Is it Kerry or Clark that is half Jewish? I thought I heard a bio on Kerry

[patricia92243]

that said he was and his family changed their name. Then somebody else posted something about Clark being half Jewish. It seems to be just too much of a coincidence that we would have TWO candidates with a Jewish background.

Somebody give me an answer quick, so that when I start getting flamed, I can ask the mods to lock this thread.

[Poseidon]

1. Well

Kerry is a quarter Jewish, if I remember correctly, since his grandfather was Jewish. And Clark's father was Jewish, as well as a Kohen(high priest descendant).

[Dark Star]

7. My husband is

also a Kohen and never lets me forget it! :bounce: O8) B-)

[JohnKleeb]

2. Here goes

Kerry is a quarter Jewish because his grandfather Kohn who became Kerry was Jewish but converted to Roman Catholicism.
Clark is half, his father was Jewish but died when his son was young and his mom married a guy named Clark, imo simliar to Bill Clinton being originally Bill Blythe.

[Dookus]

3. Clark's father was Jewish....

but he was raised baptist.

Kerry also came from a Jewish, Eastern European family, but he himself is not Jewish (religion-wise, that is).

[Dark Star]

4. Kerry's grandfather was Jewish and

Clark's father was Jewish. Clark has his father's last name as a middle name (Kanne) because his dad died when Clark was only 4 and, for all intents and purposes, Clark grew up with his mom and step-dad as Christians.

A cute story Clark tells is that he chose to be Baptist because the local Baptist church had 'glass-stained windows just like those at the synagogue' he attended as a young child.

[Qutzupalotl]

65. not to nitpick

but Clark was raised Methodist (his parents compromised, LOL), then started going to a Baptist church.

He converted to Catholicism while in the Army.

[Dark Star]

74. No problem!

I heard him tell a crowd in NH on CSPAN the Baptist stained windows story and thought it was cute.

Looks like he has his religious bases covered! :toast:

[Ripley]

5. The candidate's ethnicity doesn't matter, only

Judy Dean's does. Or so it would appear since there are so many DU threads that say she is too "ethnic" or "independent" or "non-Barbie" to be First Lady.

I don't think anyone who will be voting D in the election cares whose grandparents were 1/2 Jewish or Irish or whatever the hell it is. I don't understand what you mean by coincidence? Do you think there is a secret plot by Jews to become President? LOL. Wouldn't they just be happy with Joe out there?

[JohnKleeb]

10. Its too indepedent

Ive never heard too non barbie, IMO shes really not that bad looking, Ive never heard too ethnic either, people sometimes say that about DK though lol. I want an ethnic candiate somewhat. Can you believe in all our history, that we've had only a few Irish and Germans and only one Catholic. Amazing IMO at least.

[Dark Star]

The poster to whom you

responded is correct, however,

Mostly, the mainstream media simply refers to Judy as a "dog".

Disgusting!

[JohnKleeb]

27. I agree its bs

I thought she meant here at DU. Its a shame that happens, I dont find her ugly at all. I havent heard the too ethnic though, I think thats bs too though, and same with her job. Shes a good woman, I respect her a lot, I myself could never be a doctor, it takes a special person to be one.

[Dark Star]

11. Have you noticed that

a lot of the mainstream media insists on calling Judy, Judy Steinberg? In one interview with the 2 of them together, she even said that Steinberg is her professional name; ie the name she uses for her medical practice as it is her own. However, she stated that she is Judy Dean. The interviewer then addressed her as Steinberg and she looked at Howard...it was creepy! (trying to tap into that anti-Semitism that's definitely all over)

[Ripley]

21. You noticed that too?

Yes, it is quite dispicable that so-called professional journalists (by way of being in the business for decades) could stoop to such outright bigotted actions.

The creepy thing is that they seem to feel emboldened to attack Judy Dean because afterall Hillary withstood the onslaught of the vast right wing and look how she turned out! However, Hillary has always been and is a very good political animal. Judy Dean is not a political animal...just a doctor. I hope her fortitude holds out.

[Dark Star]

25. Yes, in fact it was another DUer

who first pointed it out to me!

Judy is so sweet; I'm sure she's strong or else she wouldn't have accomplished so much, however, it appears the VT media hasn't done this to her as she looks surprised when it happens.

