Chronicle poll results: Obligation of elected officials to call out antisemitism in their own party
We asked our readers if elected officials should be obligated to call out antisemitism in their own party. Here's what they said.
Last week, the Chronicle asked its readers in an online poll the following question: “Should an elected official be obligated to call out antisemitism within their own party?” Of the 229 people who responded, 96% said yes and 4% said no. Comments were submitted by 57 people. A few follow.
I share the concerns raised by Justice David Wecht about the current Democratic party’s members and their positions.
We need to do everything we can to fight antisemitism and anti-Zionism in this country and globally.
Not only that, they should be obligated to call out any form of racism or discrimination.
They needn’t be on a constant crusade to root it out, but when confronted by antisemitism, they should have the guts to unequivocally denounce it.
What’s happening now in both parties is just horrible and makes me wonder how much longer my family will be able to live rich Jewish lives in the U.S.
Of course they should call out and condemn antisemitism and hate wherever it’s found, even within their own party. Sadly, however, the overwhelming majority of politicians do this only if it’s politically expedient and serves their purposes.
Elected officials should do more than “call out.” They should demand that leadership (e.g., House speaker or minority leader, Senate majority or minority leader, and party chairs — national, state and local) “talk to” the offender and take appropriate action. The party leaders have many tools available to them to deal with antisemites.
We all know that politicians aren’t obligated to call the sky blue, so this is an unrealistic question. The more interesting question is whether news organizations should be obligated to call out antisemitism by individuals that the media is generally otherwise aligned with and may even promote.
Silence enables haters.
Yes, in the same way that any elected official should alert their constituents to fraud, graft, or any other heinous act that would adversely affect the citizenry.
There’s no point in calling it out in the opposing party (no one will listen); where it actually matters is within their own party.
Yes. But it would be even better if some of them stop promoting antisemitism themselves. PJC
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