What About Bob? (Or, One Indiana Republican’s Emerging Jewish Problem)
The GOP has finally settled on a candidate to run for mayor of Indianapolis, but businessman Bob Parker is already under fire for comments he made several weeks ago about the “wealthy Jewish faction inside the Democratic party” and support for war with Iran.
According to a report by Matt Tully of the Indianapolis Star, Parker made the questionable remarks when Tully asked him about his interest in the mayor’s race several weeks ago.
Here’s what Parker said, according to Tully:
I personally see Israel going into Iran and Syria in the next couple of months,” he said. “I’m sure you realize – well, most people don’t – millionaire Democrats outnumber millionaire Republicans about four to one. It’s mainly because of the wealthy Jewish faction inside the Democratic Party. Most Jewish people are Democrats and they bring that wealth. My opinion is, if Israel would go into Iran, Democrats will follow that cause. I really do believe that.”
The National Jewish Democratic Coalition is calling for Parker to be removed from the ticket.
I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning journalism this Passover.
In this age of misinformation, our work is needed like never before. We report on the news that matters most to American Jews, driven by truth, not ideology.
At a time when newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall. That means for the first time in our 126-year history, Forward journalism is free to everyone, everywhere. With an ongoing war, rising antisemitism, and a flood of disinformation that may affect the upcoming election, we believe that free and open access to Jewish journalism is imperative.
Readers like you make it all possible. Right now, we’re in the middle of our Passover Pledge Drive and we still need 300 people to step up and make a gift to sustain our trustworthy, independent journalism.
Make a gift of any size and become a Forward member today. You’ll support our mission to tell the American Jewish story fully and fairly.
— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO
Join our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
Only 300 more gifts needed by April 30