I’m not sure who disappoints me more: Mable Elmore for her idiotic remark and her apparent pathetic anti-Israeli view; or Carole James, for the weak-kneed way she has so far handled this shameful party scandal.
Actually I think it is James … because as party leader, from her we should be able to expect more than just acceptance of an apology from her way out of line Vancouver-Kensington candidate.
After Elmore was chosen as the NDP candidate in the Vancouver-area riding, it was revealed that, in an interview, Elmore, A BC Transit operator, had once denounced “vocal Zionists in our worksites” who she said had to be battled in British Columbia.
The remark is almost comical … who knew that BC Transit had been infiltrated by pro-Zionist activists! But no one would see it as very funny if Elmore had zeroed in on the need to battle ”pro-Obama blacks” or “dedicated Islamists” in the workplaces of BC.
But apparently, judging by James’ reaction to the new candidate’s apology AFTER SHE WAS EXPOSED, it’s ok to denigrate supporters of Israel as “Zionists” and view them as the enemy, against whom we must “battle”.
That is simply not acceptable: Elmore should go. And James’ weak handling of the matter is disappointing.
It also raises another important question.
Why is it that, with so many NDP supporters and their union buddies it has become almost fashionable to relentlessly attack/denigrate/boycott the Jewish homeland???
Did they ever so vociferously condemn either side in Ireland during “the troubles”; call for a boycott of Cambodia during the “killing field” era; or castigate Serbia during the Muslim massacres; or urge sanctions against Sudan during the merciless slaughter of African Muslims that is still taking place RIGHT NOW? No!!
But just say the word Israel … and elements within the NDP and their radical left-wing supporters in activist groups and extreme militant unions are ready to protest, march, organize rallies and, of course, pass motion after motion:
It causes me concern that so many supporters of a party that claims to have the greatest respect and support for human rights have a troubling penchant for repeatedly singling out Israel for condemnation and boycotts while passing no motions or making any statements about the terrifying pronouncements or murderous actions of radicals on the other side of the Mid East’s problems. Not a peep!
It smacks of anti-Semitism pure and simple.
And this latest incident is not an isolated one.
I still remember what an ass then-MP Svend Robinson made of himself in 2002 when he travelled to Israel, denounced it as a terrorist state guilty of torture and murder and proudly declared he had “taken sides” supporting Yasser Arafat and the PLO … an organization that had proudly acknowledged its responsiblity for MANY terrorist attacks against not only Israeli civilians but totally innocent Jewish targets around the world.
I saw this as totally one-sided bigotry! And this from the NDP’s “foreign policy critic”.
Let me remind you of what former NDP Premier Bob Rae said at the time about Robinson’s seeming adoration of Arafat and apparent ignorance of his hero’s record:
“What has been so disheartening since Arafat’s rejection of Israel’s last offer at Camp David in 2000, and his subsequent decision to return to the intifada, with its culmination in a horrendous wave of suicide murders, is how far we have moved from that basic step. Arafat’s grand refusal and Arafat’s war led to Ariel Sharon’s election. A vicious anti-Semitism has re-emerged throughout the Arab world that continues to indulge the awful fantasy that the real answer is to make the whole Middle East Judenrein. There are no Arab leaders really prepared to lead the way politically and publicly against this hatred. The region needs a Mandela. Arafat is certainly not that: He does not have the will to make a lasting deal, ” Rae wrote.
But my own disgust for Robinson’s actions derived from the fact that Arafat was not just a terrorist with more blood on his hands than any Israeli leader, but he was also reportedly a vile, corrupt human being, salting away for himself and his family millions of foreign-donated dollars .. and letting his PLO cronies do the same … lining their pockets, while the poor Palestinian people lanquished in poverty.
This was the man who won Robinson’s admiration????
But at least at that time, many NDPers spoke up, denounced Robinson’s excess and he lost his job as critic. However, since then, the Israel-haters on the left have become more bold and more active, while seeing, hearing or speaking no evil about the offically-designated terrorists on the other side, who DELIBERATELY target civilians and CELEBRATE each civilian killing with candy and dancing.
