National Security Advisor’s Joke “that borders on anti-Semitic”
In an administration not known for its commitment to our staunchest ally in the Middle East, it’s not a wise move for the National Security Advisor, himself not known as a friend to the Jewish State, to crack a joke bordering on anti-Semitic. But, with such a joke did President Obama’s National Security Advisor James Jones lead him his address last week to the Washington Institute For Near East Policy.
Asking whether the joke (which he includes in his post) was anti-Semitic, Yid with Lid offers:
Well, the White House must have thought so. The White House transcript sent to reporters after the event conveniently began a couple of minutes into the speech. The video of the event posted on the Washington Institute Web site started right after the Joke, you can even hear the end of the laughter.
At the very least it was an idiotic time and place to make the joke. Many of the attendees of The Washington Institute dinner were in fact Jewish. And the Jewish community is very nervous about the recent anti-Israel leanings of the Obama administration.
All-in-all, I’d call it a very unwise joke for a security advisor to The American President to make, especially if the president is trying to convince the nation -by his words more than his actions- that he supports capitalism and the free market, the existence of Israel and the defeat of the Taliban.
The truth is the joke would have been inappropriate under any president; the White House and its administrators should never be in the business of laughing at anyone but themselves, because other-directed humor signals insecurity; self-denigrating humor does the opposite.
Noting that Jones has apologized, Jennifer Rubin offers:
Let’s unpack this. First of all, I don’t believe the joke was made up on the spur of the moment. That’s not how these things work. As a reader pointed out to me, it’s quite likely that not only Jones but also a speechwriter or two thought there was nothing much wrong with this. Second, for an administration under criticism for insensitivity or outright animus in relation to Israel, why play with fire? If nothing else, this confirms the criticism of Jones — he’s a bit of a buffoon.
Do we want this kind of individual advising the president on national security issues? To his credit, Jones did apologize, but it does show a clear lapse in judgment that he would make a joke this this, particularly in a public forum.
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The Jews among us have probably told this joke many times, we recognize it as a ‘Jewish Joke’. But ya know, he could have told it without any reference to Jewish. We would have recognized the joke, and other people could have laughed without any hint of anti semitism.
Here’s the thing, every group knows there are things they themselves can get away with that outsiders can’t.
Now if we hadn’t been dealing with all this pushback against Israel lately, I would laugh it off. But what with the whine (my new name for the one formally known as THE ONE) now appealing only to minorities and dividing our country more and more each day – yes, I do see this as a dig at Jewish capitalists.
Comment by Leah — April 26, 2010 @ 3:32 pm - April 26, 2010
I’ve thought Obama has showed himself lately as an anti semite, now his chief security advisor confirms it. This administration is loaded with anti semites, who are anti Israel. We need an investigation into them person by person. The Jews have few true friends. When high ranking Americans feel free to take pot shots then joke about anti semitic comments it’s time to stand up before the killing starts again.
Comment by Gene in Pennsylvania — April 26, 2010 @ 3:35 pm - April 26, 2010
Leah 6 million were slaughered, another 2 million gypses, one million gays……leaders in the Democrat party have forgotten them or maybe they are “deniers”. Obama and his staff feel comfortable enough to joke about it. I will pray for the Jews and their future.
Comment by Gene in Pennsylvania — April 26, 2010 @ 3:37 pm - April 26, 2010
Oh Jennifer Rubin above calls Jones a bit of a buffoon. I think that’s what they said of Hitler in 1935. Stay alert people.
Comment by Gene in Pennsylvania — April 26, 2010 @ 3:39 pm - April 26, 2010
Dan-
Thanks for posting this. I was going to do it otherwise.
I think the evidence is mounting about the anti-Semitism of Obama & Company. I’m not ready to make a final judgment yet.
However, at the VERY LEAST, this Administration is the most tone deaf of my lifetime. Are they going out of their way to offend, attack and hurt the American people and our allies?
One can only imagine if GW Bush’s National Security Advisor had made a similar stereotypical joke about lazy Mexicans, or riotous blacks, etc., etc.
Jones should be fired. And his remarks do add to the feeling I have that Obama & Co. have anti-Semitic views.
Comment by Bruce (GayPatriot) — April 26, 2010 @ 3:48 pm - April 26, 2010
I just don’t get apologizing for people in this day and age. Information is available everywhere. You can educate yourself even if you attended a public school in America.
I refuse to apologize for supposed adult, educated, Americans in a powerful liberal administration. “insensitive, uneducated, tone deaf”….how about dangerous anti semite bigots.
Comment by Gene in Pennsylvania — April 26, 2010 @ 4:26 pm - April 26, 2010
Is it me or are the littleletterturds spending less time defending this “administration”?
Comment by ThatGayConservative — April 26, 2010 @ 10:13 pm - April 26, 2010
Well it’s not lot Obama told the joke, but I thought it was rather funny.
(If Obama had told the joke, it probably would have been something relating to the Special Olympics.)
At a time when Comedy Central won’t show Muhammad, I think we need to lighten up.
Comment by Mitchell — April 26, 2010 @ 11:43 pm - April 26, 2010
*lot=like
Comment by Mitchell — April 26, 2010 @ 11:45 pm - April 26, 2010
If we’re going to get our panties in a twist over a joke like this then why do we have a problem with Muslim outrage over Mo in a bear suit?
Comment by SoCalRobert — April 27, 2010 @ 11:17 am - April 27, 2010
SoCalRobert,
The big difference here is that Southpark isn’t the Federal Government. This was coming from the current government, which is pretty open about its hatred of free people.
When South Park starts pressuring Israel to make unconditional concessions to people dedicated to wiping the nation from the earth, then we’ll worry about them bashing Israel.
Comment by The_Livewire — April 27, 2010 @ 12:01 pm - April 27, 2010
#7 even liberal trolls have a hard time defending and anti semitic bigoted incompetent administration like this. It took the Carter administration 2-3 years to show how what boobs they were.
Comment by Gene in Pennsylvania — April 27, 2010 @ 12:58 pm - April 27, 2010
Livewire – point taken.
It does seem, however, that any attempt at levity (public or private sector) is immediately followed by outrage and the “I’m sorry if someone was offended – whose boots should I kiss?” response.
I have the greatest respect for Israel and it’s value as friend and ally.
It’s just that I have grown weary of every hint at humor in the public sphere, no matter how innocuous or lame, being made into a federal case.
That being said, I do question the common sense of any public official telling a joke or story that, in this day and time, will be sure to ignite a firestorm. (Unless, of course, the humor is at the expense of hetero-Anglo males.)
Comment by SoCalRobert — April 27, 2010 @ 5:41 pm - April 27, 2010
[...] Dan blogged yesterday, National Security Advisor General James Jones over the weekend started his remarks to [...]
Pingback by GayPatriot » About General Jones’ Joke: UPDATED — April 27, 2010 @ 7:12 pm - April 27, 2010