NJ Democrat primary race, Muslims attack Jewish Congressman: ‘We want this Jew out of office’

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A New Jersey congressional race is becoming a referendum on a candidate’s Judaism. Muslims are going after a Jewish congressman. Islamic Jew-hatred rears its ugly [be]head for the first time in a congressional race. But believe you me, it won't be the last time. Islamic Jew-Hatred — it's in the quran.

It's very ugly, and the enemedia, self-enforcing the sharia, is not covering it. And the local press is giving the Islamic supremacists all the column inches the haters demand. Aref Assaf, president of the New Jersey-based American Arab Forum, is a vile nazi who has been getting the lion's share of press.

Assaf wrote in an oped in the New Jersey Star Ledger that the Jewish candidate under attack, Steve Rothman, "is using his support of Israel as the centerpiece of his campaign.” It is Assaf and his Jew-hating constiuency that are making it all about Rothman's Judaism and Israel. The Muslim Jew-haters are making it the centerpiece of their campaign. Rothman "has consciously avoided adding fuel to the ethnic fire by focusing instead on his congressional record, note political observers in both New Jersey and Washington, D.C."

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“Rep. Rothman has run an issue-oriented campaign, focused on progressive values domestically and abroad"

 This is the biggest unpublished story by the mainstream presss story of the entire 2012 season. Imagine if such things were said about Muslims — the whole country would be flailed and flogged.

"Democratic House primary turns into ethnic proxy war over Israel" Free Beacon hat tip Mike

Democratic primary race in northern New Jersey has devolved into a highly competitive proxy war over Israel, pitting the state’s pro-Israel community against a growing constituency of Arab [Muslim] voters who have accused a sitting congressman of putting Israel’s interests before America’s.

As the race between Democratic Reps. Steve Rothman and Bill Pascrell nears its Tuesday finish, veteran political observers on the ground have expressed concern at the way the battle between the two veteran lawmakers has transformed into a troubling ethnic brawl.

“One side says, ‘We want this Jew out of office’ and, frankly, it’s pretty unsettling,” Ben Chouake, president of NORPAC, a pro-Israel political action committee based in Englewood Cliffs, told the Free Beacon. “They emphasized [Rothman] is a Jewish congressman.”

Others say they simply cannot recall a congressional race becoming a referendum on a candidate’s religion.

“For the first time in recent American political history, we are witnessing a proxy battle between supporters and detractors of Israel, and it’s playing out in the Ninth District of New Jersey,” said one veteran campaign strategist who is knowledgeable about the district.

The race took an unprecedented turn on Monday when an Arabic campaign poster supporting Pascrell surfaced. It urged the “Arab diaspora community” to “elect the friend of the Arabs” and billed the race as “the most important election in the history of the [Arab] community,” according to a WFB translation of the sign.

“I don’t read Arabic well, but I am pretty sure that the pro-Pascrell posters that have appeared across the district are not calling to elect the candidate who supports a strong relationship between America and the only democracy in the Middle East, one which is rooted in progressive Western values—women’s rights, gay rights, tolerance, freedom of speech, freedom of religion, etc.,” said Josh Block, a Democratic strategist and former spokesman for the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.

Observers such as Susan Rosenbluth, publisher of the New Jersey-based Jewish Voice and Opinion, say the race took an anti-Semitic turn in late February, when a prominent Arab supporter of Pascrell accused the state’s Jewish voters of being more loyal to Israel than America.

“Unquestionably, this primary election is pitting two otherwise harmoniously coexisting communities: the Muslim and Jewish communities,” Aref Assaf, president of the New Jersey-based American Arab Forum, wrote in a New Jersey Star-Ledger column headlined “Rothman is Israel’s man in District 9.”

“As total and blind support for Israel becomes the only reason for choosing Rothman, voters who do not view the elections in this prism will need to take notice. Loyalty to a foreign flag is not loyalty to America’s,” Assaf wrote.

The canard—reminiscent of the “Israel firster” controversy that has engulfed the left-wing Center for American Progress Action Fund and Media Matters for America—reverberated through the tight-knit Jewish community, raising alarm among pro-Israel stalwarts.

