‘The Daily Show’ Takes On Anti-Semitic Trump Supporters

Image by YouTube/ComedyCentral

By Thea Glassman March 17, 2016

“The Daily Show’s” Senior Jewish Correspondent Adam Lowitt took a crack at the recent flare ups of anti-Semitism from Donald Trump supporters with good humor and a uniquely positive perspective.

That Trump supporter caught on tape “go to fucking Aushwitz”?

Image by YouTube

Well, as Lowitt pointed out, the sound bite could very well have been taken out of context. “Maybe on the other side of that camera someone in the crowd is yelling, ‘I’m a World War II historian looking for a new research project. Does anyone have any good travel recommendations?’”

When it comes to the women poised in a Nazi salute, Lowitt has been there, done that. “As a Jew, if I wanted a woman in her 60’s to make me feel bad about myself I would call my mother.”

As for Mark Burns, the pastor who opened a North Carolina gathering for Trump by declaring “Bernie gotta get saved, he gotta meet Jesus,” Lowitt was a little incredulous. After all, he explained, the Vermont Senator might just be the second coming of Christ. “Bernie is a Jew who lives a simple life and wants to help the poor. All this guy is missing is an interest in carpentry.”

When the show’s host Trevor Noah commented that Sanders’ upset in Florida this past Tuesday must have been a let down for Jews, Lowitt could only shrug. “Look, eight days after we’re born a stranger comes into our house and cuts off part of our penis. We’re used to disappointment.”

Thea Glassman was an associate editor for the Forward. Follow her on twitter @theakglassman.

A message from our Publisher & CEO 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