That doesn’t mean they either are hypocrites. They may very well believe much what they say, in general terms. But I suspect that they engage in hyperbolic speech in order to obtain an emotional response from their audience.

Critics then grab onto that hyperbole as if it were p’shat and ignore the d’rash

You could say the same thing of Mort Klein: If he grew up comfortably in Philadelphia, why has he dedicated the second half of his life to defending the Jews of Israel? It’s not like he’s under terrorist attack, or rocket atttack, or defending his home. Has he “earned” the right to his sometimes strident advocacy? And crisis in Israel doesn’t hurt ZOA’s bottom line.

In fairness to Mort and the Rev. Wright, often the tug of peoplehood proves stronger than one’s personal experience. That’s why American Jews are Zionists; that’s why even upper middle class blacks feel compelled to speak for those less well off.

There are no shortage of Rabbis who are equally guilty of modifying or even wholly changing their personal views to satisfy their congregation’s particular political or religious proclivity. It doesn’t make it more or less right regardless of who does it.

I think non-Jews have the obligation to ask: Should an angry Jew be a heartbeat away from the White House? For that matter, do you want a presidential candidate who can’t take a tour of the Middle East without an Orthodox Jew — from a different political party! — whispering in his ear?

What I love about Mort is that he understands that it is only Communists who have to fear McCarthyism, and that the days of pre-political correctness, when the public sphere was ruled by innuendo and prejudice, were so much healthier than things are today.

Who the hell wanted to join their country clubs or stay in their hotels anyhow?