Howard Dean is chewing on his shoe again. Here's his latest (although maybe not since he said it a few days ago) bon mot:
"I was recently asked about the difference between the Democratic and Republican parties," Dean said. "When it comes right down to it, the essential difference is that the Democrats fundamentally believe it is important to make sure that American Jews feel comfortable being American Jews."
Jonah Goldberg thinks it may be the "dumbest, weirdest, goofiest explanation of political differences ever offered."
As long as Howard Dean remains chair of the DNC, there is hope for the republic.
There is a kind of logic to Dean's comment, although I think it's severely misguided.
ReplyDeleteAt least a substantial minority of Jews seem to feel uncomfortable with expressions of Christianity.
Indeed, they sometimes seem to feel uncomfortable with expressions of religious belief that are fully consistent with Judaism (saying "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance).
Public policy should not accomodate Jews who think like this, any more than it should accomodate Christians who might get offended by expressions of (say) Muslim faith.
Of course, it's the more secular and leftist Jews who think like this, and they are the natural soul mates of secular and leftist (nominal) Christians like Dean.
For an example of a committed and conservative Jew and how he views Christmas, see Jeff Jacoby's column on the subject.
http://mu-warrior.blogspot.com/2005/12/jeff-jacoby-de-christmasing-christmas.html