In Cantor vs. Cantor Feud, a Liberal Kvells

By Hody Nemes June 11, 2014

Dan Cantor, right, isn’t exactly broken up over the political demise of the man who shares his last name.

Not all Cantors are mourning over House Majority Leader Eric Cantor’s stunning fall from political power.

Dan Cantor, the national director of the progressive Working Families Party, shamelessly celebrated the downfall of the man who shares his last name (and little else).

The GOP Jew’s loss “should not be seen as a referendum on Cantors everywhere — only on right-wing ones,” Dan Cantor said in a statement.

“Progressive Cantors are seeing more success than ever,” the politically liberal Cantor continued. “Eric, this means you’re bringing the barbecue grill to the next family picnic.”

The Cantor nemeses are not related, but both are Jewish. All the more reason to celebrate, according to the WFP leader.

“He’s the only Jewish Republican in congress,” Cantor told the Forward. “Now there are zero – which is better for us all.”

The Republican Congressman lost his seat in a June 10 primary upset by Tea Party favorite Dave Brat.

The liberal leader also criticized the Congressman’s conservative economic stances, claiming he had strayed from Jewish values. “I’m much more in tune with traditional Jewish values about community, service and tikkun olam,” he said. “The Jewish mandate of tikkun olam does not seem to me particularly compatible with Eric Cantor’s ‘you’re you on your own’ vision of society, with tax cuts for the rich and social security cuts for everyone else.”

Founded in 1998, Dan Cantor’s Working Families Party is a liberal third party focused on reducing economic inequality. It has seen increasing success in recent years, especially by endorsing major party candidates like Democratic New York Mayor Bill de Blasio.

Dan Cantor is not the only liberal focusing on the congressman’s Jewish background. Dave Gilson, editor of Mother Jones, Tweeted: “‘Brat upsets Cantor’ is the name of my bar mitzvah memoir.’”

The views and opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect those of the Forward. Discover more perspectives in Opinion. To contact Opinion authors, email [email protected].

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