Now comes the following little gem from the AP:
"Anti-Jewish commentary is flooding the Internet in the wake of Bernard Madoff's arrest on charges of masterminding one of the biggest Wall Street frauds in history, campaigners said Friday.
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) said there had been 'an outpouring of anti-Semitic comments on mainstream and extremist Web sites.'
Madoff, 70, is Jewish and a prominent member of the powerful US Jewish community. He is alleged to have defrauded investors, including a number of Jewish-related charities, of some 50 billion dollars.
Site users have posted comments ranging from deeply offensive stereotypical statements about Jews and money -- with some suggesting that only Jews could perpetrate a fraud on such a scale -- to conspiracy theories about Jews stealing money to benefit Israel,' the ADL said in a statement.
'Jews are always a convenient scapegoat in times of crisis, but the Madoff scandal and the fact that so many of the defrauded investors are Jewish has created a perfect storm for the anti-Semites,' said Abraham Foxman, ADL national director.
'Nowadays, the first place Jew-haters will go is to the Internet, where they can give voice to their hateful ideas without fear of repercussions."
"Jews are always a convenient scapegoat in times of crisis..."
And you might want to add blacks, gays, immigrants, and any other minority group that you can think of to that number.
Look, Madoff was selected by moi to be Honorary House Negro of the day, because he stole millions and millions of dollars from people who were supposed to be his friends. (Many of them Jewish themselves) To tie in the man's ethnicity or religion with a despicable act which he alone committed is typical of the ignorant people in this country who make up far too large a segment of our population.
But I should have known that this was happening. I saw it here when one particular racist made reference to Madoff's race in his comments. You gotta love these ignorant moronic racist; they are always so predictable.
We better get used to this folks; as times get harder this will only get worse. I am just hoping that the grown ups win this debate, because if they don't, we are going to be in a shit load of trouble.
48 comments:
Leaving Madoff's ethnicity out of it, he was not the only one involved. You don't develop a scheme this big over a decade without other people learning about it. While some investors may have gone with Madoff because they thought he had the magic touch, there were also some who went with him because they either knew or suspected something. I wonder when we will earn their names. Personally, I don't buy Mort Zuckerman's "I had no idea" routine.
- KXB
The people he suckered were intelligent suckers who should have known better. Everyone should learn what he did and prepare yourself, someday your brother in law might come calling.
szpork
It's always like that. When we had too many immigrants working low-paying jobs, white people in my area were railing against those "Dirty Mexicans".
Same blame game, different ethnicity. That's how conservatives roll.
http://www.elizabethalexander.net/
Meet the inaugural poet.
It looks like it's synagogue of satan time, again. Jew bashing is a big tent, from Robertson and Hagey to Wright and Farrakhan, it brings the races together.
Honestly FN, you and I stay up too late. My excuse is a pate in the over. what yours? ;)
OK, I am pretty sure you do the same thing I do. Whenever I hear word that someone did something horrible one of my first reactions is, "man I hope he/she is not jewish". Because I just know it is gonna mean trouble. We all do it, "I hope he/she is not black" "I hope he/she is not gay" "I hope he/she is not...on and on and on.
The irony of course in this case is it looks like the majority of the people affected are also jewish. Unfortunately the indirect impact is that a ton of it was money from jewish charities that helped everyone in the US. That is the real tragedy. I could care less if a bunch of random rich guys who should have known better lost money. But a lot of the victims were family foundations and non profits that were doing great work. Now that work has stopped.
Anyway, religion is just another way for people to justify their hatred of others. I am not surprised that this has caused the anti-semites to come out of the woodwork.
Just wait till it comes out the Rahm did have conversations with Blogsonofabitch.....
I didn't even realize the guy was Jewish , I just thought he was a crook like the rest of them that brought this whole financial mess. Not many fingures are pointing in the direction of the bankers though.
"Jew bashing is a big tent, from Robertson and Hagey to Wright and Farrakhan, it brings the races together."
Yeah but let us also not forget that Jews have been are are victimizers too. The whole 'everyone hates Jews' argument is also used to cover up the fact that Jews can be pretty racist too (a type of racism that can be even worse than the rest of white America). Their own experience with anti semitism shields the reality of their own racist tendencies that are never openly addressed because if one raises the issue then they are labelled anti semitic. We need to face this reality.
Malcom X was accused of being anti semitic for suggesting that blacks should run the businesses in their own neighborhoods. At some point Jews need to be held accountable and criticized by those genuinely affected without fear of being condemned and accused of being anti-semitic.
As for Maddoff. Unless all the Bankers and all of Wall street are Jews, I don't see how one can make a generalization.
“We better get used to this folks; as times get harder this will only get worse. I am just hoping that the GROWN UPS win this debate, because if they don't, we are going to be in a shit load of trouble.”--FN
Field, we are a nation of ‘adult children.’ That is, we are emotionally immature children in adult bodies-- Just ask the rest of the world. The majority of Americans has had very few models on how an adult thinks, feels, or behaves.
Field, WE ARE IN A SHIT LOAD OF TROUBLE!
How typical.
The usual northeast media elites are on TV whining about how Bernard Madoff ripped off uber-wealthy people on the Upper Eastside of the plantation known as Manhattan.
Whaaaaaaaa, whaaaaaaaaa, whaaaaaaaa.
Where was the outrage when more than 3 million U.S. autoworkers were poised to lose their job and face unemployment in the worst economy since the Great Depression?
Crickets.
But everyone in the media is expressing shock and awe over this guy ripping off corporatists and socialites and Steven Spielberg?
Don't care -- not one iota. Sorry.
Ye earlgray we all do it. And adly, it' a reflection of the environment in which we live.
And I don't know what my excue i for not sleeping. Evem on vacation it becomes a problem.
Anon, you are right, we are a nation of children. Maybe that's why we are where we are now. Maybe it could be wore, but it's hard to imagine.
And earlgray made some points: The Jewish charities do some good work and at the end of the day, they are the ones that suffer.
I'm not surprised that the wing nuts are out for blood. But it's wasn't his Jewishness that turned him into an greedy thoughtless SOB he's a greedy AMERICAN. The founding fathers didn't come over here seeking freedom they came over here to get paid free from the meddling of the King and that has been a theme running through this land ever since. And history tells us that they WILL kill and enslave in order to get them Benjamins. What staggers the mind is the vast amount of money that Madoff bamboozled out of everybody and the length of time it took for him to get caught. What does SEC stand for, keeping bullshit upright? This guy is straight up gangster and why he's at home right now behind his own private gate and not being side eyed and manhandled by some dude named Bubba or Big Mac is beyond me. I want that man in an orange jumpsuit by Christmas but hell, Santa doesn't exist. Didn't he all ready confess?
This is what you get from the trickle down theory championed by Reagan and others over the past thirty years, they digest the money, and we get the crap.
So, Madoff is a Jew but he's American first because America made him.
Field, I have to say I took issue with you over Warren's inclusion at Obama's inauguration. And I took issue because in giving Warren all of that play you diminished having the great Rev Lowery on the stage with him. His inclusion is of utmost important is just a strong symbol of where Obama's heart lies as having Warren there.
Love the blog. I'll stop lurking and start participating.
Anti-semitism is just another tool in the tool kit of divide and conqueor.... anytime anyone uses a single incident to say an entire group of people somehow are reflected is just bullshit. The only thing all jews have in common is being jewish. After that, you cannot say all jews are anything. I personally am sick of the almost default arguement of the divide and conqueor mentality. The very survival of ALL OF US requires that we stop it!
Interesting that each minority group has it's own scapegoat niche. They always give white Amurkkka someone to blame for their own misdeeds.
Unfortunately, it's not just the wealthy who lost their money because of Maddow; many churches, synagoges, philanthorpic organizations, and other non-profits have been devastated by this because their money was being invested, sometimes without their knowledge, by people they trusted. In the Twin Cities area, he worked one particular country club so we have a lot of locals who have been hit, but because lot of those people are also benefactors of the arts and of charities, now those organizations are closing and can't serve their communities. I wish it were just the billionaires who were affected, but between the Maddow Ponzi scheme and our own homegrown billionaire Ponzi schemer, Petters, lots of people have lost their jobs around here. Because of this, and other economic issues, several of our longest-running, most creative and transformative arts and non-profits are laying off their staff and closing their doors. We are trying to rally to save them, but it may not be enough.
Yeah but let us also not forget that Jews have been are are victimizers too. The whole 'everyone hates Jews' argument is also used to cover up the fact that Jews can be pretty racist too (a type of racism that can be even worse than the rest of white America). Their own experience with anti semitism shields the reality of their own racist tendencies that are never openly addressed because if one raises the issue then they are labelled anti semitic. We need to face this reality.
What about the Jews who gave their lives during the civil rights movement? Everyone can be pretty racist, should we condemn all members of each group? By the way, Malcolm X was a called an anti semite for different reasons other than calling out Jews who owned business in black neighborhoods.
