The New Republic is fretting over presidential candidate Mike Bloomberg: “Can we criticize him without perpetuating harmful stereotypes?” they ask. He’s rich, he’s Jewish … that’s a lot of landmines to avoid.
Now, what would be an anti-Semitic tweet? Back in October 2018, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy tweeted, “We cannot allow Soros, Steyer, and Bloomberg to BUY this election! Get out and vote Republican November 6th. #MAGA.” The New Republic reports that “Democrats quickly denounced the tweet as anti-Semitic” and Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt “condemned such language in an interview days later.”
“When I first read the tweet, I was horrified but unsurprised that McCarthy would stoop to playing on what I, and many others, easily recognized as an anti-Semitic trope,” writes Emily Tamkin. But it’s problematic, isn’t it, when Bloomberg, a billionaire, outspends his opponents by a factor of 10.
Tamkin goes to great lengths to find out how to criticize Bloomberg, with his racist policies and accusations of creating a hostile work environment for women, without getting into anti-Semitic tropes. She thinks she has it here:
Mike Bloomberg has a lot of money is not a stereotype. It is a statement of fact. Mike Bloomberg has poured millions into this race to win the nomination of a party that is not even the party with which he was registered when he pushed surveillance of Muslims as mayor of New York is, again, not a stereotype. It is a reiteration of what happened.
So, McCarthy aside, what about all of the Democrats complaining that Bloomberg is trying to buy his way onto the debate stage and into the Oval Office?
I hope you guys go after Liz for this outrageous tweet pic.twitter.com/2a80kW042y
— Matt Whitlock (@mattdizwhitlock) February 18, 2020
It’s ok when we do it. The laziest shit ever.
— Mike McD (@MickGMick) February 19, 2020
Sanders, Warren, and probably a few other Democratic politicians have seen within the past couple of weeks that Bloomberg is buying his way into this election, but you had to go back 2 years to find an example of a Republican saying the same thing to attack them over? Disgusting.
— Bob Yuler (@Ironic_Name) February 19, 2020
You mean it’s ok when a Democrat says the exact same words ????
— Ben Thankan (@BenThankan) February 18, 2020
"What makes it hatred of Jews?"
'A Republican said it!'This is evil and gives protection to real hatred of Jews.
— Unperson (@Odietamo2pt0) February 19, 2020
It's different when our side does it because we are good, and our political opponents are bad.
— Ape City on the Edge of Forever (@apecityroller2) February 18, 2020
"It's only an anti-semitic criticism when a Republican says it."
— Adeptus Archer (@ArcherMint) February 18, 2020
They're probably still wondering what the fuss was over Jackson's "Hymietown" remarks.
— Coalcracker (@CrackingCoal) February 19, 2020
Nonetheless, Bloomberg is trying to buy the election.
Signed,
Attila, a concerned citizen.— Attila the Honeybun. (@TimMansplainsIt) February 19, 2020
Only Jews would buy an election is a pretty awful take
— Amerisplain?? (@Amerisplain) February 18, 2020
fucking christ in heaven just run Family Circus in the spot you’d run this horseshit
— Bij Alberta?? (@ByYourLogic) February 18, 2020
Really?????????
— shooters shoot (@neverontimephil) February 18, 2020
The left’s position is anything they don’t do is Nazism and racist.
Only they can be non-racist. https://t.co/3YCYJs4Ewf
— EducatëdHillbilly™ (@RobProvince) February 18, 2020
“There is a difference between a concerned citizen saying that Bloomberg is trying to buy the election and McCarthy’s tweet,” Tamkin says. And we know what that difference is.
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