Exploiting Bernie’s Jewish Roots – OpEd

In the latest email scandal to overtake the Clinton campaign, it has been learned that a top DNC official sought to exploit the Jewish roots of Sen. Bernie Sanders in an effort to help Hillary Clinton. “Does he believe in God?” wrote Brad Marshall, the DNC’s chief financial officer. “He skated on saying he has a Jewish heritage,” Marshall added. “I think I read he is an atheist.” He then said that to Southern Baptists, there is “a big difference between a Jew and an atheist.”

That all of this comes from the titans of diversity and inclusion is striking, to say the least.

By contrast, when I was asked last April by Brooke Baldwin on CNN what I thought about Sanders being invited to address a Vatican audience, here is what I said: “Well, good for Bernie. I mean, there’s a pontifical committee out there that deals with social justice issues and he certainly will be welcomed, as he should. He is a good man.” I then said that he and the Catholic Church differ on abortion and family issues.

Over the past six months, many have commented on the significance of having a Jewish candidate for president, and how little controversy it has engendered. That is a good sign. It is not a good sign to read how the DNC sought to squeeze political capital out of Sanders’ secular convictions.

This needs to be condemned by everyone, beginning with the benefactor of this exploitation, Hillary Clinton.