Malcolm on the Holocaust..
"Everybodys wet eyed over a few Jews who brought it on themselves."
Blame-storming is what Americans do best Field.
Why fix a problem, or look into the actual causes of it, when you just just broad brush an entire group? Conservatives blame Liberals and minorities for all of their issues. Liberals blame Conservatives and organized religion for theirs.
It's a dance that's been going on for thousands of years. Ruling class types, figured out way before the Romans, that if you point out the tiny little differences in groups of people, that it is always enough to keep them squabbling amongst themselves and distracted enough to not really focus on, and figure out, how badly they are really getting screwed over by the owners of a society.
It's a very simple principle that happens to work extremely well.
Hysterical; just frakking hysterical. But that is what I like most about this type of prejudice it just exposes their ignorance but worse the publics cowardice.
Along these lines I found this:
http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/more/cascio20081219/
It is a short article on the deression of 1873. The parallels are quite alarming and you can start w/ the subject of this post antisemitism.
A little off topic: I'm so sick of everything/everybody that has driven us into this horrible mess. And I learned yesterday that I'm one of the casualties--unprecedented cuts in higher ed in Louisiana led to my losing my job. Nothing to do with my performance--a lot of us lost our jobs indefinitely. There may not even be hope for getting them back next academic year.
I had no idea he was jewish until I read your post. I did not pay attention . So most of his "clientele" was Jewish too, oH! hoo! that's interesting. A black broker with an excluive portfolio of rich blacks this certainly cannot fly under the radar of this racist society and he got away with his unique rich jewish clients and I don't care whether the money he lost was some holy notes and coins from charities. Please that's some double standard. I feel sorry for those who lost their money not for him. Jewish are NO less racist then most whites , jewish are among the biggest racist victims this planet has produced. Anyone who criticizes them is automatically labelled Antisem.
Field, I agree with Anonymous up there who said "The majority of Americans has had very few models on how an adult thinks, feels, or behaves." I have discovered lately that it's INCREDIBLY difficult, if not impossible, to have reasoned, rational, intelligent discussions with some people about ANYTHING. It's almost (but not quite) enough to make me stop trying...
Yeah, "only" a Jew could have perpetuated a fraud of this scale.
Riiiiiight.
Unlike those rich WASPs and other non-Jews with money and power and greed. I mean, it's not like ANY non-Jews have manufactured entire wars out of nothing, or do their big part to create a sub-prime mortgage mess that helps plunge us into recession, or...
...I don't think I need to go on.
A couple of people have said, "Jews are so racist and if you say anything against them, you're called anti-semitic."
That sounds to me like the exact same bullshit that people use when they make broad generalizations about black people and blame the very people they're stereotyping when they're called racists.
Are there Jews that are racist? Absolutely. Like any other group of people in this nation, there plenty are people in it that are racist.
But to discount the real anti-semitism that comes out of something like Bernard Madoff's scheming, or the real anti-semitism that is a force in this country everyday because some Jews are racist is absolutely ridiculous. And it is anti-semitic.
Go ahead and try to make observations or generalizations about a people you don't understand, but if you are wrong and are called out for that, don't be all upset that you were called anti-semitic.
Co-sign with anon 5:20PM.
Mrs. Chili, you are o right, it seems that we are always talking at instead of to each other.
Hey Field,
I know this Madoff stuff is a mess, but have you seen this?
http://thinkprogress.org/2008/12/20/the-nation-katrina/
Field,
You have to report on the unseen race war report during Katrina that The Nation exposed:
http://www.thenation.com/doc/20090105/thompson?rel=hp_picks
The Youtube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5r1X_G7cWak
This is beyond disgusting and the drunken red necks on the video were practically glowing with pride at what they did to supposedly protect their own.
Now don't tell me because Obama's in office that racism is offically dead.
The Madoff clown is a Jewish overseer, as far as I'm concerned. Abe and company always do this. He's up there doing his best Jewish impersonation of the good Reverend Jackson, while his own people have been suckered.
If he wants to be angry, he shood look in the mirror at the clown that causes him to midirect his anger.
Serial killers most likely victimize people of their own race I think -- what's this guy but a serial capitalist con man and what's the difference ? If there's any tactful way to point a finger at any group it lies in the specifics of your argument. My question has always been on the topic of Israel, how can the Israelis mistreat Palestinians as they do in so many of the same repressive ways the nazis did them ? Maybe because Palestinians are viewed as undesirable, scary or dirty by whitebread America and fatass sausage eating Europe as well. It's a question I have never heard answered sufficiently but the answer has to do with yet more racism however you try to dress it up.
