The Other McCain

"One should either write ruthlessly what one believes to be the truth, or else shut up." — Arthur Koestler

National Security Advisor Archie Bunker

Posted on | April 26, 2010 | 15 Comments

No need to get all outrageously outraged here, but Gen. James Jones ought to have thought twice before telling Jew jokes at a foreign-policy seminar:

Professor William Jacobson observes:

I have no problem with the joke. I think we have to be able to laugh at ourselves, including laughing at stereotypes; in humor we often expose the stereotype rather than build upon it.
That said, this is another one of those “can you imagine” moments. Substitute blacks or latinos or gays or almost any other group for Jews, and the joke playing on old stereotypes never would have been told by Jones. And if it were, Jones already would be gone from the administration.

And not only that, “can you imagine” if an official in a Republican administration had told that joke on camera? Oy, vey!

Via Memeorandum, with more reaction from Stephen Green at Vodkapundit, Israel Matzav, Scott Johnson at Power Line, Jim Hoft at Gateway Pundit, Dan Riehl at Riehl World View, DaTechguy and Roger Simon.

UPDATE: The predictable denouement: Abe Foxman complains, Jones apologizes. Another triumph of multicultural sensitivity in the Obama Age. How about a “beer summit” at the White House?

Bookmark and Share
Category: Aghanistan, Israel, Video

Comments

  • pdoth

    That is because none of those other groups claim for themselves both a race and a religion. If a group benifits from a double standard then they mustn’t become too flustered when its turned back on them. Jones is smart. Are not smart Gentiles so annoying?…just sayin…

  • pdoth

    That is because none of those other groups claim for themselves both a race and a religion. If a group benifits from a double standard then they mustn’t become too flustered when its turned back on them. Jones is smart. Are not smart Gentiles so annoying?…just sayin…

  • Pingback: Now that Rush has mentioned and played the audio of the joke… « DaTechguy's Blog

  • http://www.valley-of-the-shadow.blogspot.com JSF

    Any administration that follows Andrew Sullivan’s writing will be anti-semetic. As the Freedom Agenda was part of the Bush II Administration agenda, hating Jews and Israel is part of the Obama Administration culture.

    As a Jew I’ve seen this story before, however it took place in the 40′s and not a lot of us made it out. Or later in Stalinist Russia, too. I don’t think we want the re-run here in America.

    Seriously, neither Sullivan, Friedersdorf, Biden or Obama can ever say that the Jews deserve their spiritual home (Sh’ma Yishrael) in Jerusalem.

    Why is that?

  • http://www.valley-of-the-shadow.blogspot.com JSF

    Any administration that follows Andrew Sullivan’s writing will be anti-semetic. As the Freedom Agenda was part of the Bush II Administration agenda, hating Jews and Israel is part of the Obama Administration culture.

    As a Jew I’ve seen this story before, however it took place in the 40′s and not a lot of us made it out. Or later in Stalinist Russia, too. I don’t think we want the re-run here in America.

    Seriously, neither Sullivan, Friedersdorf, Biden or Obama can ever say that the Jews deserve their spiritual home (Sh’ma Yishrael) in Jerusalem.

    Why is that?

  • http://yidwithlid.blogspot.com Jeff Dunetz

    Here’s the truth, I dug up that story because I was not asked to participate in the “manboobquake”

  • http://yidwithlid.blogspot.com Jeff Dunetz

    Here’s the truth, I dug up that story because I was not asked to participate in the “manboobquake”

  • http://theothermccain.com smitty

    @JD,
    Least Necessary Imagery of 2010, that. ;)

  • http://theothermccain.com smitty

    @JD,
    Least Necessary Imagery of 2010, that. ;)

  • Joe

    Since we are telling jokes…

    A member of al Qaeda in Iraq walks into his local mosque with a big grin on his face.

    “What are you so happy about, Abdul?” Asks the Imam.

    “Well, I’ll tell you,” replies Abdul. “I live by the railroad tracks and on my way home last night, I noticed a young woman tied to the rails, like in the American movies. I cut her free and took her back to my humble abode. Allah be praised – we made love all night, all around the tent. We did everything, me on top, sometimes her on top, every position permitted by Mohammed, Peace Be Upon Him!”

    “By the most Merciful,” exclaimed the Imam, “you have been blessed. Was she as beautiful as a desert flower?”

    Abdul grimaced, “By the Jinn, I do not know – I never found her head.”

  • Joe

    Since we are telling jokes…

    A member of al Qaeda in Iraq walks into his local mosque with a big grin on his face.

    “What are you so happy about, Abdul?” Asks the Imam.

    “Well, I’ll tell you,” replies Abdul. “I live by the railroad tracks and on my way home last night, I noticed a young woman tied to the rails, like in the American movies. I cut her free and took her back to my humble abode. Allah be praised – we made love all night, all around the tent. We did everything, me on top, sometimes her on top, every position permitted by Mohammed, Peace Be Upon Him!”

    “By the most Merciful,” exclaimed the Imam, “you have been blessed. Was she as beautiful as a desert flower?”

    Abdul grimaced, “By the Jinn, I do not know – I never found her head.”

  • Joe

    Q. How do you raise the IQ of Saudi Arabia?

    A. Let Jews move there.

  • Joe

    Q. How do you raise the IQ of Saudi Arabia?

    A. Let Jews move there.

  • http://bitsblog.florack.us/ DavidL

    I did not find Jones joke funny, but am undecided on just offensive it is. However, the fact that Jones told the joke in the line of duty seems a massive lapse in judgment.

  • http://bitsblog.florack.us/ DavidL

    I did not find Jones joke funny, but am undecided on just offensive it is. However, the fact that Jones told the joke in the line of duty seems a massive lapse in judgment.

Performance Optimization WordPress Plugins by W3 EDGE