Between the lines: A story in The Atlantic on Wednesday noted that Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, the two other top VP contenders, are not facing such campaigns despite having similarly pro-Israel politics.
“Activists have not organized in force to discredit any of the non-Jewish contenders for vice president on these grounds. There are no viral memes against ‘Killer Kelly’ or ‘War-Crimes Walz,’” author Yair Rosenberg wrote.
Several high-profile Jewish lawmakers, including Reps. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.), have since called out what they say is an antisemitic double standard.
What they’re saying: Rep. Kathy Manning (D-N.C.) told Axios in a statement that Shapiro has been a “highly successful governor” whose position on Israel “is in line with the position of the Biden-Harris Administration.”
“To judge him differently from any other potential VP candidate simply because he is Jewish is highly offensive and smacks of antisemitism,” she said.
Rep. Becca Balint (D-Vt.), a progressive who has criticized the Israeli war effort, said she hopes “all the potential VP picks are being given the same level of scrutiny on all the issues.”
“This is but another example that those who claim to be anti-Zionist are in fact, antisemites. Josh Shapiro has supported Israel, as have all the others that Harris is considering,” said Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Calif.), noting Kelly’s “strong record of voting pro-Israel.”
Edit: none of this changes my support for Harris/Walz. Down vote away, truth hurts.