Field, what Madoff is doing to his Tribe ain't nothing compared to what Number 5 is doing to black Philly fans. yeah, Andy Reid is a moron, but your boy Donovan McNabb (with a name like that I bet Jamaicans thought he was a fellow Yardie) catches the heat, and he doesn't seem to be breathing any fire into anyone.
Oh well. Sorry man.
And yeah, we do see all the anti-semites on here. Jews are probably a touch less racist than most white folk, if only because they're more educated (also they live in the city, mostly).
Rastamick,
It's because there are crazies in every group (including blacks, natch). In the Israeli's case, there are crazy right wing jews who believe that they ought to just be able to occupy all of the West Bank, and so they try. Then try telling your Israeli soldiers that they have to go kill Jews. Not happy soldiers.
And so it goes. Most of Israel wants to negotiate with Hamas -- so many people dead on all sides...
Put some Republicans around him and homeboy will be a media target. “Madoff was a major Democratic donor, giving hundreds of thousands of dollars to powerful Democrats who were in a position to potentially regulate his business or uncover his crimes.”
Can you imagine the mass hysteria we would’ve heard had Madoff been a Republican?
Sorry Liberals, I had to point that out
Christopher, why did you have to remind me about Dumb Andy and "5"? I am trying to enjoy my vacation. How could they lose to the "Skins"? The "Skins"? No offense "Skins" fans,but they are not exactly an NFL power this year.
Dark Moon, thanks for the link. I think I heard of that story.
Blogs are depressing me. Jack and Jill Politics has a story about whites hunting Katrina victims after the storm hit and bragging about it, and then I read a rather moving rant about gay life on Daily Kos, and then I come here here about anti-Semitism.
*sigh*
I need some LOLcats.
Sorry Antonio, but it could be worse. We could all be blogging about the economy. :(
lolfed.com
read it and weep.
Yeah, I know, FN. I don't expect blogs to be all roses and sunshine, I'm just whining about the depressing tone today on many of the blogs I frequent.
Sorry Folks. But I don't think it is anti-Semitic to ask questions. Nor do I think it is anti-Semitic to tell the truth. The fact that these financiers were mainly Jewish warrants discussion. After all, should a book about African Americans being inherently stupid been printed in 1994? No, but it was. And my, was it discussed! Charles Murray, author of the Bell Curve, while being paraded all over mainstream media, was treated as a serious scholar. And today is no different. The narrative about African American life has not changed. Rumors, lies and stereotypes are the rule. Our outrage is usually ignored. It is also the rule that we are guilty by association. You know the drill. If one commits a crime, we are all guilty. So if you want to pretend that Abraham Foxman has a legitimate beef go ahead. But not only does he have the power to control his narrative, he can also control yours.
Take a look at this 1943 Warner Brother’s cartoon called Coal Black and de Sebben Dwarfs. See if anything looks familiar.
http://www.spike.com/video/coal-black-de-sebben/2767981?cid=YSSP
ANNE G. MYMA, first off great moniker. Second I think it's important for us as African Americans to acknowledge the continued lies and injustices against us but we do not have to succumb by perpetrating those same actions. It used to be that in order to join the church you had to rid hate from your heart. So, while these injustices might still occur it's important for us to lead the way in creating and sense of heathliness and happiness in our own homes and communities to counter the hate right outside our door. Charles Murray is sub human so why do any of us want to model that fools behavior. Like I said earlier he was Jewish, yes, but that greed old bastard was an American first.
Antonio, if you need a laugh, I swear...this never gets old:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wKF06E5pqk
What concerns me is why this story was under-reported; and why we aren't learning more about the victims, because its conceivable we all may be victims, if our pension funds invested with him or another company which has invested with him. I remember when fraud was perpetuated by some "nigerians" in the finance arena and they were villified. I don't care what Madoff's religion is; all I want is more reporting on how his scam will affect us all. I don't want any surprises six months from now.
Cool Field. The story sickens me and I am seeing that Spike Lee's documentary on Katrina in 2006, was talking about some of the same things exposed on the Nation in 2008, and is now getting a second look.
After all, should a book about African Americans being inherently stupid been printed in 1994? No, but it was. And my, was it discussed! Charles Murray, author of the Bell Curve, while being paraded all over mainstream media, was treated as a serious scholar. And today is no different. The narrative about African American life has not changed. Rumors, lies and stereotypes are the rule. Our outrage is usually ignored. It is also the rule that we are guilty by association. You know the drill. If one commits a crime, we are all guilty.
Excellent point! I have been complaining about that pseudo-scientific eugenic diatribe for years but as you noted he has gotten so much play from "respected" sources such as the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times. Supposed scientists have lauded its virtues and reinvigorated the debate that genes influence race and intelligence (specifically IQ) and that they are intrinsically linked--which of course as usual puts Blacks at the bottom.
Thus this corrosive cultural meme parading as legitimate science allowed Watson, et al to trumpet the stupidity of Blacks and to most Whites who have ATAVISTIC suspicions, this naturally lends creedence of Black inferiority. You can still see the book being sold now in the Sociology section of B&N.
Good points to MichaelOT as well that we have to care more about and take control of our own images.
Now the Jews know how Black People feel when we get blamed for the passage of Prop. 8 out in California, and for everything else we HAVE NO CONTROL OVER; anymore than they had control over this greedy SOB.
Christian Progressive Liberal,
You act like this is new?? Jews and blacks both know what it's like to be hated, to be blamed for things that there's no dagum reason to be blaming ANYONE for. You know, like the black plague. It's been happening for thousands of years, and it'll still be happening next week. More's the pity.
Ann above clearly has her facts wrong.
I would take anything the ADL says with a grain of salt, myself.
Amazing. A prominent Jew allegedly rips off $50 Billion and the ADL is using this event NOT to admit shame in one of their own, but rather uses it as ANOTHER chance to scapegoat gentiles that happen to notice he is of shared ethnicity many of the prominent bankers and moneychangers. Madoff is in deep doodoo with the Jews not because of his con, but because he had the temerity to con many of the "chosen" people.
"The whole 'everyone hates Jews' argument is also used to cover up the fact that Jews can be pretty racist too (a type of racism that can be even worse than the rest of white America). Their own experience with anti semitism shields the reality of their own racist tendencies
Malcom X was accused of being anti semitic for suggesting that blacks should run the businesses in their own neighborhoods. At some point Jews need to be held accountable and criticized by those genuinely affected without fear of being condemned and accused of being anti-semitic."
The amazing thing about the above post is it was writen by an African man. Um, let's substitute Jew for African and thow these statements right back at you. Black people have acted towards Jews and Asians in this country at times the same way the KKK acted towards you. Malcolm was not criticized for saying blacks should run their own businesses. He was criticized for sleazy race baiting including mocking victims of the holocaust. Malcolm views women with the same contempt whites had for blacks.
Furthermore, Grata, when one thinks of "personal responsibilty" one doesn't think "african man". Can you take your own advice Grata. Can you see that some sterotypes of black men are based on your behavior not racism? Can you see how you have exploited and exagerated what the white man has done to you, while downplaying your own flaws and wrongdoings? I suspect not. Too busy being an apologist for black KKK-like behavior
"Jewish are NO less racist then most whites , jewish are among the biggest racist victims this planet has produced. Anyone who criticizes them is automatically labelled Antisem."
Blacks are NO less racist than most whites, blacks are among the biggest racists this planet has produced. Anyone who criticizes them is automatically labelled racist.
Case in point- in my city young black men have been responsible for 3 vile lynchings of senior citizens yet god forbid that someone point out a group that makes up less than 1% of the city population is responsible for 70% of violent crimes.
Furthermore no ethnic group was more enthusiastic about making gays sit at the back of the bus than blacks(aka Prop 8 in CA)
70% of Jews voted for NOT to deprive gays of their civil rights.
70% of blacks voted to do it.
So who you calling a bigot??
To paraphrase Andrew Young "First it was the Jews, then it was the Asians, now it is the Arabs".... and gays, and women. We all have to put up with the KKK like behavior of AfriKKKan Americans because of a few negros who brought it apon themselves*
* note: the last sentence is a paraphrase of Malcolm X
Sorry Folks. But I don't think it is anti-Semitic to ask questions. Nor do I think it is anti-Semitic to tell the truth.
But of course it's racist as hell to mention that blacks blame a lot of things on slavery, historical injustice, racism, and poverty but if you probe deeper and question these things you getted demonized as racist.
It's not racist to ask questions. Nor is it racist to tell the truth. Blacks are considered to be high in violence and crime and low in intellect EVERYWHERE. It has nothing to do with white people. The people I've met with the most openly negative view of blacks have been in the Arab world and South America where the white guilt card doesn't hold them in check.
"Yeah but let us also not forget that Jews have been are are victimizers too."
Uh, unlike Africans?!?!
Post a Comment