July 14, 2007
by Paul Kemp

It was just a matter of time before the foes of Ron Paul dragged out the anti-semitism charge.  Coming from them, it's a compliment that they feel threatened enough to bring out the heavy artillery, the one weapon they can always count on to shut down rational discussion.  Until now, that is.
 
Here's what the charge that Ron Paul is anti-semitic is based on: a quote from a newsletter that appeared in 1992, "by far the most powerful lobby in Washington of the bad sort is the Israeli government."  One of Congressman Paul's staffers wrote the article in his newsletter and it appeared under his signature, so Dr. Paul took responsiblity for it.
 
How is that racially motivated?  Is Ron Paul or any American allowed to state an opinion anymore?
 
Why do 99% of American politicians cower like frightened dogs threatened by a rolled-up newspaper when the charge of Anti-Semitism is thrown at them?  That in itself says something about the inordinate power of the Israel lobby in this country, doesn't it?
 
If the American Israeli Political Action Committee (AIPAC) had been around in George Washington's time, I'm sure they would have slung the same dead red herring at him for refusing an "entangling foreign alliance" with them.  So Dr. Paul's in good company.
 
In effect, what they are saying is, "If you don't give us your money, your diplomatic and military backing - even though it costs you dearly in world opinion and lost business with the Muslim countries - we'll call you anti-semitic."  And we fall for it every time!  So what???
 
Why are we so afraid of people calling us names?
 
The Israeli lobby has raised this "red herring" technique to a fine art.  Any disagreement with Israel's policy, any talk of cutting our foreign aid to them, any vote in the UN or Congress that doesn't give them what they want is labeled "anti-semitic."  Israel has become America's favorite sacred cow and any voice that dares censure them is libeled with the accusation of anti-semitism.  But that's not the real issue.

It's all about money, folks.  Israel is dependent on our billions of dollars of welfare support each year to keep their socialist, warlike, religious extremist state afloat.  Without our annual aid to Israel of $2+ billion and our commitment to back Israel in any attack, Israel might have to try harder to get along with its neighbors. 

Ron Paul would cut off foreign aid to all countries of every religious and ethnic and political orientation.  It's not a racial or anti-semitic issue at all.  He just doesn't believe in taking sides with one nation or another over their disputes.
 
Do you want your tax money given away to subsidize other countries?  Actually, the U.S. is so far into deficit spending, we're more accurately borrowing money from the Chinese to give to Israel - and putting it on our kids' and grandkids' tab.

I suppose next we will see Ron Paul labeled as anti-Italian for saying something derogatory about the Mafia.  How about anti-Gaelic for not putting Ireland on the dole?
 
Get real!  This is an issue of principle.  Not an issue of religious or ethnic or racial bias.  It's about cutting off welfare of all forms: corporate, state, or personal.
 
Welfare isn't good for anyone on a consistent basis.  It's not healthy for the individual, because over time it saps their desire to work their way out of a financial pinch.  It's not healthy for the nation, either, because it allows bad fiscal policies to go uncorrected. 

In the case of our annual $2+ billion subsidy for Israel, it drags us into their battles with the oil-producing countries of the Middle East.  Israel's AIPAC (and their Neo-Con supporters in the Bush administration) lobbied for us to attack Iraq - think about how much grief that has caused our country.

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Next, Israel's right wing extremist government would like us to attack Iran for them.  Visit their U.S. lobbying Web site to see for yourself: www.aipac.org/.  The drums of war are beating there for action on Iran and a steady stream of U.S. politicians are making presentations to AIPAC, promising their undying support of Israel, with "all options on the table" on Iran.  Dick Cheney, Hillary Clinton, Nancy Pelosi, and Barack Obama have all been before AIPAC, presenting their pro-Israel credentials for approval recently.  But not Ron Paul.
 
The Arab world knows that Israel is our proxy state (though sometimes it seems we are doing their bidding), and our welfare client.  Only the general American populace doesn't generally make the connection.  Did Congress ever ask us if we want our money given away to Israel?  Why don't we put it to a vote?

The real reason we have no friends in the Middle East (apart from Israel, if you can call them a friend) is that we unquestioningly support Israel with money, weapons, and UN votes to quell any criticism of their using our clusterbombs on civilian neighborhoods in Lebanon, etc.  I won't go into the whole blame game over who is at fault in the Palestinian/Israeli conflict - militant forces from both sides have caused a lot of civilian suffering for many years and it needs to stop.  More to the point: we need to stop supporting it.
 
What can we do about bringing peace to the Middle East?  A good start would be to stop giving cluster bombs and money to Israel.

Ron Paul was getting a little too close to the truth of why we were attacked on 9/11 in that televised debate with Rudolf Giuliani.  One of the main reasons we were attacked on 9/11 is our uncritical support and financial/military backing of Israel.  Hard truths like that are avoided like the plague by most political candidates.

The U.S. has suffered billions of dollars of economic losses and inconvenience caused by oil embargos, due to our blind support of Israel. 

The proof that AIPAC has too much influence over our legislators is available on their Web site.  Go there and watch the parade of our Senators and Representatives and Presidential candidates going before them, promising to always maintain our "special relationship" with Israel.  In effect, our Congressmen and candidates are asking for AIPAC's blessing.  It is disgusting that our national representatives act in such a obsequious manner to an organization that represents only 3-4% of the U.S. population.
 
Let's call a spade a spade: The accusation of Ron Paul being anti-semitic is not about racism, it's about his desire to: #1 - end the giveaways of our taxpayers' money away to Israel and the other welfare nations; and #2 - end the disproportionate and damaging influence Israel and it's supporters in the U.S. have over our foreign policy.

It's time to be more critical of our alliances.  That's what these accusations of anti-Semitism are all about.  Israel doesn't want to lose their foreign aid and diplomatic backing from Uncle Sucker.  Congressman Ron Paul dares to suggest we should do that.  Based on the principle of non-intervention, not from anti-semitism.
 
If we get goaded into a war to destroy Iran's nuclear capability, which is seen as a threat by Israel, we will lose much more than money.  All hell will break loose.  Don't believe me?  Keep allowing Israel and the American Israeli Political Action Committee to lead our Congress around by the nose and you'll see what I'm talking about.

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Paul Kemp awoke to the realities of American politics as a Conscientious Objector and war resister during the Vietnam era.  He is an entrepreneur and writer who lives in the Pacific Northwest. He welcomes feedback through his website, www.defending-your-retirement.com/