“A number of Arab-American constituents have come out with outrageous attacks on Rothman,” said Rosenbluth, whose newspaper is based in Englewood. “I haven’t heard a dual loyalty charge for years.”

At that point, things really “started to get ugly,” said NORPAC’s Chouake, explaining that “for the pro-Israel community, it’s not about Jewish or not-Jewish or helping an ethnic culture, but about believing there should be a homeland for a people oppressed and slaughtered for 2,000 years.”

“It’s a little bit scary,” said Chouake, who noted that massive voter registration drives in the Arab community have added at least 6,000 new names to the rolls. Some of those registrations have been disputed.

Most disturbing, said Rosenbluth and others, is that Pascrell has remained silent, refusing to condemn the charges of dual loyalty.

“I called Pascrell’s office and asked, ‘Will you condemn it?’ ” Rosenbluth said. “They said, ‘We didn’t write it.’”

As Election Day approaches in the tight race, Assaf again has taken to the pages of the New Jersey Star-Ledger to rally the Arab community.

“The more we vote this year, the more important our community will be in future elections,” Assaf wrote Wednesday. “In New Jersey’s Ninth District race between Pascrell and Rothman, our vote will be of pivotal significance to the outcome.”

In a separate column released Monday, Assaf referred to the city of Paterson a “Little Jerusalem,” and deemed “the root of the conflict” in the race as lying “thousands of miles from Paterson, in the heart of the Middle East.”

Assaf went on to make several unfounded claims about what he said is Rothman’s “misdirected commitment” to Israel.

“The Arab and Muslim community of northern New Jersey is taking notice of how Steve Rothman is using his support of Israel as the centerpiece of his campaign,” Assaf wrote in the op-ed, which included a picture of the pro-Pascrell Arabic campaign poster. “They take issue with Rothman bragging about his help in getting Israel over $50 billion in aid since 2001, while bringing back only $2 billion to New Jersey residents.”

Actually, the Muslim Jew-haters are making it the centerpiece of their campaign.

Rothman has consciously avoided adding fuel to the ethnic fire by focusing instead on his congressional record, note political observers in both New Jersey and Washington, D.C.

“Rep. Rothman has run an issue-oriented campaign, focused on progressive values domestically and abroad, including his strong pro-Israel credentials, among other things,” said Block. “Rep. Pascrell, however, has implicitly endorsed odious attacks on Rothman’s religion and commitment to the United States. These claims are reminiscent of canards regularly bandied about by White Supremacists and anti-Semites.”

Pascrell is clearly “seeking the support of Muslim and Arab voters at the cost of his Jewish support,” one political operative in New Jersey said.

Meanwhile, the district’s typically Republican Orthodox Jewish voters have mobilized behind Rothman.

In February, Orthodox leaders from 15 synagogues in Passaic urged their congregants to switch party affiliation so that they would be eligible to vote for Rothman in the primary.

“This is very important to the Orthodox community, and Rothman’s relationship with the Orthodox community is strong,” said Rosenbluth. “Pascrell’s has been tenuous.”

That has led Pascrell to embrace a growing community of Turks, Palestinians, Lebanese, Syrians, and Jordanians—many of whom were moved into the Ninth District last year when congressional maps were updated in response to the census.

Pascrell in recent weeks has waged a charm offensive in the Arab community, campaigning alongside a Hamas-sympathizer and many who have expressed hostility towards Israel.

James Zogby, president of the American Arab Institute, recently helped Pascrell collect more than $50,000; Zogby is a longtime critic of Israel who has accused the U.S. of “being the coat holder and cheerleader” for the Jewish state.

Pascrell also has embraced Imam Mohammad Qatanani, a controversial Passaic spiritual leader who stands accused by the State Department of hiding a conviction in Israel for having ties to the terror group Hamas.

Last Friday, Pascrell held a high profile event at a local mosque where he was joined by Rep. Keith Ellison (D., Minn), a prominent ally of the fringe group J Street and the first Muslim member of Congress.

