# The “anti-Semitism” smear campaign against CAP and Media Matters rolls on **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [January 20, 2012, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-anti-semitism-smear-campaign-against-cap-and-media-matters-rolls-on/610097 "2012-01-20T03:34:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Chen019](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f19dbf/32.png) [@Chen019](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chen019)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2012, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-anti-semitism-smear-campaign-against-cap-and-media-matters-rolls-on/610097/1 "2012-01-20T03:34:14Z")
Interesting [article in Salon](http://www.salon.com/2012/01/19/the_smear_campaign_against_cap_and_media_matters_rolls_on/singleton/) by Glenn Greenwald on a relatively effective smear campaign: > [@](#): > > …So what they do instead is target young, relatively obscure writers — especially ones with names like “Zaid Jilani” and “Ali Gahrib” — in order to make an example of them. This is a truly disgusting spectacle: these commentators — all of whom are writing well within the range of mainstream opinion on Israel — are being publicly smeared early in their careers as anti-Semites as part of a coordinated, ongoing campaign planned by Josh Block and carried out by numerous journalists with large media platforms, and aided and abetted by Jewish groups trading on their credibility to suppress debate. > > These accusers know that their institutional employer (CAP) — dependent both upon White House access and funding by Jewish donors — can ill-afford to be smeared as anti-Israel and anti-Semitic regardless of whether those allegations are valid or not. And that’s exactly why they’re doing it: because they sense that these young CAP writers in particular (who, revealingly, have not been heard from in their own defense since the accusations against them were first voiced) are vulnerable to character assassination and career destruction. Unsurprisingly, CAP has alternated between distancing itself from and even repudiating their writings to desperately assuring everyone that they are fully on board with standard “pro-Israel” orthodoxies. > > So this smear campaign not only threatens to suppress legitimate debate about crucial policy matters in the U.S., but it also is aimed at the reputations and careers of numerous young liberal writers who have done absolutely nothing wrong. As Wildman put it about those who “debase the term by using it as a rhetorical conceit against those with whom we disagree on policy matters”: “When anti-Semitism is falsely applied, we must also stand up and decry it as defamation, as character assault, as unjust. . . .There comes a time when we must insist on common sense. We must reject the absurd. There comes a time when we must say, ‘Enough’.” We are way past that point now: both with the general smearing of Israel critics as anti-Semites and the specific, baseless attacks on these writers. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2012, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-anti-semitism-smear-campaign-against-cap-and-media-matters-rolls-on/610097/2 "2012-01-20T19:15:31Z")
Well this will be a nice article to trot out the next time someone cries “anti-Semitism” in a policy debate over Israel on the Dope. Which happens quite regularly. Though I cannot imagine why the Israelis are hot for a war with Iran. A lot for the Israelis to lose in such a conflict, very little to win. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2012, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-anti-semitism-smear-campaign-against-cap-and-media-matters-rolls-on/610097/3 "2012-01-20T19:17:55Z")
Moved to Great Debates from Elections. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2012, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-anti-semitism-smear-campaign-against-cap-and-media-matters-rolls-on/610097/4 "2012-01-20T19:53:23Z")
Okay, I suppose there’s a debate here somewhere. I guess I’ll just try to see if I’ve got the gist of this thing right: There’s some right wing ‘politicos’ who are attacking some left wing ‘journalists’ who work with left wing ‘politicos’ as being anti-semites because they have Moslem-y names and don’t adhere to some pro-Israel lobby’s dogma. Is that it? Because it’s pretty run-of-the-mill political pandering that follows the election cycle. ---
**Author:** ![Lantern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d26b3c/32.png) [@Lantern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lantern)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2012, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-anti-semitism-smear-campaign-against-cap-and-media-matters-rolls-on/610097/5 "2012-01-20T20:28:19Z")
Sadly this type of smear campaign against critics of Israel is quite common in the US. When it tries to single out staffers with Muslim-sounding names you are entering truly foul and poisonous waters. The level of Islamophobic bigotry among right-wingers, both Christian and Jewish, is scary. It’s getting to the point where you look back with fondness to George W Bush as a voice of tolerance and decency. ---
**Author:** ![FinnAgain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finnagain/32/12500_2.png) [@FinnAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinnAgain)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2012, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-anti-semitism-smear-campaign-against-cap-and-media-matters-rolls-on/610097/6 "2012-01-20T20:53:10Z")
> [@Evil\_Captor](#): > > Well this will be a nice article to trot out the next time someone cries “anti-Semitism” in a policy debate over Israel on the Dope. Which happens quite regularly. If by “happens quite regularly” you mean “happens virtually never”, then yes. Otherwise, not so much. What does happen quite regularly is that people, who haven’t been called antisemites, hop up on the cross and claim that they are being persecuted. It’d be nice if that stopped. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2012, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-anti-semitism-smear-campaign-against-cap-and-media-matters-rolls-on/610097/7 "2012-01-20T20:57:26Z")
