According to Republican presidential hopeful Tommy Thompson, making money is “part of the Jewish tradition” — not that there’s anything wrong with that.
Thompson, a former governor of Wisconsin pursuing a long-shot bid for the White House, made the remark Monday during an address in Washington at the convention of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism.
“I’m sort of a reform public servant, 38 years in the government,” Thompson said, in what some attendees described as an attempt at humor. “I’m in the private sector, and for the first time in my life I’m earning money. You know that’s sort of part of the Jewish tradition, and I do not find anything wrong with that. I enjoy that.”
After concluding his address, witnesses said, Thompson was pulled aside by the RAC’s director, Rabbi David Saperstein, and then he returned to the podium to issue an apology.
“I just want to clarify something because I didn’t in any means want to infer or imply anything about Jews and finances and things,” Thompson told the crowd. “What I was referring to, ladies and gentlemen, is the accomplishments of the Jewish religion and the Jewish people. You have been outstanding businesspeople, and I compliment you for that. And if anybody took what I said wrong, I apologize. I may have mischaracterized it. You are very successful. I applaud you for that.”
One Democratic source who attended the address, at the L’Enfant Plaza Hotel, told the Forward that although the audience was “aghast” when Thompson made his initial remark, they clapped in response to his clarification.
According to the Democratic source, Thompson made several other off-kilter remarks during the address. Thompson reportedly boasted of being the governor of the first state to buy “Jewish bonds,” presumably meaning to say “Israel bonds,” and he referred to his friend, Marty Stein, as being a supporter of the Jewish Defense League, a notorious militant group, when he probably meant to name the Anti-Defamation League.
While some bloggers and other Internet pundits poked fun at Thompson’s comment regarding Jews and money, the head of the ADL believes that it is no laughing matter.
“It’s a very sinister, dangerous compliment, because it builds on a stereotype that has been very costly to the Jewish people,” said Abraham Foxman, national director of the ADL. “What’s troubling is to realize how deep this stereotype has developed throughout the years, for how many people Jews [are synonymous with] money, Judaism is money.”
Thompson left public office in 2005, after serving four terms as the governor of Wisconsin and as secretary of health and human services under President Bush. He announced his run for president earlier this month.
So far, leaders at the RAC have sidestepped the controversy over Thompson’s remarks.
“We are pleased that Governor Thompson made time in his schedule — like many other policymakers — to address the 2007 Consultation on Conscience,” said Mark Pelavin, associate director of the RAC, in a statement issued to the press.
The three-day conference brought together Reform activists with politicians and policymakers in Washington.
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And just like with Don Imus, where are the Jewish leaders holding him responsible for such ignorant anti-semetic remarks? But then in the past our community took clearly anti-semetic remarks by Reverands Sharpton and Jackson lightly and without reprecussions. Add those to the drunken rantings of Mel Gibson et al. "Oh well, they apologized". HAH! WHEN IS THE AMERICAN JEWISH COMMUNITY GOING TO WAKE UP!!!!!! We must NEVER sidestep such remarks and clearly ignorant behavior! Where is our public protest and call for actions? Will we never learn? This man is running for President of the United States, for goodness sake. His mispoken words and off-kilter remarks are more than just "innocent" mistakes - making more fodder for many of the hateful Neo-con groups lobbying the White House. All my life I have had to fight the stereotype that all Jews were rich.............. Shame on Tommy Thompson, but shame on the Jewish leadership. too.
Hasn't Don Imus taught this man anything?
Look at these professional liberals who are leftists before they are Jews. Where is their condemnation of John Edwards for having the notorious Israel basher David Bonior as his campaign manager--a man who will no doubt havge a role in a prospective Edwards administration? They make an issue about a remark like the business success one which, if anything, we should be proud of! Better many business successes than business failures--but I suppose that's exactly what the leftists who control these organizations want to see more of. With a leadership like this we jews are ill served indeed!
Look at these professional liberals who are leftists before they are Jews. Where is their condemnation of John Edwards for having the notorious Israel basher David Bonior as his campaign manager--a man who will no doubt havge a role in a prospective Edwards administration? They make an issue about a remark like the business success one which, if anything, we should be proud of! Better many business successes than business failures--but I suppose that's exactly what the leftists who control these organizations want to see more of. With a leadership like this we Jews are ill served indeed!
Why do such people always forget the numerous Jews who choose professions which offer little financial reward? Teaching & learning are respected & expected in the Jewish tradition (I'd say more so than in the prevailing American tradition) and thousands & thousands of Jews choose teaching - in the tradition of Tikkun O'lam - & give their daily lives to inner-city students in struggling schools & troubled neighborhoods. Trade is part of the Jewish experience, yes, but deeper to that experience is study & inquiry.