[AntiCoup2K4]

53. I'm not so sure that's anti semitism or anti feminism

The media whores have always used the name "Hillary Rodham Clinton" more than Hillary has herself. I've noticed them emphasizing the hyphenated Heinz-Kerry (as in Teresa) as well. So it could be a subtle slap at women with their own careers and minds as much as anything else.

[Dark Star]

57. Actually, that is exactly what I

thought until another DUer sat me down and had a little talk with me about hate.

[anti-NAFTA]

70. It's not her ethnicity.

It's that she's so cheap-looking. I am Jewish myself, but I just find her unappealing in so many ways.

[Ripley]

72. I question your authenticity.

You are a Jewish male who finds Judy "cheap-looking?" Wow. Pretty rude. I think she looks like an honest, caring, thoughtful woman who is modest and doesn't buy into the consumer-culture crap that says a woman is only beautiful if she paints her lips and nails. Do you mean because she isn't wearing gaudy jewlry or outrageously expensive clothes? Wow again, how shallow.

[anti-NAFTA]

77. Maybe.

She does look honest and caring and not superficial, but I find her extremely unattractive and her modest attire, to say the very least, is unFirstLady-ish. Kerry's wife is a different story.

[Dark Star]

79. I question your feelings about

being Jewish.

Kerry's wife was the supportive republican wife of a republican rep until becoming widowed. That bothers me much more than any of this!

As to Judy's facade, I think she's cute; she shines from within her forever democratic little personage. My very Jewish husband also thinks she's nice-looking and attractive.

[Ripley]

80. Since when are First Ladies supposed to be un-modest?

Was there a centerfold FL that I missed? I still find your judgement to be questionable. No male I know would call her extremely unattractive unless it was someone like Rush Limbaugh who called the former President's daughter a "dog."

So Kerry's wife is extremely attractive? Gee, to each his own.

[blm]

6. Both are part Jewish.

But the S&Bers will somehow try to claim that Kerry is a Nazi sympathizer, even though his grandfather was Jewish and his mother's home was burned down by the Nazis.

[seventhson]

12. well - he didn't KNOW he was Jewish. (PS THREE candidates )

when he joined the organization whose members financed Hitler.

I would expect him to renounce that membership NOW!!!


and
Don't forget holy joe

[JohnKleeb]

16. what country?

I am not Jewish but my family who was in Europe at the time did have their house destroyed and one son was even killed by the nazis.

[KFC]

8. I think Lieberman has a Jewish background

That means we have three

[Jerseycoa]

15. You made me laugh

:7

[KoKo]

9. Well....they both have Jewish roots in their family. I don't know that it

matters unless you are getting to Likud/Sharon issues in that how would they come down about Israel/Palestine if they were President.

I don't know if any of them have such deep roots they would be prejudiced? :shrug:

[Dark Star]

14. That is an odd thing to write.

One can have very deep Jewish roots; that does not translate into Likud/Sharon.

Prejudiced? You use an apt word for your post.

[Forkboy]

19. I think KoKo meant not predjudiced towards Israel

over the Palestinians.

[Dark Star]

28. Oh, trust me, I got the implication.

It wasn't subtle and it was inappropriate.

[Forkboy]

35. I dont think you did get it

but hey,live it up.

[Dark Star]

41. Your posting as if this

was I/P.

Can't you ever let that go?

[Forkboy]

50. What am I not letting go of?

and what does that have to do with anything?

[KoKo]

29. Yes, "Forkboy"....that's what I meant......"hard line."

:shrug:

[JohnKleeb]

36. Sorry if I got confused

I dont see anything though in Kerry that reflects he is overly prejudiced towards one side or the other, remember he only found out about his Jewish blood recently, he had always thought himself to be Irish. Which reminds me I wonder what the candiates think about NI, I read DK's view and was impressed, I bet Kerry would have a good view being he is friends and is endorsed by Mr. Irish American Senator aka Senator Ted Kennedy, and the two agree on a lot. I doubt that a Catholic Kerry would favor the British government, I know he wont sympathize with the IRA lol either but he would have a fair plan for that. Sorry KoKo its all good.

[Dark Star]

45. Please don't apologize.

This thread has sunk to the level of the Pope taking over the US if JFK were to be elected in 1960.