> [@FinnAgain](#): > > hop up on the cross Total anti-Christenoid statement! ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2012, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-anti-semitism-smear-campaign-against-cap-and-media-matters-rolls-on/610097/8 "2012-01-20T21:01:14Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Okay, I suppose there’s a debate here somewhere. I guess I’ll just try to see if I’ve got the gist of this thing right: > > There’s some right wing ‘politicos’ who are attacking some left wing ‘journalists’ who work with left wing ‘politicos’ as being anti-semites because they have Moslem-y names and don’t adhere to some pro-Israel lobby’s dogma. > > Is that it? Because it’s pretty run-of-the-mill political pandering that follows the election cycle. Heh. There is no meaningful debate here because none of the claims can be evaluated - we have neither the writings of the allegedly smeared authors, not the actual alleged smears. It’s all third-hand. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2012, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-anti-semitism-smear-campaign-against-cap-and-media-matters-rolls-on/610097/9 "2012-01-20T21:07:45Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Okay, I suppose there’s a debate here somewhere. I guess I’ll just try to see if I’ve got the gist of this thing right: > > There’s some right wing ‘politicos’ who are attacking some left wing ‘journalists’ who work with left wing ‘politicos’ as being anti-semites because they have Moslem-y names and don’t adhere to some pro-Israel lobby’s dogma. > > Is that it? Because it’s pretty run-of-the-mill political pandering that follows the election cycle. Actually, it’s some members of the left attacking some other members of the left for not toeing the line on “proper” Israeli policy. There’s very little right wing input that I know of. The writers who are being smeared write for Dem friendly think tanks. And the people who are objecting to the smearing are themselves leftish writers. The article originates from [Salon.com](http://Salon.com), not exactly a right wing website. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2012, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-anti-semitism-smear-campaign-against-cap-and-media-matters-rolls-on/610097/10 "2012-01-20T21:14:32Z")
> [@Malthus](#): > > Heh. There is no meaningful debate here because none of the claims can be evaluated - we have neither the writings of the allegedly smeared authors, not the actual alleged smears. It’s all third-hand. There’s a link to the original article with links to the alleged smears right in the article the OP linked to. Let me help you out: [http://www.salon.com/2011/12/08/right\_wing\_listserv\_targets\_israels\_critics/singleton/](http://www.salon.com/2011/12/08/right_wing_listserv_targets_israels_critics/singleton/) You’re welcome. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2012, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-anti-semitism-smear-campaign-against-cap-and-media-matters-rolls-on/610097/11 "2012-01-20T21:15:55Z")
> [@FinnAgain](#): > > If by “happens quite regularly” you mean “happens virtually never”, then yes. Otherwise, not so much. What does happen quite regularly is that people, who haven’t been called antisemites, hop up on the cross and claim that they are being persecuted. > > It’d be nice if that stopped. Well, then this article will never be able to be put to the use I suggested. How nice if that turns out to be true. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2012, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-anti-semitism-smear-campaign-against-cap-and-media-matters-rolls-on/610097/12 "2012-01-20T21:16:46Z")
> [@Evil\_Captor](#): > > Actually, it’s some members of the left attacking some other members of the left for not toeing the line on “proper” Israeli policy. There’s very little right wing input that I know of. The writers who are being smeared write for Dem friendly think tanks. And the people who are objecting to the smearing are themselves leftish writers. The article originates from [Salon.com](http://Salon.com), not exactly a right wing website. Ok, thanks, I wasn’t clear about that, and didn’t want to read all those pointless words again. So this is intramural pandering based on the \*No True Zionist \*principle. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2012, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-anti-semitism-smear-campaign-against-cap-and-media-matters-rolls-on/610097/13 "2012-01-20T21:27:14Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Ok, thanks, I wasn’t clear about that, and didn’t want to read all those pointless words again. So this is intramural pandering based on the \*No True Zionist \*principle. No, it’s AIPAC, the Israeli lobbying group, trying to keep left wing commentators in line with what they think is the proper viewpoint on US policy wrt Israeli affairs, using an organized smear campaign much like the kind of stuff Karl Rove does, mostly against younger, less established writers on the left. Apparently with great success. Some members of the left object to the smear campaign and exposed its nature. But at least one of the commentators targeted has lost his job, and there’s been considerably toadying to the smear campaign by the targeted groups and the White House. Pretty disgusting stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2012, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-anti-semitism-smear-campaign-against-cap-and-media-matters-rolls-on/610097/14 "2012-01-20T21:35:55Z")
