The Worst Kind of Antisemitism is Often the Subtlest

Joe Rogan (JTA)

I’ve heard of him. But, truthfully, Joe Rogan never really registered all that much on my radar.  Till today. JTA reports that during one of his podcasts (The Joe Rogan Experience) he said the following:

 “the idea that Jewish people are not into money is ridiculous. That’s like saying Italians aren’t into pizza”

That was in response to a comment by a woman (no clue who she is) who is a fan of Ilhan Omar - that defended her equally offensive comment ‘It’s all about the Benjamins’ – referring to ‘Jewish money’ and its influence on politicians to vote favorably on issues affecting Israel. 

The truth is he’s right. So is Omar for that matter. Jews, like any other American constituency have the same right as every other American to petition their government to deal favorably with issues that affect them. 

Would Rogan criticize the NRA  for supporting politicians that favor gun rights? Or the pro choice lobby? Or the pro life lobby? Of course not . That is what a Democracy is all about.

The problem is not so much about the factual nature of Jewish support for Politicians that favor Israel. It is is who is saying them, and why. When neo Nazis say that the Jews have bought congress –  that is not a compliment. When AIPAC talks about  supporting politicians that support Israel, it is saying so with pride in excersizing their rights in supporting an important US ally. When Omar says it, she says it pejoratively Implying that politicians are taking money in order to support an evil  Apartheor regime.

So in essence Rogan is defending Omar by using the truth as a weapon against the Jewish people. Implying that Jewish money is responsible for perpetuating the persecution Palestinians by an evil Apartheid regime. Further implying that politicians that take Jewish money and do their bidding have no moral scruples of their own. 

None of this has been made all that clear in discussion about Omar being removed from the House Foreign Affairs Committee..

Rogan is not the brightest bulb in the room. He does not strike me as a man of great intelligence or even talent. It is the lack of talent that causes entertainers like Rogan to use vulgarity. He is a moron, who manages to make himself sound a lot more intelligent than he really is. And his followers just eat it all up as gospel.

I have never heard Rogan say anything about Israel – one way or the other. But If I had to bet, I would put money on the fact that he does not view Israel favorably... And probably supports BDS. And yet - dollars to doughnuts - I’m sure he does not consider himself to be an antisemite.

The problem with people like Rogan is that he has millions of viewers and listeners that love the vulgar delivery of his message. Most of whom will buy into his subtle anti Israel message without even realizing it is antisemitic. Like mindless fools. Clearly there are millions of people who love Rogan. who will spread his subtle message about the evils of Jewish money. 

This is the worst kind of antisemitism. Because on its face it doesn’t really seem like it is. He’s just stating a fact. 

Do Jews have money? Of course. Many of us do. But so do Italians and Greeks. So do Catholics and Muslims. Becoming successful in this country is not a sin. It is one of America's blessings that there exists so many opportunities for success. Opportunity is what this country is all about. You can come here a pauper, have an idea for a business that fills a need... and with a lot of hard work and a little bit of luck, you can end up a billionaire. You don’t have to be Jewish But neither is being Jewish an impediment to that. Ask Mark Zuckerberg. 

I am so sick of stupid, vulgar people having so much influence on the culture. Insinuating how evil Jews are in ways so subtle that it’s barely noticeable.  

For me the worst kind of antisemitism (other than those it with violence) is the kind that is not clearly articulated - expressed in the subtlest of ways. Then before you know it, those listeners become antisemites themselves who will then spread it to others