Please re-read some of the posts to which you've been innocently responding.

[Forkboy]

52. You should just come out and make the charge

and stop beating about the bush.

[Dark Star]

61. You and your friend

have been 'beating about the bush' as do all people who are trying to bring something up without bringing it up.

Clearly, to equate one's ethnicity with one's political views is prejudiced. In this case it's anti-Semitism. In 1960, it was anti-Catholicism.

[JohnKleeb]

56. I dont think KoKo or anyone is anti semtic in this thread

But I dont think as I said, Kerry will be overly biased towards Israel. It is a little like JFK in 1960 with the Catholic issue. As a Catholic, I am still amazed that only one has been elected.

[nightperson]

81. Through his mother,

John Kerry is a direct descendant of John Winthrop ("the first great American" according to conservative Paul Johnson), http://www3.oup-usa.org/isbn/0195149130.html founder of Boston, who gave the "City on a Hill" speech Reagan riffed off of. Conspiracy theorists, go wild. I think the Kerry household vibe growing up was predominantly WASP above all else, but I may be wrong.

[Dark Star]

82. Class-wise, this does matter to me.

You are correct. Kerry was quite chagrined when he recently learned about his Jewish grandfather. He was brought up in a world of privilege and all that entails...including what looks to be a perfect match with his current wife, the Heinz $$$$$$$$ widow.

[nightperson]

83. Well,

like Al Gore's family, Kerry's family during his childhood would be pegged by most sociologists I think as being more or less upper-middle-class, albeit stuffy. Kerry's father was a government employee, and there was no vast family fortune. Bush and Dean grew up outright rich. Just something to keep in mind.

[KoKo]

26. I think when it comes to US Foreign Policy.....the Destinction is

important.....whatever you want to believe about my post.....

[Dark Star]

64. Why would someone's

Jewish father, grandfather or wife bother you then?

W is all wasp and I don't see him behaving correctly in the ME!

[JohnKleeb]

24. KoKo? did you read Kerry's statement today on Israel

or hear about it. It wasnt devoutly pro Israel or anything. I know plenty of Jewish people who are unbiased on I-P. BTW Bush is very Pro Israel as we can tell, and hes a frigging WASP. Lemme give you an example of how your background doesnt affect you, I am gonna use Dennis Kucinich as an example, remember the Kosovo war, Dennis Kucinich was one of the rare members of the democratic party who opposed it, at least the bombing, Dennis is Croatian/Irish American, the attrocities happened to plenty of Croats there, but Dennis wasnt biased in that respect and opposed the bombing of the Serbs. Its hard to explain, sorry if I confused you, but Kerry isnt Pro Israel to the max.

[KoKo]

31. I thought I made myself clear in stating Likud/Sharon faction of support

for Israel against the Palestinians.

Please don't do some "you are anti-Semetic" thing with me. Ugh......that's really a trash of who I am.

[JohnKleeb]

38. My apologies

I get what you mean now. I didnt mean to infer you were anti semtic, I dont believe thats the case. I thought you said and I was wrong apparently, that their Jewish background may make them bias. I am not mad at what you said. I get it now. Sorry.

[Basurero]

13. Yesterday it was "cancer." Today it's "Jewish."

You really do play for keeps.

How's about a friendly reminder?

Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh! Yeaargh!

[Forkboy]

17. Hey cool,just like Fox News

[Dark Star]

18. Thanks for the interesting post!

It caused me to look at the thread originator's signature line.

Now I get it. :puke:

[KoKo]

34. OH.....PULEEEZE! What is this?

:shrug:

[KoKo]

40. Hey....let's go down to the I/P Forum on Du if one can't make a comment

that doesn't involve trashing. Some sort of "witch hunt" which results in any comment whatever about Jewish going into a Lexus/Nexus or DU Search to track down the poster and trash them immediately!

If you feel this way..and want to attack me....then whatever....I've not been in these fights and I'm hardly a person whose anti-Semite! :D

[Ripley]

44. Hey KoKo settle down!

I think your response to the guy who said "cancer, now Jewishness" is wrong....HE IS RESPONDING TO THE ORIGINAL THREAD NOT YOU. There is a person here tho that thinks you are making a veiling anti-semitic remark...