As I have written before, such anti_Israeli one-sidedness is not only intellectually indefensible, it totally ignores the facts: Israel is the ONLY country in the entire Mid East that even comes close to the policies and ideals that the NDP espouses.
Only Israel enshrines in law full rights for women, has made homsexuality legal (though it still has some way to go in reality), is strongly labour and unionist and yes, even gives its Arab minorities (who have the highest living standard or any ordinary working Arab people in the entire region) .. more legal, labour, political and civil rights than they are permitted in almost any Arab country in the Mid East.
Not to mention how those Jews still remaining in the many Arab states are oppressed … but no NDP motions or boycotts there.
It bogles the mind how so many supporters of a party that proclaims human equality can tolerate and even defend the one-sided anti_Israel bigotry in their midst …
Let’s face it … there are ridings with heavy Arab or Muslim populations where remarks by candidates like Elmore may even be popular and win votes.
BUT if the NDP ever hopes to achieve power in Canada or again in BC, the party must separate itself from the bigotted radicals in their midst and any anti-Semitic militant activist protest organizations or radically politicized unions as well.
Canada’s working people deserve better.
And a first step towards restoring the party’s credibility with the majority of voters would be to dismiss anti-Zionist Elmore as an NDP candidate.
To keep her will disgrace the party of Tommy Douglas.
Harv Oberfeld
14 responses so far ↓
1 Scott // Mar 25, 2009 at 6:07 am
The federal NDP certainly dumped some BC candidates in the last federal election for pot-smoking videos and nudity.
But when it comes to militancy, radicalism, and anti-Zionist statements the party now fully embraces same.
It’s time that the NDP learns from their moderate social democtic brothers and sisters in Europe and dump their extremist elements.
As in Europe, these extremist elements can form their own party and let the voters decide their fate.
2 Captain P // Mar 25, 2009 at 8:17 am
Harvey, Harvey, Harvey… and here I was hoping you’d respond to my needling of you for your fanatically pro-Israel stance by starting to try to educate yourself on the real situation facing Israel’s allegedly rights-blessed “Arab minorities”– Evidently you, like most know-nothing Canucks who rely on the Aspers for their Mid-East news, have never heard of Avigdor Lieberman, Israel’s newly-appointed Foreign Minister, who is actively campaigning to force Israel’s 1.4 million people of Arab descent– including those who are citizens, and the 9% of that population who is Christian– to sign a loyalty oath. Those who refused would be driven out of the country– kinda like the 750,000 Palestinians who at the creation of the Israeli state in 1948 were driven out of their ancestral lands and villages at gunpoint and shot if they resisted– but I guess you’ve never heard of that either, Harvey; the Palestinians call it the *naqba*– the “Catastrophe”– look it up. Anyway, Lieberman is also calling for the “execution” of any Palestinians who refuse to leave, citizens or not. This, mind you, is one of the most powerful figures in the new Israeli government. The fact that, if such an expulsion takes place (G*d forbid), it would create a massive new refugee problem in the Mid-East, putting enormous strains on Jordan, Syria and Egypt, massively strengthening Islamic militancy in those countries, and likely driving them into the arms of Iran, thereby creating a massive anti-Israel regional military coalition and jacking up world tensions by an exponential factor, seems to matter little to Mr. Liberman, Mr. Netanyahu, and their Likud pals, whose nuclear-powered chutzpah appears to be superhuman.
But wait! What’s all this trivial stuff compared to the terrible, shattering, earthshaking event that’s outraged our Harvey! Some NDP candidate went and used the forbidden Z-word! OMG! There’s clucking of tongues to be done!! Shame! Shame! Proclaim a crisis! Run in circles shrieking and waving your arms in the air, everyone! And ignore that mushroom cloud on the eastern horizon…
Harvey, ol’ sod, I got a question for ya: On the subject of the Middle East, when are you gonna stop whining about trivialities? There’s much, much bigger things you need to be focusing on, geopolitically speaking, than your evident compulsion to bash the NDP again and again. Grow the hell up already and c’mon out here into the *real* world. It might scare the pants off you, but it’ll make a man (and a way better informed journalist) out of you, too.
