# "It's all about the Benjamins, baby" -- anti-Semitic? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 11, 2019, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-all-about-the-benjamins-baby-anti-semitic/829356 "2019-02-11T20:16:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2019, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-all-about-the-benjamins-baby-anti-semitic/829356/81 "2019-02-14T21:48:16Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > Hehehehe. The biggest problem faced by the Democrat Party in 2020 will be corralling all of the yellow dog democrats, hate groups, socialists, left-wing loonies, independents, race-based identity bigots, and whoever else is out there, behind one Presidential candidate. The current list of potential Democrat Party contenders doesn’t seem to be drawing all that much interest. Meh. You can keep your hate groups and race-based identity bigots. They’s yours uncontested. I’ll take the independents through left-wing loonies as a big enough slice! And yes keeping them all together will be a challenge. Early yet to see who excites. ---
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2019, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-all-about-the-benjamins-baby-anti-semitic/829356/82 "2019-02-14T21:55:21Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > Hehehehe. The biggest problem faced by the Democrat Party in 2020 will be corralling all of the yellow dog democrats, hate groups, socialists, left-wing loonies, independents, race-based identity bigots, and whoever else is out there, behind one Presidential candidate. The current list of potential Democrat Party contenders doesn’t seem to be drawing all that much interest. What a ridiculous hijack. ---
**Author:** ![CurtC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce73a5/32.png) [@CurtC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CurtC)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2019, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-all-about-the-benjamins-baby-anti-semitic/829356/83 "2019-02-15T15:25:41Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > Hehehehe. The biggest problem faced by the Democrat Party in 2020 will be corralling all of the yellow dog democrats, hate groups, socialists, left-wing loonies, independents, race-based identity bigots, and whoever else is out there, behind one Presidential candidate. The current list of potential Democrat Party contenders doesn’t seem to be drawing all that much interest. What’s the deal with the far right misstating the name of the party? To me, it just reflects badly on the person saying it. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2019, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-all-about-the-benjamins-baby-anti-semitic/829356/84 "2019-02-15T15:29:58Z")
> [@CurtC](#): > > What’s the deal with the far right misstating the name of the party? To me, it just reflects badly on the person saying it. It’s a deliberate slur meant to denigrate the party and its supporters. I’ve asked this particular poster many times to refer to the party by its actual name rather than this deliberate slur, but he’s always refused. ---
**Author:** ![senoy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dbc845/32.png) [@senoy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/senoy)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2019, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-all-about-the-benjamins-baby-anti-semitic/829356/85 "2019-02-15T15:40:06Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > It’s a deliberate slur meant to denigrate the party and its supporters. I’ve asked this particular poster many times to refer to the party by its actual name rather than this deliberate slur, but he’s always refused. I’m not sure that it’s a slur though. It’s more of a way to make the name of the party more neutral rather than make the name deliberately negative. There’s nothing negative about being called a Democrat. So a ‘Democrat Party’ isn’t negative, it just removes the positiveness of ‘Democratic’ a name which seems to imply that other parties are not. If I were to name a party ‘The Morally Correct Defenders against Evil Party’ It wouldn’t necessarily be a slur if someone chooses not to say ‘Vote against the Morally Correct Defenders Against Evil and vote for me instead!’ and instead says ‘Vote against the MCDE’ ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2019, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-all-about-the-benjamins-baby-anti-semitic/829356/86 "2019-02-15T15:47:06Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > And here we see a demonstration of the desire of those of the Right (and the Russian trolls will too) to stoke anything that may be divisive among Ds. > > We must be prepared to for many more attempts to fracture us. Preventing it will require conscious effort to not take the bait that will be put out again and again. More importantly, we should be prepared to call out intolerance and bigotry without fearing that the Other Side will take advantage of kerfuffles like this. The rapidity with which a number of Democratic leaders denounced Omar’s statements is heartening. The great majority of American Jews (whatever their views on Israel) support Democratic/progressive candidates, and I don’t see that changing much anytime soon. I’m on record here as calling for the curtailment of U.S. support to Israel’s military until it agrees to an indefinite halt on expanding housing in terrritory that will likely be part of a future Palestinian state, so I’m far from an open-ended backer of Israel. Lots of people make valid critiques of that country without falling into veiled or overt bigotry, and should always keep a wary eye on those who do. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2019, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-all-about-the-benjamins-baby-anti-semitic/829356/87 "2019-02-15T16:53:59Z")
> [@CurtC](#): > > What’s the deal with the far right misstating the name of the party? To me, it just reflects badly on the person saying it. _Speak severely to Republicans And beat them when they sleazes They only do this to annoy Because they know it teases_ (after Lewis Carroll) ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2019, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-all-about-the-benjamins-baby-anti-semitic/829356/88 "2019-02-15T18:17:21Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > It’s a deliberate slur meant to denigrate the party and its supporters. I’ve asked this particular poster many times to refer to the party by its actual name rather than this deliberate slur, but he’s always refused. Speaking as a life long Democrat, I don’t feel remotely denigrated by “Democrat Party,” and I’m honestly at a loss as to how I possibly could be. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2019, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-all-about-the-benjamins-baby-anti-semitic/829356/89 "2019-02-15T18:24:42Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Speaking as a life long Democrat, I don’t feel remotely denigrated by “Democrat Party,” and I’m honestly at a loss as to how I possibly could be. You can read about it here: > **[Democrat Party (epithet)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democrat_Party_(epithet))** > > Democrat Party is an epithet and pejorative for the Democratic Party of the United States, often used in a disparaging fashion by the party's opponents. While use of the term started out as non-hostile, it has grown in its negative use since the 1940s, in particular by members of the Republican Party—in party platforms, partisan speeches, and press releases—as well as by conservative commentators and third party politicians. > United Press International reported in August 1984 that the term Demo... It’s a deliberate effort to needle (I’d call it real-world trolling). Just a little tiny thing, and also a little tiny thing for me to say “that’s shitty and you should stop doing it”. YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2019, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-all-about-the-benjamins-baby-anti-semitic/829356/90 "2019-02-15T18:28:06Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > You can read about it here: > > [Democrat Party (epithet) - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democrat_Party_(epithet)) > > It’s a deliberate effort to needle (I’d call it real-world trolling). Just a little tiny thing, and also a little tiny thing for me to say “that’s shitty and you should stop doing it”. YMMV. No, I’m familiar with the argument. It’s just that it’s a really stupid argument. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2019, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-all-about-the-benjamins-baby-anti-semitic/829356/91 "2019-02-15T18:30:28Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > No, I’m familiar with the argument. > > It’s just that it’s a really stupid argument. Think of it like someone saying “Barack HUSEIN Obama.” It tells you a lot about the person. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2019, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-all-about-the-benjamins-baby-anti-semitic/829356/92 "2019-02-15T18:32:36Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > No, I’m familiar with the argument. > > It’s just that it’s a really stupid argument. I disagree, but whatever. You don’t have to feel the same way. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2019, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-all-about-the-benjamins-baby-anti-semitic/829356/93 "2019-02-15T18:34:42Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > Think of it like someone saying “Barack HUSEIN Obama.” It tells you a lot about the person. Honestly, I think it tells you more about the person complaining. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2019, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-all-about-the-benjamins-baby-anti-semitic/829356/94 "2019-02-15T18:41:02Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Honestly, I think it tells you more about the person complaining. What does it say about the person who complains about others complaining about it? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2019, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-all-about-the-benjamins-baby-anti-semitic/829356/95 "2019-02-15T18:44:27Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > No, I’m familiar with the argument. > > It’s just that it’s a really stupid argument. I’m curious: are you saying it’s too slight to get worked up over— a position with which I agree— or denying that it is [mis]used intentionally by [many] Republicans specifically to avoid associating the Democratic party with democracy/democratic principles? IOW, what exactly is the “argument” that you find stupid? ---