Pascrell, too, has come under fire for his association with J Street. In 2010, the lawmaker endorsed the so-called “Gaza 54” letter, which demanded that President Obama force Israel to end its “collective punishment” of those living in the Gaza Strip. It is a vote that Pascrell has said he “doesn’t regret.”

“By campaigning so hard with one group, were Congressman Pascrell to win reelection, it seems that his marginally supportive voting record on Israel may take a turn for the worst and become openly hostile,” said the New Jersey-based political operative.

Wildly horrible. Muslims hating Jews is accepted and sanctioned. Devastating.

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Joseph
Joseph
11 years ago

What I find interesting here as to what is happening in New Jersey is that the Arab community can condemn an American Jewish Congressman for being Jewish and caring about his fellow Jews in Israel but the Muslims (who claim they are Americans but have yet to support American involvement in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other conflicts in the ME) flagrantly support questionable groups such as the Muslim Brotherhood and groups such as MAS, ISNA, and CAIR all umbrellas of the Muslim Brotherhood. They condemn this congressman for what they flagrantly do themselves. Thank God Americans are finally seeing the double standards in these Muslim’s own actions. There is nothing that prevents any congressman for being in support of true American allies such as Israel. Wake up America.

Edward
Edward
11 years ago

Being a “friend of the Arabs” is being:
– a friend of al qada
– a friend of osama bin laden
– a friend of jihad
– a friend of OPEC
– a friend of islamofascism
– a friend of stoning women to death
– a friend of saudi arabia
– a friend of the “islamic republic of iran”
– a friend of the “islamic republic of pakistan”
– a friend of the Fort Dix plotters
– a friend of the Fort Hood jihadist
I’m glad the NYPD monitors islamofascists in New Jersey.

Pat
Pat
11 years ago

Religious bigotry is just fine if you are a Muslim or a Democrat.

Linda Rivera
Linda Rivera
11 years ago

Israel is one of our very best allies. A much beloved ally that can be totally trusted. America and Israel share the same values and worship the same Wonderful G-D, the Glorious Creator of the Universe. Every attack Muslims are making on Israel and Jews, is an attack on America and Americans.

Arjun
Arjun
11 years ago

You should look at India and the Congress Party, how they cater to the Muslim vote bank. Now with a growing Muslim population, your US politicians too will cater to the Muslim vote bank. You are already seeing both Democrat and Republican politicians (like the Texan governor, I think that was written about on this site) catering.

Arjun
Arjun
11 years ago

““Unquestionably, this primary election is pitting two otherwise harmoniously coexisting communities: the Muslim and Jewish communities,” Aref Assaf, president of the New Jersey-based American Arab Forum, wrote in a New Jersey Star-Ledger column headlined “Rothman is Israel’s man in District 9.”
Yes it is only harmonious when the Muslim community is too small to go after Jews. And it is only harmonious when every non-Muslim does what the Muslims want, and have no other opinion or view than what Muslims have.

Choi
Choi
11 years ago

“Rep. Rothman has run an issue-oriented campaign, focused on progressive values domestically and abroad”
So ,despite the fact that Rothman is a Lefty Progressive,the FACT that he supports Israel, THEY SAY “GET THE JEW OUT”!
THIS MUST be a LESSON for Jewish Democrats,including “Progressive” Jews.
Oh,and btw,the Clintons are supporting Pascrell,and in a smoke & mirrors display to FOOL Jewish voters,Obama had Rothman at the White House for a PHOTO-OP.
Hopefully,Jewish Democrats will LEARN from THIS.

Cate
Cate
11 years ago

Keep it up, muzzies. People here are finally going to say ENOUGH, and we WILL be playin’ cowboys and muslims. The time is coming.

Infidel Task Force
Infidel Task Force
11 years ago

Its only a matter of time before the muslims in this country have enough votes to put a person in office that will turn American opinion against Israel. Islamists have already educated millions of college students into believing Israel is the real culprit to preventing peace in the middle east.

