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| Vice-President JD Vance (JTA) |
It is no secret that antisemitism is on the rise in the
party. That was made plainly evident in what may be its most important
demographic: young people. Recent news reports and leaked communications have
confirmed that a segment of young GOP staffers and activists are listeners and
fans of far-right, openly antisemitic influencer Nick Fuentes’ podcasts.
This is important because they are young and therefore are
the future of the Republican Party. The only question is whether they represent
the mainstream or not. But even if they don’t - and I don’t think they do - it is nonetheless disturbing that any of
them, let alone those in responsible positions in government, paid the
slightest bit of attention to ridiculous conspiracy theories about Jews that
were once the exclusive domain of psychopathic genocidal maniacs like Adolf
Hitler. And yet they did. And had a lot of good laughs about it.
This cannot be washed away by comments saying that they are
not the mainstream, or that they are the exceptions that prove the rule. Even
if that is also true, the fact that this has entered the Republican Party at
this level needs to be forcefully condemned. People who are fans of Fuentes
ought to be barred from the party no less than any other racist or antisemitic
group. There is no excusing them with comments like ‘boys will be boys’ or ‘they
didn’t really mean it’. Not when these kinds of attitudes were once responsible
for the biggest mass murder of the Jewish people in human history. And
especially not when it involves young people active in the party. Ssome of whom may become leaders of the
future.
It is also no secret that Tucker Carlson, a Republican who
was once the darling of Trump’s MAGA conservatives, has recently revealed his
antisemitic feelings to the public. The problem is that he still is the
darling of some influential mainstream Republicans, who continue to support and
defend him despite his having been exposed as an antisemite . His denials to
the contrary notwithstanding. His actions and rhetoric clearly say otherwise,
although he cleverly tries to disguise it, it shines through quite brightly.
Carlson is only the most prominent conservative antisemite.
There are others with large followings as well – such as Candace Owens. But
Carlson’s past popularity among most conservatives remains among significant
numbers of them. Including some in positions of great power and influence. The
vice-president among them. He counts Carlson as a friend and has hired his son
as part of his staff.
This is why I think Vice-President Vance is both right and
wrong. As noted in JTA:
Vice-President JD Vance said Thursday that he does not believe antisemitism is surging inside the Republican Party, pushing back on prominent conservatives who have raised alarms about hostility toward Jews among young right-wing activists.
“I do think it’s important to call this stuff out when I see it. I also, when I talk to young conservatives, I don’t see some simmering antisemitism that’s exploding,” Vance told NBC News in an interview marking his first year in office.
He’s right about that. But… even though I wouldn’t use the
word ‘surging’ there has certainly been an increase - small though it may be relative to the
whole.
Here is where the vice-president is wrong. It isn’t enough to say that his political party is not rife with antisemitism. He needs to go beyond that and say a lot more than simply asserting that antisemitism is wrong. He has to call it out when it happens and denounce by name - those who say it or imply it. Not doing so allows their rhetoric to spread antisemitism more broadly within his party and beyond.
If the vice-president wants to retain his friendship with an
influential individual who promotes antisemitic conspiracy theories - which he
continues to spread to his many followers - then he too is part of the problem.
If one of my friends promoted racist conspiracy theories about a minority
demographic, I would sever my relationship with them immediately and call them
out for the racists they are, making clear that there is no room for anyone
like that in my circle of friends.
The vice-president has not done that. And that is a shame.
If he really cares about the rise in antisemitism, now is the time for him to
denounce Carlson and all individuals who follow or platform Holocaust deniers
and open antisemites like Fuentes . No matter how young or how influential they
are. This is what Ted Cruz, a very prominent conservative Republican has done.
The vice-president needs to sever his relationship Tucker
Carlsons of the world.
I can’t tell the vice-president who his friends should be. But I can tell what his character is by
the company he keeps. Vice-President Vance ought to think about that.
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