Glenn Beck and a Jewish president

[oberliner]

We can think of all sorts of reasons not to vote for Joe Lieberman for anything, but the one CNN's Glenn Beck offered on his radio show Thursday isn't one of them.

In the context of a discussion of whether Mitt Romney's Mormonism is a reason not to vote for him, Beck explained: "Now, I have said on this program, 'I would not vote for Joe Lieberman as president of the United States.' I think Joe Lieberman knows how to fight this war. I think Joe Lieberman really gets it. However, even if I didn't disagree with him on so many social issues, I wouldn't vote for Joe Lieberman at this time because of the complications it would add in this country or on the planet right now because of the way the Middle East would use it. That's not saying the same thing as I wouldn't vote for a Jew for president."

http://www.salon.com/politics/war_room/2007/05/11/beck/index.html

[pepperbear]

1. Except that it is saying the same thing as "I wouldn't vote for a Jew for president." n/t

[Behind the Aegis]

2. Weasel words.

"...I wouldn't vote for Joe Lieberman at this time because of the complications it would add in this country or on the planet right now because of the way the Middle East would use it. That's not saying the same thing as I wouldn't vote for a Jew for president."

No, it is not the same thing as saying "I will not vote for a Jew as president." but, it is saying "I won't vote for this man because he is a Jew." Therefore, it is still anti-Semitic. The person is choosing not to vote for him because he is a Jew. However, I feel there are those who claim to be "liberals/progressives" who would say a similar thing, and not about Lieberman, but if there were other presidential candidates who were Jewish.

[TahitiNut]

4. There's a 'lesson' in that - assuming he's being honest.

There is a difference between having prejudices and knowing that prejudices abound. It's like "Guess Who's Coming To Dinner" where Joanna wants to marry John. Her parents are aptly portrayed as possessing no racial prejudices ... but they understand that the prospect (in 1967) of a white woman married to a black man would result in them being treated as 'evil-doers' by both blacks and whites. It's a probable future that they, as loving parents, didn't want to wish upon their daughter.

I see this largely as the typical conflict between a deontological ethic (do the right thing) and a consequentialist (pragmatic) ethic. The ethical principles of the former insist that we act in a way which would serve as a model for action for the rest of the world. It's "Be the change you wish to see in the world" as Gandhi put it. The pragmatic ethical prescription is about the foreseeable harms and injuries - whether the result of an action is 'good' or 'bad' (which is often taken as desired or undesired).

As a person who subscribes to a deontological (duty-based) ethical system, I have no problem seeing the 'right' choice - and gird myself to do so even suspecting that reactions might be hurtful and my personal welfare may suffer. But people in politics and (especially) business are seldom promoted for doing the 'right thing' in lieu of the 'advantageous thing.'

It's easy to see how such choices may be bigotry in disguise ... merely projecting one's own prejudices on others. Such a 'pragmatic' attitude can be a convenient cover. It's especially difficult to resolve since discussions put an abstract (principle) against an unprovable (prognostication). One can no more 'prove' a future result than argue a principle.

We see the collision of these two ethical systems quite often on DU.

[azurnoir]

3. Yeah it looks like that is exactly what he saying

what else about Lieberman would supposedly affect the ME, if he so "gets" the current war, then what is it? Maybe Mr Beck should be asked to explain further.

[Charlie Brown]

5. Beck: "I'm not a racist, however. . . "

Anytime that sentence is used, it almost always identifies the speaker as a closet bigot.

I'd never vote for an idiot for president, which thankfully removes Beck from consideration.

[jillan]

6. Too bad the Jewish people don't have an Al Sharpton type

and then maybe we could finally get this asshole off the air.

[Secular Agent Man]

7. Hate to break it to ya' Mr. Beck:

Bush is Jewish. Keep it under your hat 'k. ;)

[TygrBright]

8. I betcha "some of his best friends" are "of the Hebrew persuasion".... n/t