As a Jew, here's what bothers me about Sheldon Adelson. Honestly, I'm not mad that he's rich. He's entitled. And he's entitled to his opinion and if he wants to throw his money around in support of his political causes, I have no problem with that at all. He's wrong - like all of the Republican oligarchy - but he's just as entitled to try as anybody else - I suppose. So I guess you can say that he bothers me like any other Republican activist would.
However:
I'm always annoyed that there are Jewish Republicans. Or, rather, I just don't understand that oxymoron. The Republican party is in bed - with a wink and nod sometimes - but still in bed with those in our society who are racist, sexist and anti-Semitic. The whole GOP Southern Strategy - which has clearly worked for them - is predicated on stoking racist feelings in white voters, and it has been for decades. Look at the birther movement. Mainstream Republicans (not whack jobs like Michele Bachmann, but mainstream Republicans) would address the issue with non-denial denials like, "well, I don't believe it, but I can't speak for other people."
And this brings me to Sheldon. Or, rather, it brings me to a conversation I had today with a woman while waiting to replace a flat tire. And this is what made me think of Sheldon:
My business is media. And the owner of this particular garage and I talk about the media a lot when I'm in there waiting for the car. This woman heard the conversation, piped in about how she liked Oprah but not Ellen (hokey dokey) and then this:
"You know what's wrong with the media. It's owned by those people. The Jewish people. They tell us what we can watch. And they own everything."
Now, those of us know - historically - this is a tired, old stereotype. And she was a very old woman. And it's sad to me when I hear this crap about anybody. Sad when people say things about African-American men who just happen to be walking down the same street as they are. Or when they hear English tinged with a Spanish accent, or a Chinese one, or they see two members of the same gender holding hands. It's disgusting and wrong.
But - here's my biggest problem with Sheldon Adelson. He's a flashing, neon advertisement for the stereotype that this woman made a point of reminding me about, and he's doing it on purpose. Is he some back-room pol, secretly pulling strings? No. Sheldon is holding court in Vegas - flaunting the power of his wallet - while he looks like he's going to anoint the 2016 Republican nominee for President 2 years before the campaign starts.
And here's the irony: The political agenda Adelson supports (the Zionist ideal) is the idea that defending Israel above all else will protect the Jewish People and keep us safe. The idea that Israel is there as a safe place. Many of us on the left happen to believe that every person - regardless of heritage - is entitled to the same thing, but that's a solid philosophical difference and worthy of debate.
What is also - clearly - annoying about Adelson's behavior is that - while courting the attention he clearly craves and the power he clearly needs - Sheldon Adelson is setting himself up to be a very public stereotype for idiotic racists and anti-Semites everywhere. Supporting the people
So back to the woman in the garage today. She can point to Sheldon Adelson and say, "See, that's what I mean."
So there you go. I was already annoyed at Sheldon Adelson for Newt Gingrich. And the whole fact that he thinks he can buy himself a President is even more annoying. And now - he has decided to be his very own stereotype. So the world's bigots have yet another target to support there insipid ideas.
So, thanks a lot Sheldon - for thinking of the rest of us while you play at politics.