A pop quiz on anti-Semitic tropes

Name the author:

I suspect that what really ticks [redacted for the quiz] off is this: My co-author and I (and a few others) have had the temerity to write critically about the political role of “pro-Israel” forces (both Jewish and non-Jewish) in America today. This is a topic that the goyim aren’t supposed to talk about openly. It’s fine for Goldberg to write at length about this topic, or for former Forward editor J. J. Goldberg, to devote an entire book (which is well worth reading) to it. But when a non-Jew writes about this issue, and suggests that these groups are advocating foolish and self-defeating policies, then that person must of course be an anti-Semite. If Jews express similar doubts, they must be labeled as “self-hating” and marginalized as well.

David Duke? Someone from Stormfront? An anti-Semitic commenter?

Nope. That’s Stephen “I am not an anti-Semite and my writings are not anti-Semitic” Walt.

Please. I really do understand this sort of tribalism and up to a point, I’m sympathetic to it. Given Jewish history — and especially the dark legacy of genuine anti-Semitism — it is unsurprising that some people are quick to assume that any gentile who criticizes the present “special relationship” must have sinister motives, even when there’s no actual basis for the suspicion. But that sensitivity doesn’t make the elephant in the room disappear, and given that America’s Middle East policy affects all of us, the various factors that shape that policy ought to open to fair-minded discussion devoid of name-calling and character assassination.

Yes, devoid of name-calling and character assassination. But it’s perfectly fine to be using anti-Semitic terminology ripped from the pages of Stormfront. A Jew is criticizing Walt, and therefore it follows that Goldberg is upset because a non-Jew is criticizing Israel? Walt is going all Israel Lobby on his ass. Boom! Pow! Standard Jewish Trope No. 1, mention that Jews get all upset when someone who isn’t a Member of the Tribe criticizes Israel. (Which is, of course, an outright lie.)

No name-calling or character assassination unless you’re Stevie Walt. The second paragraph I quoted follows immediately the first. So he calls Goldberg names, slams him in the same manner as the neo-Nazis using the same terminology (go read Stormfront and see how they use the words goyim and gentile), then says Goldberg should stop calling him names.

This is the Goldberg post in question. There was no name-calling, simply statements that Walt was wrong about the Israelis being the only ones wanting Iran’s nuclear ambitions stopped. Oh, and pointing out, again, that The Israel Lobby is blood in the water to the anti-Semites of the world. Walt doesn’t like to hear that he’s been feeding the sharks, even though you can see the results if you troll sites like David Duke’s and other neo-Nazi slimeballs. They trumpet Walt & Mearsheimer’s book like it was the word of God. “See? We told you so, here’s an ACADEMIC from a COLLEGE PRESS proving everything we ever said about Israel!”

You know, I’m pretty sure that Mr. Ego has read my posts about him, but will never respond. I am beneath his notice, since I do not get paid to write these things, and I am not an academic. Nah. I’m just a scrapper who knows how to string words together. This is what I do best:

Hey, Steve: Eff you, and your anti-Semitic buddy Jack, too. Let me quote you the Yourish.com mantra: Anti-Semites of the world, just die already.

If the shoe fits….