Obama Stoking Anti-Semitic Hatred

Looks like the shabby treatment of Israel by Barack Obama has consequences. Anti-Semitic creeps are coming out of the woodwork.

The first e-mail comes from a frequent writer, typos and all.

"U try to make 'our' president a pro muslim, when your 'Jewish' nation is the cause of most of our problems. Your PM is nothing more than a terrorist, but u defend him. I told u before, when u were in Israel, stay there." -- Bob De John

The second writer also has grammar and spelling problems and a bellyful of hate. "You and the rest of that jew political group continually licking honey off your nasty tongues, are much more loyal to the country of israel than you are to The United States of America. That is only one reason why most Americans do not like the jew people." -- Joey Dluzak

Here is another voice of darkness. "I so enjoy your rant on Islam and the President. It shows your ignorance and exemplify your dumbfounded fears . . . Cant wait for you to die from old age, maybe cancer, or something worse, like Alzheimer." -- Omar Khalil

The three letters came to me in response to different columns, but the writers share two distinct views. They support President Obama's hard-line policy toward Israel, and they are anti-Semites.

They hear Obama's policy as a license, and even a cue, to spew their hate. I am sharing their rants because letters like theirs are increasing as the president grows more forceful toward Israel.

The connection is disturbing. With American-Israeli relations at a low point, anti-Semitism could be reaching a boiling point.

Yes, some writers support Obama's stance in legitimate ways. They show that there is room for honest disagreement and that criticism of Israel, whether from the president or other Americans, does not have to be anti-Semitic.

But most of the critical reaction I get when I fault Obama's policies is anti-Semitic. Some of it is violent in tone, wishing me and my family death and suggesting the world would be a better place if Hitler had succeeded.

"Another Holocaust is on the way," wrote Janice Wijnen. "What will history say about the Jews? They were the missing links between apes and human beings."

The most common approach is to raise doubts about my loyalty, with many writers claiming that sticking up for Israel is proof of a lack of patriotism here at home.

Because I see Israel's survival both as a moral issue and a strategic one for America, I am often incorrectly assumed to be Jewish, as if only Jews could defend Israel.

Well-known people who are Jewish, such as former Mayor Ed Koch, are routinely charged with caring more about Israel than America. Writer Tom Dilberger repeatedly calls White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel a "Zionist traitor" to America whose job is to make sure Obama does what Israel wants.

Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, who seem to delight in humiliating the Israeli prime minister, ought to be careful about what they sow in fertile and dangerous minds. After all, they are, broadly speaking, responsible for their supporters.

Indeed, with Bill Clinton and other Democrats cautioning anti-Washington protesters to be careful not to incite violence, Obama must distance himself from his most virulent supporters.

If he doesn't want their support, he can make it clear by condemning anti-Semitism. Until then, he can fairly be judged by the company he inspires.

Someone needs to alert the Southern Poverty Law Center to all this hatred.