**Author:** ![CelticKnot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/celticknot/32/3392_2.png) [@CelticKnot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CelticKnot)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2019, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-all-about-the-benjamins-baby-anti-semitic/829356/96 "2019-02-15T18:47:53Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > My take is that it’s legitimate for Omar (or others) to question the roles of AIPAC and other lobbyist groups in influencing American policy. It crosses over the line to accuse supporters of Israel of being bought, which plays into the “Jewish money controls the world” stereotype. > > Omar’s controversial tweet came in response to another poisonous anti-Semitic trope, which she evidently endorsed. > > _'On Sunday, Omar responded to a tweet by journalist Glenn Greenwald that reads, “GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy threatens punishment for @IlhanMN and @RashidaTlaib over their criticisms of Israel. It’s stunning how much time US political leaders spend defending a foreign nation even if it means attacking free speech rights of Americans.” > Omar replied, “It’s all about the Benjamins baby,” followed by a musical notes emoji."_ > > \*\*See, Jews who back Israel aren’t really Americans, they’re pledging loyalty to a foreign country. :dubious: > \*\* > In [invoking Allah to help people realize that Israel has “hypnotized the world”](http://twitter.com/ilhanmn/status/269488770066313216?lang=en), Omar has encouraged religious bigotry. > > [Not good](https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/11/opinion/ilhan-omar-antisemitism.html). emphasis mine Is the bolded sentence from Omar or **Jackmannii**? So if I support any country other than the USA I’m a traitor? ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2019, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-all-about-the-benjamins-baby-anti-semitic/829356/97 "2019-02-15T19:04:13Z")
> [@CelticKnot](#): > > emphasis mine > Is the bolded sentence from Omar or **Jackmannii**? > > So if I support any country other than the USA I’m a traitor? That’s not from Omar, unless I’m missing something. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2019, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-all-about-the-benjamins-baby-anti-semitic/829356/98 "2019-02-15T19:15:31Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Speaking as a life long Democrat, I don’t feel remotely denigrated by “Democrat Party,” and I’m honestly at a loss as to how I possibly could be. I personally don’t care whether the ‘ic’ suffix is present or not. But some people — including at least one still posting at SDMB — proudly omit the ‘ic’ _ **just because they delight in giving offense** _. I find it quite annoying to realize that the enemies of American democracy stoop to such childish measures, and that such intellectual sloth succeeds in gulling 35% of the voting populace. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2019, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-all-about-the-benjamins-baby-anti-semitic/829356/99 "2019-02-15T19:19:32Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > That’s not from Omar, unless I’m missing something. Unless Omar has access to the same raised eyebrow emoji that we have here. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2019, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-all-about-the-benjamins-baby-anti-semitic/829356/100 "2019-02-15T19:37:29Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > I’m curious: are you saying it’s too slight to get worked up over— a position with which I agree— or denying that it is [mis]used intentionally by [many] Republicans specifically to avoid associating the Democratic party with democracy/democratic principles? > > IOW, what exactly is the “argument” that you find stupid? Mostly the former, but also a pinch of the latter. “Members of this group are called X, therefore, it’s the X group,” is a pretty common construction in English, and I suspect the majority of times this is used by Republicans, it’s nothing more nefarious than that. To the extent that it is used as a deliberate insult, it’s such a hilariously toothless attempt at insult that I’m genuinely baffled that anyone even notices it, let alone is legitimately upset about it. > [@iiandyiiii](#): > > What does it say about the person who complains about others complaining about it? 😉 Mostly, that they’re tired of watching other liberals play into the stereotype that we get upset over inconsequential and/or imaginary slights, particularly when it gives conservatives cover to dismiss instances of genuinely insulting terminology as left-wing over-sensitivity. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-all-about-the-benjamins-baby-anti-semitic/829356.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-all-about-the-benjamins-baby-anti-semitic/829356.md?page=6)