole.
by the way mr "not a white supremacist" you seem to be more interested in defending the recent attempts of neo-nazi organizations to attach themselves to the issue, than in dealing with the problems and issues. Gee - I wonder what your agenda is?
FREE PALESTINE!
I am totally committed to the Palestinian cause, and have donated over $1000 to various groups that are pro-Palestinian within the last few month.
These include The Middle East Children's Alliance, at http://www.mecaforpeace.org as well as the International Solidarity Movement at http://www.palsolidarity.org, and the Palestine Red Crescent Society.
So don't try to get all righteous on me. Maybe YOU are not a Zionazi, but there are Zionazis and don't be a denier on that one, asshole.
Nobody calls themself a Zionazi. In fact outside of neo-nazi trolls and David Irving et al's websites, the term is not used at all.
You guys suck at this.
In other words, there have been other fascist governments, politcal organizations, and so on but they were not Nazis. There have been plenty of governments that discriminate, marginalize, and oppress black people but only South Africa experienced the policies of apartheid, the US with Jim Crow, and so on.
Using the term "nazi" is a lazy way to denigrate those you disagee with. It's used with equal zeal by the left and right. As a result you get fringe elements of the left and right refering to Israelis as "zionazis," Rush Limbaugh and his ilk making refernece to "feminazis," etc.
Face up to the facts, Zionazis are as bad as Nazis, for they commit the same crimes against humanity.
Sorry, the Holocaust is just not a good excuse to turn around and do the same things to the Palestinians.
No free passes for Zionazis. YOU WILL BE PUNISHED!
can you substantiate this with some sort of credible reference or shall I simply assume you are making it up because that's the only way you can make a point?