Anne Frank Center Criticizes Trump's 'Pathetic Asterisk Of Condescension'

[DonViejo]

Source: Talking Points Memo


By MATT SHUHAM Published FEBRUARY 21, 2017, 11:54 AM EDT

The Anne Frank Center for Mutual Respect called President Donald Trump’s comments denouncing anti-Semitism Tuesday “a pathetic asterisk of condescension.”

Trump made his most direct condemnation of anti-Semitism yet in an interview and remarks at the National Museum For African American History and Culture in Washington.

“The President’s sudden acknowledgement is a Band-Aid on the cancer of Antisemitism that has infected his own Administration,” a statement posted to the Anne Frank Center’s Facebook page read. “His statement today is a pathetic asterisk of condescension after weeks in which he and his staff have committed grotesque acts and omissions reflecting Antisemitism, yet day after day have refused to apologize and correct the record.”

The Anne Frank Center is a New York-based partner of the Amsterdam-based Anne Frank House. It describes itself as a civil and human rights organization and has been harshly critical of Trump in the past.

Read more: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/anne-frank-center-trump-response

[dalton99a]

1. He had to say something only because he had to

[yallerdawg]

2. "Stop. Just stop."

That's when we know even a faux-Republican is behind something - when they 'say the words.'

[Kimchijeon]

3. Now watch as dipshit bashes the Anne Frank center

As long as this shows up on the TeeVee for him to watch we know he won't be able to stop himself from retaliating.

[smirkymonkey]

10. Here it comes...

"The FAILING Anne Frank Center"!

[Danmel]

4. I doubt he even knows who Anne Frank was

As the daughter of an Auschwitz survivor, I find his response insincere and pathetic.

[Dave Starsky]

19. There's a clip of him talking about Abraham Lincoln...

Where it's quite clear that he hasn't the first fucking clue what Lincoln accomplished as President. Not even at a second-grade "freed the slaves" level.

So, yeah, I'm guessing someone like Anne Frank would completely slide under his radar screen.

[Behind the Aegis]

5. Seems to be lots of that going around.

That is to say, people who are "suddenly" horrified by anti-Semitism.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

6. tRump took mention of Jews OUT of his Holocaust Memorial Day message. . . . nt

[bucolic_frolic]

7. Powerful

[Solly Mack]

8. No one need wait in hopes Trump will ever get a clue.

He won't.

Keep calling him out on his bigotry but never expect him to be anything but a bigot.

[Behind the Aegis]

9. Exactly!

Sadly, it is tilting at windmills to get some to admit to anti-Semitism, even when it is blatant. In another thread where his daughter condemned these acts, several people think it is appropriate and not at all anti-Semitic to say she doesn't worship at a synagogue, but at a bank. She lurves her money!

[Lithos]

12. Look

I get what you're saying... However, when she and her husband are as close to someone whose persona and actions welcome comparison to Mammon, it's easy for people to forget context. She and her husband do not help matters by not following a more virtuous role in their own business dealings.

L-

[Behind the Aegis]

13. They may not help matters.

However, when the topic is her making a plea to stop the anti-Semitism and some claims she worships at banks, that is anti-Semitic and inexcusable. If the topic were financial, then have at it, but don't claim a Jewish woman worships money in a thread where is condemning anti-Semitism.

[Lithos]

14. Understand

As individuals, Jared and Ivanka do not get a pass on their individual behaviors because they are Jewish, or self-identify as Jews. I think there is much to call about their individual virtues based on their own actions or non-actions.

However, people do need to understand there are many malignacies perpetuated against Jews - stereotypes and slanders which are used to invoke outrages on the group as a whole.

The irony here - I deliberately used the analogy of Trump as Mammon knowing Mammon represents a major Christian-birthed, anti-Semitic symbol. Trump stands as the amoral and Christian head of a resurgent anti-Semitism in this country, yet himself is the walking epitome of everything Mammon idealizes. Everything Trump is doing, every lie, every conspiracy, every base narcissism, every greedy impulses are the very lies and accusations thrown at Jews for over a thousand years. Yet he is the figurehead and focus of anti-Semitism, it's champion.

It is a black sun Jared and Ivanka circle.

Perhaps they are too close to see this and say more.

[Solly Mack]

15. I think Trump is anti-semitic. I think he casually espouses long held stereotypes

about Jewish people and thinks he is saying absolutely nothing wrong in the doing. It's normal to him. He has certain beliefs about Jewish people, definite slurs rooted in bigotry, that he would characterize as compliments (recall how he said he wanted his money handled by Jewish people because they know money) or excuse his actions with the *I was only joking* defense.

I think he loves his daughter. But that love doesn't change his bigoted attitudes about Jewish people. But Trump thinks it means he can't be a bigot because he loves his Jewish daughter. So nothing he says, no matter how anti-semitic, can really be anti-semitic.(to his thinking)

I think he frames his thoughts of his daughter and her family as being the exception to all the stereotypes about Jewish people that he really does believe.

I really believe that Trump has both said aloud and to himself that Ivanka isn't really Jewish because she wasn't born Jewish.

I think Trump is an overall bigot. He embraces stereotypes against everyone not like him and always has, and he thinks his thinking is perfectly acceptable.

And I actually believe Ivanka Trump is hurt by her father's comments, but dismisses it as her father just being himself. Which she shouldn't do, as he'll eventually say something around her children and they will be hurt and unable to defend themselves against their grandfather's ignorance.


I've seen the same dynamic played out in many families where a parent or grandparent is a bigot/racist and everyone tries to keep the peace by ignoring the slurs and stereotypes that come out of the mouths of those they love.

And, frankly, I think people are wrong to keep the peace at any price. They should never allow themselves to be marginalized by a parent or grandparent, or any other relative who embraces bigotry.

[Rhiannon12866]

16. That was very well reasoned, makes a lot of sense to me.

It's possible his daughter doesn't react to his behavior and the terrible things he says because she's so used to it. That doesn't mean it doesn't bother her, but she's had a lifetime to get used to how he is...

[Solly Mack]

17. I agree. She has gotten used to it. At this point though,

her self-respect should have caused her to choose not to give her father cover for his bigotry. So I can't help but think she agrees with him on a lot of his bigotry. Same with her brothers.

[Rhiannon12866]

18. Maybe they're afraid of getting on his bad side

He certainly doesn't hold back when he's angry - and he is very thin skinned. I wouldn't be surprised to learn he's been abusive.

[smirkymonkey]

11. It was like pulling teeth to get him to finally speak out against

it at all. Sorry, too little, too late. It's right to call him out on his smarmy insincerity.

[Paladin]

20. The Anne Frank Center certainly has a way with pointed insults.

I hope they keep aiming them at trump, for as long as we have the misfortune of having him in the White House.