“Dershy” Dumps on the “Ellison Express” (Updates)

I promised myself I wouldn’t wade into the whole business of Keith Ellison running for head of the DNC, but it looks like Alan Dershowitz is still acting like he’s going to leave if Ellison gets the nod (as noted here – in response, I’ll offer to hold the metaphorical door for Dershowitz and give him a nice kick in the ass on the way out).

Dershowitz is entitled to his opinion and to make it public – I’m not arguing that. However, I’m tired of dealing with his metaphorical hand-wringing which, apparently, doesn’t take into consideration the fact that, y’know, politicians can actually evolve on issues and, once they make some kind of an utterance found to be objectionable many years ago (especially concerning Israel), they can NEVER, EVER BE FORGIVEN!

Being a lawyer, I appreciate the fact that Dershowitz is fundamentally basing his case on facts (with at least one exception noted below). However, I would question the interpretation of those facts.

And in response (as noted here)…

“If Keith Ellison, who is a decent and good person, would be named head of the DNC, Hamas would support it and cheer … ” argued Dershowitz.

Yeah, Ellison is so “good and decent” that he’s embraced by terrorists. What cowardly garbage from Dershowitz!

“You can’t always judge a person by supporters (continues Dershowitz). What we are seeing in this country is a very dangerous development on both sides. We are seeing the Republicans move alt right and we’re seeing the Democrats move hard left. I have to tell you, the only thing the hard left and the hard right have in common, they hate Jews, they generally hate Israel, they generally hate America.”

Ellison’s constituents in the Minneapolis Jewish community were appalled by both Dershowitz’s comparison and the avalanche of hate aimed at Ellison. “To try to create an equivalency between Keith Ellison and a vile miscreant like Steve Bannon is an act of immoral desperation. Keith Ellison represents the best of our constitutional democracy and the best of America. Steve Bannon represents its worst,” said Rabbi Michael Latz, who knows the five-term congressman well. Latz said that Ellison had attended his Shabbat services and described him as “an exquisite mensch, brilliant, a terrific community organizer who represents his constituency with great integrity.”

Rabbi Jason Kimelman-Block, Director of National Government Affairs for the Jewish social justice organization Bend the Arc, who has collaborated with Ellison on issues like voting rights and raising the minimum wage, concurred. ”He has been in Congress for a decade and we know who he is. We work very closely with Keith Ellison – he is an extraordinary leader. Anyone who would associate him with any kind of hatred hasn’t met him and certainly hasn’t worked with him.”

Listen, at this point, confirm Ellison. Or Tom Perez. I don’t care at this point. Just pick somebody, for God’s sake!

Update 2/26/17: Congrats to Tom Perez (here) – FINALLY!

Update 2/28/17: Oh yes, Ellison is so “anti-Israel,” isn’t he? (here)