"Republicans don't want to curb anti-Semitism; they want to weaponize it"

“Republicans don’t want to curb anti-Semitism; they want to weaponize it” is an article written by Adam Peck and published by ThinkProgress. In this article, Peck argues that the Republican Party’s attempt to lure Jewish voters demonstrates nothing but hypocrisy. He points out that Jewish voters have long been a fundamental part of the Democratic Party’s base coalition and the Republicans weaponization of anti-Semitism is an effort to undermine that.

Recently, both Republicans and Democrats rabidly accused Rep. Ilhan Omar of anti-Semitism due to some remarks she made on twitter.  Holding elected officials accountable is something politicians and constituents ought to do. However, Peck highlights how Republicans only call out anti-Semitism when it can benefit them politically but stay silent when it comes to blatant anti-Semitism in their own party. Peck even goes on to say that “If Jewish voters make up the base constituency of Democratic voters, anti-Semites have become vocal supporters of Republicans.”

According to the author, the Republicans, especially Trump and the White House, are creating the perception that there is a growing movement of Jews leaving the Democratic Party.  A far-right Trump campaign adviser has even gone to great lengths to validate this false notion by promoting “Jexodus”, which is simply the Republicans attempt to astroturf or mask where the message is originating.

While Peck’s message is clearly intended for a more liberal audience, his arguments are valid and supported by examples and opinions of subject matter experts, such as Rabbi Jonah Pesner, director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism. “Any time you create a new term for the purpose of utter partisan politics, it’s really damaging, and I think it’s the dangerous weaponization of anti-Semitism”, said Pesner.