Today's Forward has an article on left-wing Jewish support for Cynthia McKinney. Groups mentioned include: Bubbes and Zaydes for Peace in the Middle East, Jews for Peace in Palestine and Israel and, of course, Tikkun.
Among the highlights:
Beloved by many on the left as a firm defender of minority rights, aid for Africa and pro-labor views, McKinney came to Congress 1992 with the help of local Jewish supporters, including Atlanta consultant Jules Stine.But the relationship gradually grew more and more strained. In 1994, the House considered a resolution condemning the incendiary speech of the late Nation of Islam representative Khalid Muhammad. McKinney, arguing that the move would impinge on the freedom of speech, refused to support the measure. Two years later her father and then-campaign manager, Billy McKinney, called the congresswoman's Republican challenger "a racist Jew." McKinney eventually criticized her father after an uproar in the community and he excused himself from the campaign, but the damage had been done, observers said.
Last October, after New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani returned a $10 million gift to the city from Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal after the prince criticized Israel in published comments, McKinney issued a public letter supporting the prince, asking that he donate the money to black charities. In an April radio interview, McKinney called for an investigation into whether President Bush might have had prior knowledge of the September 11 attacks and looked to profit from them.
In May, along with Hilliard, McKinney was one of 5 members of the 36 voting members of the Congressional Black Caucus to vote against a pro-Israel resolution that put the bulk of the blame for the conflict on the Palestinians. McKinney said the measure would "undermine America's vital role as peacemaker.... While I support a safe and secure Israel, I also share the concerns of millions of Americans that Palestinians too deserve to live in freedom, dignity, and security."
"People ask me whether she's antisemitic — it's more that she's pro-Palestinian," said Deborah Lauter, Southeast regional director at the Anti-Defamation League. "I don't think she's crossed the line."
Lauter pointed out that McKinney supported a July 9 House resolution condemning European antisemitism, a measure which passed in a unanimous vote.
Oh, well then, let's support her by all means. She elected not to be the sole member of the House of Representatives to vote against a resolution condemning European antisemitism! Wow!
Okay, well, I get it (even if the ADL doesn't). She isn't really anti-Semitic, she's just anti-Israel. And she isn't really anti-Israel, she's just opposed to Israel trying to defend itself. And she isn't really opposed to Israel trying to defend itself, she's just opposed to Israel's use of arms, intimidation or inconvenience in doing so.
Keep zipping, Cynthia.