(Response: Im familiar with Lieberman and I have NO problem with criticism of Israel. Lord knows, in that democracy, there’s a lot of internal criticism and debate right there. I only object to the one-sidedness of the Israel haters ..who never say a word about the terrorists on the other side, who do everything they can to disrupt any cease fire and destroy any peace inititatives. I really suspect their real motivation. ho. )
3 Barrie // Mar 25, 2009 at 9:02 am
Right on, Harvey! I’m one of those NDP supporters who come every elections finds himself having to plug his nose more and more as I cast my vote for the NDP. It’s a sad state of affairs and only helps Campbell ….. We need more NDP MLAs like Mike Farnworth. He’s the most common-sense , in-touch-with-the-voter voice.
4 DMJ // Mar 25, 2009 at 8:26 pm
Thank god, living in South Delta, I have an independent candidate that mays just very well win.
Both Ellmore and James should resign, but anti-semitism is all the rage with Canadian Unions and being anti-Zionist (or what-ever) is a “badge of courage” for left leaning politicians.
Never before in BC politics have we had so dreadful a lot of self serving & corrupted politicians, starting with the Premier. Carole James would be a shoe-in, but she will snatch defeat from the jaws of victory because she allows racist and antisemitic political wannabes to run for the party.
Tragic!
5 LP // Mar 26, 2009 at 1:22 am
When will the NDP go mainstream? We have more important issues here. Health, Education, Wages, Hight taxes, Justice reform required – at all levels, criminal and civil. Campbell must be laughing his butt off. Way to go Carole, handing the Liberals more desert. Enough with the radicalism. Say something that we can relate to for goodness sake.
6 LP // Mar 26, 2009 at 1:27 am
Capt P. What the hell is the matter with you?
Save your condescending sarcasm for your mirror.
I suspect you are smarter and more creative than that.
7 bob // Mar 26, 2009 at 4:34 pm
What is a Zionist? It may seem like a troll question, but I think folks should agree on the definition of the terms of the discussion before the talks begin.
(Response: Various dictionary definitions define a Zionist as someone who supports the idea of Israel as the Jewish homeland as recorded in both history and the Bible … and the return of the descendants of Jews who left or were expelled from Israel by various conquerors (the Diaspora) to live there. To many Jews and Christians it is the fulfillment of Biblical prophecy … but to anti-Israel forces it has become a perjorative negative reference to those who support Israel ..almost a name-calling condemnatory phrase and you often hear from anti-Israel states, politicians, activists and, of course, anti-Semites. I presonally, having read my Bible and being somewhat knowledgeable about Mid East history .. see nothing wrong with someone being a Zionist, especially someone who is Jewish, and find it very telling when someone suggests we must “battle” them. Why? There was a land called Israel and the Jewish tribes of Israel living right there, well before there were Irish in Ireland, Germans in Germany, and, yes, even aboriginals in Canada. Why do people hate to recognize that . .and what is written in their own Bible? ho)
8 Grant g // Mar 26, 2009 at 8:09 pm
Way to wag the dog Harv—The theft of rivers,forests,the lies and corruption wafting from Campbell`s Liberals from Kinsella/Dobell/John Les/BC rail/ abuse of seniors-disabled-fish farms and I could go on and on–You ignore real crimes,real tragedies report nothing and dwell on a statement from 5 years from a young kid!—Wow,all I can say is wow–What about Harper`s radical statements from his youth—Harv,if you can`t seperate the tail from the dog then go back into retirement.!
Campbell`s office is full of corruption,triple the budget of Ontario`s premier,and Campbell`s office is getting a 10% budget increase! How many damning reports from watchdog groups,auditors generals reports–of course we already know you won`t vote for a female anyways harv,regardless of anything!
