"Jew 'em down" ... Trenton, My Trenton forevermore

[Songbird]

So Trenton Council president Kathy McBride said “Jew her down” in a closed door executive session, something we heard about and then confirmed thanks to The Trentonian’s crack investigative unit (Hi Isaac!). The Trentonian even has a recording of the statement in question.

McBride has - at least of this writing - refused to confirm, deny, or apologize for the remark, claiming whatever happens in executive session is information that cannot, by law, be disseminated. At least that’s what she told the New Jersey Globe, the online news organization helmed by David Wildstein, yes, the Bridgegate dude. (Honestly, that factoid is immaterial to the story, but the more you know, ya know? Anyway …)

Anyway, Mayor Reed Gusciora has implored McBride to apologize, Trenton councilman Jerrell Blakeley has called on McBride to resign, and a pair of Trenton council members have actually decided “Jew her down” is the hill they’re willing to die on.

“It’s a ‘statement of speech,’ George Muschal told the Globe. “You know, it’s like a car dealer, they wanted $5,000, you Jew ‘em down to $4,000. It’s nothing vicious. The expression has been said millions of times.”

Oy vey.

Read the rest ...

 

[TheSportsPredictor]

No need to resign over the remark. Just apologize.

She'll wind up resigning because of all the nonsense after.

Unless she's a Republican. Then such talk is expected.

 

[Songbird]

I know Muschal pretty well. He is a character of characters and his quote fits him to a T.

 

[goalmouth]

No need to resign over the remark. Just apologize.

She'll wind up resigning because of all the nonsense after.

Unless she's a Republican. Then such talk is expected.

No need to resign? Are you the biggest idiot ever?

 

[justgladtobehere]

The writer's attitude is interesting. He doesn't claim the people are anti-Semitic, just dopes who use anti-Semitic terms.

Fact is, I’ve heard way too many people - people I like and respect, people who I know aren’t anti-Semitic - use the term. They’ve said it in my presence, realize what they said, and profusely apologize.

Fact is - and incredibly, I understand what Muschal inelegantly said - it is a “statement of speech.” It’s a thing. Muschal - based on his quotes - obviously does not think to “Jew down” is offensive. Neither does Vaughn. Neither does McBride.

So fine. They win. They want to say it’s not offensive, sure, fine, OK, not an argument I’m going to win, clearly. Besides, I’ve heard it too many times to be truly offended. And believe me - I’ve heard worse. Much, much, much, worse.

But please bear in mind the many times that I’ve heard the “Jew down” garbage, I’ve gotten a quick and embarrassed apology. In those cases, someone said it, realized times have dramatically changed, and adjusted accordingly.

It would appear McBride, Muschal, and Vaughn aren’t exactly on board - at least not yet - when it comes to understanding why the term is, at best, low-level offensive.

So are they truly anti-Semitic, do they truly hate Jewish people? I’m going to give a resoundingly hard “no” to that question based on the evidence presented.

They are, however, unenlightened dopes.

Worst part? A simple apology from McBride would’ve ended this before it even started.

 

[TheSportsPredictor]

No need to resign? Are you the biggest idiot ever?

Millions in front of me in that line.

 

[BitterYoungMatador2]

Guess she won’t be on Saturday Night Live either.

 

[Webster]

I was at a destination wedding of a former co-worker and a group of us were visiting the local market. The wife of one another former co-worker was excited because she "jewed down" the price of a necklace that she bought. The future Mrs. W and I were the only people of the tribe in this group and I got pretty loud in explaining that it was an anti-Semitic term. She and her husband insisted that we were the real anti-Semites because the term was a compliment and that we were just being politically correct. Shockingly, 20 years later, both are huge MAGA people.

 

[CD Boogie]

So Trenton Council president Kathy McBride said “Jew her down” in a closed door executive session, something we heard about and then confirmed thanks to The Trentonian’s crack investigative unit (Hi Isaac!). The Trentonian even has a recording of the statement in question.

McBride has - at least of this writing - refused to confirm, deny, or apologize for the remark, claiming whatever happens in executive session is information that cannot, by law, be disseminated. At least that’s what she told the New Jersey Globe, the online news organization helmed by David Wildstein, yes, the Bridgegate dude. (Honestly, that factoid is immaterial to the story, but the more you know, ya know? Anyway …)

Anyway, Mayor Reed Gusciora has implored McBride to apologize, Trenton councilman Jerrell Blakeley has called on McBride to resign, and a pair of Trenton council members have actually decided “Jew her down” is the hill they’re willing to die on.

“It’s a ‘statement of speech,’ George Muschal told the Globe. “You know, it’s like a car dealer, they wanted $5,000, you Jew ‘em down to $4,000. It’s nothing vicious. The expression has been said millions of times.”

Oy vey.

Read the rest ...

This chick outkicked her coverage...I don't even need to see her opposite number to know that.

 

[heyabbott]

So Trenton Council president Kathy McBride said “Jew her down” in a closed door executive session, something we heard about and then confirmed thanks to The Trentonian’s crack investigative unit (Hi Isaac!). The Trentonian even has a recording of the statement in question.