> [@Evil\_Captor](#): > > There’s a link to the original article with links to the alleged smears right in the article the OP linked to. Let me help you out: > > [http://www.salon.com/2011/12/08/right\_wing\_listserv\_targets\_israels\_critics/singleton/](http://www.salon.com/2011/12/08/right_wing_listserv_targets_israels_critics/singleton/) > > You’re welcome. Thanks. The actual roll-call of posts ironically makes it clear that the author of the original article is doing exactly what he accuses his enemies of doing - making an absurd claim of bigotry. From the first sentence quoted in the OP from the original article: > [@](#): > > So what they do instead is target young, relatively obscure writers — especially ones with names like “Zaid Jilani” and “Ali Gahrib” — in order to make an example of them. A review of the actual blog entries demonstrates that the names are just as likely to be “Clifton” and “Rosenburg” as “Jilani” and “Gahrib”. In short, one side is claiming anti-semitic smears and the other anti-Arab smears. Yawn. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2012, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-anti-semitism-smear-campaign-against-cap-and-media-matters-rolls-on/610097/15 "2012-01-20T21:50:33Z")
> [@Evil\_Captor](#): > > No, it’s AIPAC, the Israeli lobbying group, trying to keep left wing commentators in line with what they think is the proper viewpoint on US policy wrt Israeli affairs, using an organized smear campaign much like the kind of stuff Karl Rove does, mostly against younger, less established writers on the left. Apparently with great success. Some members of the left object to the smear campaign and exposed its nature. But at least one of the commentators targeted has lost his job, and there’s been considerably toadying to the smear campaign by the targeted groups and the White House. Pretty disgusting stuff. To summarize what I’ve learned here, I’ll cite **Malthus** : > [@Malthus](#): > > Yawn. ---
**Author:** ![FinnAgain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finnagain/32/12500_2.png) [@FinnAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinnAgain)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2012, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-anti-semitism-smear-campaign-against-cap-and-media-matters-rolls-on/610097/16 "2012-01-20T21:55:31Z")
> [@Evil\_Captor](#): > > Well, then this article will never be able to be put to the use I suggested. The use you suggested was using an example of off-board interactions as some sort of ammunition when people on the board fictitiously claim that they are “quite regularly” called anti-semites on the Dope. And it may very well find use in that role. Although to be fair, most automartyrs at least have the good graces to simply not cite their own fictitious mistreatment at the board rather than actually citing something totally unrelated to the Dope and then trying to use it to buttress a fiction about their treatment on the Dope. ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2012, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-anti-semitism-smear-campaign-against-cap-and-media-matters-rolls-on/610097/17 "2012-01-20T21:56:39Z")
I’m sort of in awe of the attempt to make someone saying “Christopher Colombus was a towering douchebag” on Twitter into an anti-Israeli statement. ---
**Author:** ![Untoward\_Parable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/51bf81/32.png) [@Untoward\_Parable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Untoward_Parable)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2012, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-anti-semitism-smear-campaign-against-cap-and-media-matters-rolls-on/610097/18 "2012-01-20T22:04:47Z")
A silly thing is that Israel is massively anti-semitic. “The term Semite means a member of any of various ancient and modern Semitic-speaking peoples originating in southwestern Asia” This includes Palestinians and the Lebanese. So when someone cries like a baby when you criticize Israel for perfectly objectionable crimes against humanity you can respond, “Shut up you anti-semitic bigot!” ---
**Author:** ![Ibn\_Warraq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e19b73/32.png) [@Ibn\_Warraq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibn_Warraq)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2012, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-anti-semitism-smear-campaign-against-cap-and-media-matters-rolls-on/610097/19 "2012-01-20T22:12:36Z")
> [@Simplicio](#): > > I’m sort of in awe of the attempt to make someone saying “Christopher Colombus was a towering douchebag” on Twitter into an anti-Israeli statement. Can you show me where someone was branded an anti-Semite for doing that? Thanks ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2012, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-anti-semitism-smear-campaign-against-cap-and-media-matters-rolls-on/610097/20 "2012-01-20T22:16:54Z")
> [@Simplicio](#): > > I’m sort of in awe of the attempt to make someone saying “Christopher Colombus was a towering douchebag” on Twitter into an anti-Israeli statement. It is well known that Columbus might have been Jewish when it is advantageous to say so, thus making disparaging remarks about Columbus anti-semitic in nature. For this reason all anti-Christian activity is also anti-semitic, since Jesus was Jewish. Ergo, all atheists are anti-semites, as well as all Jews. It’s all relative though. The point is that the person you are calling an anti-semite is more anti-semitic than you are. And isn’t that what counts when imbeciles attempt to reason? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-anti-semitism-smear-campaign-against-cap-and-media-matters-rolls-on/610097.md?page=2)