Time to search your soul Harv, the bigotry is coming from you/This province is being looted and burnt to the ground and all you care about is a statement from a kid! Wow—
9 mp // Mar 27, 2009 at 1:05 pm
“it’s ok to denigrate supporters of Israel as “Zionists” ”
Er, Harvey – “Zionist” MEANS a supporter of Israel. It’s not a term of denigration. It’s what supporters of Israel call themselves. The term was invented by them about a hundred years ago. Learn a little history.
There is nothing bigoted about calling a supporter of Israel a “Zionist”, any more than it’s bigoted to call a supporter of an independent Quebec a “sovereigntist”. That’s an exact analogy.
And there’s nothing bigoted about disagreeing with a Zionist about the Iraq war or anything else.
(Response: Believe it or not, not all supporters of Israel are Zionists. You can support a country without believing that every Jewish person who supports it should move there…which is the essence of Zionism h.o.)
10 PortMoodyKid // Mar 27, 2009 at 8:38 pm
Re: Lieberman-A Proud Zionist!
• In 2001, following his own confession, Lieberman was found guilty of beating a 12-year-old boy. As part of a plea bargain, Lieberman was fined 17,500 shekels and had to promise never to hit young children again.
• In 2004, Lieberman’s 21-year-old daughter Michal set up a consulting firm, which received 11m shekels from anonymous overseas sources. Lieberman, according to the police, received more than a 2.1m-shekel salary from the company for two years of employment. In addition, according to an investigation by Haaretz, he allegedly received additional severance pay – amounting to hundreds of thousands of shekels – in 2006 and 2007, while he was minister of strategic affairs and deputy prime minister. According to Israeli law, this is illegal.
• Lieberman is an ex-member of Meir Kahane’s party, Kach, which was outlawed due to its blatantly racist platform. Moreover, his views towards Arabs do not appear to have changed over the years. In 2003, when reacting to a commitment made by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to give amnesty to approximately 350 Palestinian prisoners, Lieberman declared that, as minister of transport, he would be more than happy to provide buses to take the prisoners to the sea and drown them there.
• In January 2009, during Israel’s war on Gaza, Lieberman argued that Israel “must continue to fight Hamas just like the United States did with the Japanese in the second world war. Then, too, the occupation of the country was unnecessary.” He was referring to the two atomic bombs dropped on Nagasaki and Hiroshima.
• Lieberman does not live in Israel according to its internationally recognised borders, but rather in an illegal settlement called Nokdim. Legally speaking, this would be like US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton residing in Mexico and UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband living on the Canary Islands.
Gee, Harvey-Boy, is Asper/Canwest signing your retirement cheques?
(Response: I publish these remarks to further the debate… have no independent info to certify or deny any of the cliams. As for CanWest paying my retirement cheques… what a dumb question!! Anyone who knows my work, my career, or read About Me on this blog knows I worked for that company and its predecessors for 34 years .. sure hope those pension cheques keep coming!!! h.o. )
11 BC Mary // Mar 29, 2009 at 8:20 pm
.
Wow. Read this!
http://www.straight.com/article-210177/my-response-vaughn-palmer-and-keith-baldrey
12 PortMoodyKid // Apr 1, 2009 at 8:28 pm
Today, April 1, 2009, Israel’s new ultra-nationalist foreign minister has said it is not bound by a US-sponsored 2007 agreement to reach a peace deal with the Palestinians.
“The Annapolis conference, it has no validity,” Avigdor Lieberman said.
Well, it’s “War On Gaza and the Palestinians, all the time Party”.
Just don’t say Zionist…
13 Captain Pissgums // Apr 5, 2009 at 9:22 am
Those of you who think I’ve been too rough on Harvey for his pie-in-the-sky visions of happy Palestinians enjoying the civil rights the kindly Israeli government bestows upon them ought to read this article from that well-known anti-semitic rag, the New York Times:
Love,
Captain P…..
(Response: He hasn’t been too hard: it’s good debate. But i dont see any link attached to his remarks… not a plot, really! h.o.)
14 Bruce in Vancouver // Aug 21, 2009 at 6:53 am
Captain Piss-gums and his Pervert Pirates, I think it was. Ruby the Dyke! I used to have it in ’71.
Was that S. Clay Wilson graphics? heheh
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