JustASC

The ZOA comes out in support of Rush Limbaugh. In truth the headline on this one should read,

“ZOA agrees with Limbaugh: An attack on America’s banking system
 is an attack on Jews.”

From the ZOA release:

“We are puzzled and shocked by Abe Foxman’s wrong, confused and irresponsible attack on the strongly pro-Israel Rush Limbaugh. Anyone who reads Limbaugh’s remarks can see that no attack on Jews is either made or intended. Limbaugh was simply telling the truth that people who are ‘prejudiced’ against Jews often use the code term ‘bankers’ and ‘Wall Street’ to mean Jews; and that when Obama criticized bankers and Wall Street, some prejudiced people could have interpreted this as an Obama attack against Jews.

Actually, that is not what he said. Read Limbaugh’s quote again. The plain meaning of what he said is this: “It’s true that prejudiced people label Jews as bankers. But a lot of those people on Wall Street are Jewish. Isn’t attacking Wall Street the same as attacking Jews? That’s why Jews should be having buyer’s remorse.”

Again, to support Limbaugh on this you have to accept his premise that Jews identify so closely with banking that they will, or at least should, interpret an attack on the banking industry as a cause for communal concern and group action.

To lay it out in terms that ZOA might understand, imagine if one of their ideological enemies — say, Thomas Friedman– had said the following, “I am glad Obama is assaulting money people. Prejudiced people associate Jews with Wall Street, but let’s face it: A lot of those people on Wall Street are Jewish. I hope all those Jewish bankers who vote Republican are starting to sweat.” [Bold face lines are Limbaugh's words.] The ZOA and the conservative Jewish pundits would have gone nuts.

What saddens me about the conservative rush to defend Rush is that none of his defenders will acknowledge that even if you accept ZOA’s interpretation of Limbaugh’s remarks (presidents need to adjust their policies so as not to rile the anti-Semitic fringe?), it was certainly dumb and strained. Only Eugene Volokh on the right, as far as I can tell, says as much here.