For Jewish Republicans, their concern about Trump suddenly extends far beyond a single meal at Mar-a-Lago. Via the New York Times:
For much of Donald J. Trump’s presidency, Jewish Republicans rationalized away the bigoted fringe of Mr. Trump’s coalition, arguing that the unsavory supporters in his midst and the antisemitic tropes he deployed paled in comparison with the staunchly pro-Israel policies of his administration. But last week, Mr. Trump dined at his Palm Beach palace, Mar-a-Lago, with the performer Kanye West, who had already been denounced for making antisemitic statements, and with Nick Fuentes, an outspoken antisemite and Holocaust denier, granting the antisemitic fringe a place of honor at his table. Now, even some of Mr. Trump’s staunchest supporters say they can no longer ignore the abetting of bigotry by the nominal leader of the Republican Party.
“I am a child of survivors. I have become very frightened for my people,” Morton Klein, head of the right-wing Zionist Organization of America, said on Monday, referring to his parents’ survival of the Holocaust. “Donald Trump is not an antisemite. He loves Israel. He loves Jews. But he mainstreams, he legitimizes Jew hatred and Jew haters. And this scares me.”
Oh, sure. He loves Jews! That's why he kept the speeches of Adolph Hitler by his bed -- because he wanted to stay vigilant against threats to Jews! That's why he reportedly refers to his daughter's husband as "the Jew"!
Not all Republican leaders have spoken out, but Jewish Republicans are slowly peeling away from a former president who, for years, insisted he had no ties to the bigoted far right, but refused to repudiate it. Jewish figures and organizations that have stood by Mr. Trump, from Mr. Klein’s group to the pro-Trump commentator Ben Shapiro to Mr. Trump’s own former ambassador to Israel and onetime bankruptcy lawyer, David M. Friedman, have all spoken out since the dinner.
Guys, once again I will call upon the simple wisdom of the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart Of Mary who taught me: "Lie down with dogs, rise up with fleas."
These people entered into transactions with the headwaiter of Mar-A-Lago. They ordered off the tax cut menu, and Trump delivered. Now they're SUDDENLY noticing who he was all along.
Bless their hearts. We warned them.