McBride has - at least of this writing - refused to confirm, deny, or apologize for the remark, claiming whatever happens in executive session is information that cannot, by law, be disseminated. At least that’s what she told the New Jersey Globe, the online news organization helmed by David Wildstein, yes, the Bridgegate dude. (Honestly, that factoid is immaterial to the story, but the more you know, ya know? Anyway …)

Anyway, Mayor Reed Gusciora has implored McBride to apologize, Trenton councilman Jerrell Blakeley has called on McBride to resign, and a pair of Trenton council members have actually decided “Jew her down” is the hill they’re willing to die on.

“It’s a ‘statement of speech,’ George Muschal told the Globe. “You know, it’s like a car dealer, they wanted $5,000, you Jew ‘em down to $4,000. It’s nothing vicious. The expression has been said millions of times.”

Oy vey.

Read the rest ...

She is African American, so using denigrating speech to people who are Jewish or about Jewish people is acceptable in the African American culture. Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton both have repeatedly made anti-Semitic comments. Both ran for President and enjoyed wide support from African Americans after their insults. Sometimes they apologize for what they said and sometimes the are sorry for anyone whom they have offended. And sometimes it is a silent **** you.

For the most part, anti-Semitic utterances are just gotcha quotes used by one side or another. The reality is that Jewish people are easy targets to insult without the prospect of recriminations.

 

[Songbird]

Oh, the irony, Songbird. Oh, the ****ing irony.

 

[LanceyHoward]

She is African American, so using denigrating speech to people who are Jewish or about Jewish people is acceptable in the African American culture. Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton both have repeatedly made anti-Semitic comments. Both ran for President and enjoyed wide support from African Americans after their insults. Sometimes they apologize for what they said and sometimes the are sorry for anyone whom they have offended. And sometimes it is a silent **** you.

For the most part, anti-Semitic utterances are just gotcha quotes used by one side or another. The reality is that Jewish people are easy targets to insult without the prospect of recriminations.

The orginal post said Councilman Jerrell Blakely called on the woman to resign. Councilman George Muschal defended the comments. Blakely is black and Muschal is white.

Your ability to generalize remains unparalleled.

 

[Songbird]

Blakeley is going to be mayor of Trenton one day soon, which will be a good thing, and then he'll move on to be governor. He's a good egg.

 

[Shropshire Slasher]

So Trenton Council president Kathy McBride said “Jew her down” in a closed door executive session, something we heard about and then confirmed thanks to The Trentonian’s crack investigative unit (Hi Isaac!). The Trentonian even has a recording of the statement in question.

McBride has - at least of this writing - refused to confirm, deny, or apologize for the remark, claiming whatever happens in executive session is information that cannot, by law, be disseminated. At least that’s what she told the New Jersey Globe, the online news organization helmed by David Wildstein, yes, the Bridgegate dude. (Honestly, that factoid is immaterial to the story, but the more you know, ya know? Anyway …)

Anyway, Mayor Reed Gusciora has implored McBride to apologize, Trenton councilman Jerrell Blakeley has called on McBride to resign, and a pair of Trenton council members have actually decided “Jew her down” is the hill they’re willing to die on.

“It’s a ‘statement of speech,’ George Muschal told the Globe. “You know, it’s like a car dealer, they wanted $5,000, you Jew ‘em down to $4,000. It’s nothing vicious. The expression has been said millions of times.”

Oy vey.

Read the rest ...

Let me see those hands.

 

[Azrael]

Not sure how it's possible in America at this late date to ignore or misunderstand the nature of the slur inherent in the phrase.

Even a casual reader or moviegoer or TV watcher has been presented the anti-Semitic tropes and stereotypes hundreds of times by adolescence.

 

[Songbird]

Anyone who says they've never equated "Jew 'em down" with Jews is lying.

 

[Regan MacNeil]

Who would even say that? If they wouldn't connect that term with Jews, with whom would they connect it? Unitarians?

 

[outofplace]

Anyone who says they've never equated "Jew 'em down" with Jews is lying.

That's probably true, but I have encountered people who used the term without thinking of the connection. In the late '90s, a teenager working as a cashier at a gas station convenience store realized she had not given me the proper change. As I was walking away, she said "I Jewed you out of your change." I remember being slightly stunned and informing her that I am Jewish. She still didn't get the problem, even after further explanation. She was completely lost.

I told the story when I got back to my office and one of the young women made a good point. People were getting the term from South Park, but not really thinking about what it meant.

Of course it is ignorant and inappropriate speech and refusing to apologize makes it seem as if the person is comfortable with saying something that is anti-Jewish, but I do get people using the term without thought, but also without malice.

 

[heyabbott]

The orginal post said Councilman Jerrell Blakely called on the woman to resign. Councilman George Muschal defended the comments. Blakely is black and Muschal is white.

But your ability to generalize remains unparalleled.

And that’s where the left and right meet, anti-Semitism.

 

[LanceyHoward]

And that’s where the left and right meet, anti-Semitism.

Your original post used the examples of a black candidate who unsuccessfully ran 30 years ago and another black candidate who ran 15 years ago and received less than one percent of the delegates to demonstrate anti-semitism in the black community.

Now you tell that liberals and conservatives can be anti-Semite. Which, while certainly true, seems to me to be unrelated to your original point.