It's not me...I've seen your posts enough to know that isn't true. :hi:

[KoKo]

78. Well thanks....I thought I was in the middle of an attack....and was being

attacked! Glad to know it wasn't me...:eyes:

[Jerseycoa]

20. "coincidence"

or conspiracy? :eyes:

[NewHampster]

22. I'm 100% Jewish

and both my right and left sides think the other side should keep John Kerry.

Being of 1/2 or 1/4 Jewish blood does not make one a Jew. We are not a race, we are a tradition, a religion and people who know the difference between Nova and Belly Lox.

[maddezmom]

23. what is the purpose of the question?

Kerry is 1/4 Jewish
Clark is 1/2 Jewish
Dean is married to a Jewish woman
Lieberman is 100% Jewish


Do any of these answers help you pick a candidate?

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

30. I find the comments in the original post rather curious as well

[Dark Star]

33. I believe if you look

at the thread originator's signature line and a couple of comments about possible pro-Israel prejudice, you will know EXACTLY the purpose of the question, I am so sad to say!

[maddezmom]

42. hmmm

guess I need to do a search.

[JohnKleeb]

43. Kucinich once courted a Jewish woman

:) all is true

[NewHampster]

48. Mazeltov - Bush wins because he's 100% amurakin

[maddezmom]

58. Mazeltov bacatcha :) n/t

[AntiCoup2K4]

60. Does that mean Edwards gets 100% of the anti-semite vote?

Not saying he WANTS them, but it wouldn't appear they had another option.

Oh right, La Rouche..... :puke:

[Dark Star]

63. I realize you are being facetious,

however, this really is a phony discussion (not your post) because one's politics are not wrapped up with one's ethnicity. Can anyone say 'Clarence Thomas'?

I'm Jewish and all I want is BushCo OUT! I'll back any democrat to get rid of that scourge of an administration.

[OhioStateProgressive]

32. it is impossible to be "half jewish"

it's a religion, not a race

[Dark Star]

37. No.

Judaism is a religion.

Being a Jew is a culture and a history and an ancestory and may or may not include Judaism.

[OhioStateProgressive]

47. hehehe

my fiance is an Israeli National

[NewHampster]

51. Sabra

[OhioStateProgressive]

54. yes, i know

but if my German sister in law had to be called a German National, then the same for Israelis

on edit...also a girl named "Sabra" wrecked my truck in 1999, and I am still resentful:)

[NewHampster]

59. Cool

[maddezmom]

39. good point n/t

[Hoppin_Mad]

46. I'm pretty sure Lieberman is at least part Jewish too :-) -nt-

[_NorCal_D_]

49. Why does it matter?

:eyes:

[Dark Star]

55. It shouldn't, however,

apparently the thread originator posted something about candidates other than the one s/he supports having to do with cancer; now s/he is posting about those candidates having to do with Jewishness.

I wonder if the cancer post drew out the level of vitriol drawn out by the 'final solution of the Jewish problem'.

Man, it shouldn't matter...but, even on DU...it does.

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

69. the candidates MAKE it matter

They all brag about their ethnic heritages as ways to get votes. If you want to blame anyone for making it an issue, blame the candidates.

[molly]

71. If I thought I would get crucified and accused of hiding

my ethnic heritage - I would certainly bring it out. Especically since there are MANY anti-semitic people around these days.

And, they should brag about it BTW!!!

[Dark Star]

75. Right on, Molly!!!

n/t

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

73. Where and when did any of them brag about their ethnic heritage?

Cite? Clark has his upbringing on his site, but that is hardly bragging.

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

76. kerry & clark both did

I posted an article about Clark's appearence at yeshivas in Brooklyn - where he bragged about his heritage. It's well known that Kerry used his Irish Catholic heritage as a vote winner in Mass.

All politicians do that!

[molly]

62. I'm happy to have both of them as part of the tribe!

you go guys!

[Dark Star]

67. Me, too!

Thanks, Molly, for lightening the load.

:yourock:

[DemocratSinceBirth]

66. Who Cares?

NT

[Dark Star]

68. Obviously,

the thread originator and the 2 or 3 who have tried to make this an I/P issue.

Other than that, I don't know.

Who does care?