National Security Adviser James L. Jones opened his remarks at the 25-year anniversary gala of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy with a joke describing greedy Jewish merchants, though you wouldn’t be able to tell it by looking at the official White House transcript of the event. The Washington Institute Web site’s video of the event also begins after Jones’ joke, which some see as insensitive to Jews.
Via the Anchoress:
The Jewish haberdasher is portrayed as clever; he is unmoved by the threats-and-curses-issuing Taliban member; he forgives him the outburst before sending him to the restaurant over the hill. The Jew ultimately defeats the Taliban, who must submit to him -and his brother- before he can get a glass of water. And he makes a little profit, in the meantime. What’s not to like?
As a joke, Jones’ little icebreaker works. It has identifiable “types” (angry Arab, clever Jew) and has an ironic twist at the end.
As anti-Semitism, it will have its supporters. It will make Jew-haters laugh at the “greedy Jews,” and Arab-haters laugh at the “duped” Taliban.
As ideology, it will make socialists sneer at the “inhumane capitalists,” while the capitalists will call this confirmation of their worst suspicions of this administration.
All-in-all, I’d call it a very unwise joke for a security advisor to The American President to make, especially if the president is trying to convince the nation -by his words more than his actions- that he supports capitalism and the free market, the existence of Israel and the defeat of the Taliban.
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