Jackson Pearson
Jackson Pearson
11 years ago

My, my, how Mohammad of them.
How about we don’t want any fcking Muslims in America? Why don’t ALL of you taqiyya specialists pack up your Qur’ans and head back to the Middle East shit-holes that you came from.

frankly speaking
frankly speaking
11 years ago

Another under reported story. This goes beyond partisan politics. Whatever your political persuasion, this is absolutely indefensible.
“No Anti-Obama Jews Wanted in These Synagogues
A Jew being denied entrance to a synagogue brings to mind images of Germany in the 1930s.”
http://pjmedia.com/blog/no-anti-obama-jews-wanted-in-these-synagogues/

Razz Matazz
Razz Matazz
11 years ago

Who the hell is meant by “we” here?
Americans are not taught as a rule to think categorically like that. That is collectivist thinking in gear. It is un-American and decidedly repellent. That clown doesn’t speak for me, that’s for sure.

NY_Conservative
NY_Conservative
11 years ago

“Unquestionably, this primary election is pitting two otherwise harmoniously coexisting communities: the Muslim and Jewish communities,”
As a Jew, I have no intention of ‘harmoniously coexisting” with any Muslim, nor do I have any illusion that ‘harmoniously co-existing with any Muslim is any more possible than ‘co-existing with a Nazi.’ It is clear to me that ‘harmoniously co-existing with a Muslim’ means you will ‘harmoniously co-exist’ until the local Muslim community becomes large enough to begin intimidation, threat, assault and humiliation tactics. To view the Muslims in any other context is to make the same mistake that German Jews made from 1923 through 1939, thinking they could ‘co-exist with the Nazis.’ That didn’t ‘end well’ for those German Jews.

paul
paul
11 years ago

Hi
I get sick off muslims views and hate for other people.Muslims must
get there head out of shit .Shut the f>>>> up.muslims live in America and
hate jews must be fucked up in head.Muslims should live in peace and should
love every one .Stop hate from Islam Muslims.

Patti
Patti
11 years ago

http://www.investigativeproject.org/3546/islamist-fellow-traveler-rep-bill-pascrell
PASCRELL is SLIME ,he and Rothman have been duking it out in my district. Rothman is NO friend of Israel either according to Rabbi Shmuley Boteach,,google learn,,HOLY CRAP!

Mary Ryan
Mary Ryan
11 years ago

True Americans would not be doing this nonsense, the future of this country is teetering on the brink of economic destruction and the religious are going to let it go under. True Americans love this land, love people, we have always been a melting pot.. We have never allowed on religion to lord it over another until now. Suddenly, the brave of America have become cowards. Where are the David’s, the Elijah’s, the John the Baptists, the Deborah s, and the Esters who didn’t fear standing up to the enemy at the risk of their reputations, their families, their lives…..wherever you all are hiding in the caves, the wilderness, the forest and other isolated places..AMERICA NEEDS YOU NOW…..

bb
bb
11 years ago

What bothers me is that these Arabs say racist evil things against Jews, and the politicians just look the other way in favor of votes or maybe even kickbacks from the Muslim groups who are rich from oil money. Ron Paul does the same thing, he has his name on racist newsletters and just grins and says he didn’t know about it. Why aren’t he and Pascrell saying they are aginst what racist things are being said about them? Why don’t they condemn these statements instead of just trying to look cute and look the other way like no one can read Arabic anyway.
This is promtoing hatred. NJ is full of Jews and some aren’t just peaceful little sheep either. You don’t want to start trouble with them. You won’t create a harmonious state with the Muslims feeling free to hate and persecute whoever they want. Jews have alot of power in NJ. The US Senator Lautenberg is Jewish and you have Christie always bashing him also, Christie who appointed a sharia law judge to the superior court of the Patterson district.
This is bullying against Jews and there are even some holocaust survivors left in NJ and their descendants who have seen this before and aren’t going to be very indifferent to it. Muslims are creeping in all over and threatening what freedom and peace people have. The NY metro area has as many Jews as in Isreal, with many in NJ. If Jews hear that a candidate is agaisnt them, say in a synagogue, they will band togther to keep that guy out of office.
This is a stupid platform to run on, to get the Jew out of office. It sounds like Nazis. The more these people get away with, the more abusive they are going to be.

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