Man Who Would Buy NY Times Makes Remarks About Jews, ADL Angry

Image by Getty Images

By Anne Cohen January 9, 2014

Double “oops” for Chinese recycling tycoon Chen Guangbiao: After an unsuccessful bid to buy The New York Times (not for sale), the business man gave an interview to a Chinese newspaper saying he has an “equally competent IQ and EQ” as Jews. He also added that he is “very good at working with Jews.” (Good to know)

As expected, the Anti-Defamation League was none too pleased.

“How sad and how deep and how ingrained are the offensive stereotypes about Jewish brains and success in business,” ADL National Director Abraham Foxman wrote in a statement. “These stereotypes, plus the false notion that Jews control the U.S. news media, infect even educated and successful people such as Chen Guangbiao.”

Apparently, Abe had long been under the assumption that China, unlike Europe, does not have stereotypes about Jews. “Unfortunately, it seems to be seeping more and more into the mainstream,” Foxman lamented.

Far more likely however, is that Guangbiao throught he was paying the tribe a compliment by striving for our level of intellect. But Foxman has an answer to that too:

“For decades, self-help gurus and widely available books have exhorted the Chinese to emulate the Jews in order to achieve financial success. For the most part, those perpetuating this call believe they are being complimentary about Jews and Jewish success, and have no idea that they are repeating deeply ingrained anti-Semitic stereotypes about Jewish brains and success in business. Given his prominent position, Chen has a responsibility to educate himself – and his countrymen – about the deeply prejudiced roots of these statements.”

Now that he won’t be running the Grey Lady, he should have lots of time to do just that.

Anne Cohen was the Forward’s deputy digital media editor. When she’s not looking for the secret Jewish history of Voodoo in New Orleans, or making lists about Ruth Bader Ginsburg, she writes for The Assimilator. She graduated from the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism with an M.S. magazine concentration in 2012.

A message from our CEO & publisher Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

The coming year promises to be filled with more complex and historic developments. We are entering an era where independent, fact-based Jewish journalism will be more important than ever. We need to be ready for whatever 2025 will bring, and with your help, we can be.

We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.

If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.

— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO