Arab-American group blasts Emanuel’s dad

November 12, 2008

WASHINGTON (JTA)—An Arab-American group wants Barack Obama and Rahm Emanuel to repudiate remarks made by Emanuel’s father.

President-elect Obama last week named Emanuel, an Illinois congressman whose father is Israeli, as his White House chief of staff. In an interview with the Israeli daily Ma’ariv, Benjamin Emanuel said, "Obviously, he’ll influence the president to be pro-Israel. Why wouldn’t he? What is he, an Arab? He’s not going to be mopping floors at the White House."

In an e-mail blast, the American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee urged its members to protest the "detestable" comments by fax or through e-mail.

The ADC also wrote a letter to Emanuel asking him to repudiate his father’s comments, saying it "views this characterization of an Arab as an unacceptable smear."

"One can readily imagine the justifiable outcry if someone made a similar remark about African‐Americans, Jews, or Hispanics concerning cleaning the floors of the White House," the letter said. "Do the normal standards of decency and civility not apply when talking about Arabs?"

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vbb

11/12/08 03:11 PM

Tell the Arabs to take a hike.

michael zacharia

11/12/08 04:12 PM

Maybe the Arab American Anti Discrimination Commitee shouldn’t expect President Elect Obama to apologize for the statements of all related to or friends with members of his new administration, but statements like this don’t reflect well on the Israelis. Statements like this, by either Israelis or Palestinians, don’t serve to temper passions or get us any closer to an acceptable solution to expensive problems there.

david talbot

11/12/08 04:29 PM

His father’s comments had nothing to do with whether he is a Jew or an Arab. It is a statement that could have been said this way: Why do you think he was asked to join the cabinet, just to be a token Jew? And why shouldn’t his father be proud that his son might have a pro-israeli influence on the new prez? Last, anyone who knows anything about Emanuel, knows that he’ll be fair and balanced---but very tough. Exactly what the White house Chief of Staff needs to be.

I voted for McCain

Athar Murtuza

11/12/08 07:10 PM

the comments posted about the story gives greater credence to those who think that USA is a client state of Israel!

Fran Last

11/12/08 07:57 PM

I find it truly heartening and magnanimous that the ADC wrote a letter to Emanuel asking him to repudiate his father’s comments.

True justice does not discriminate, nor should there be double standards.

“Do the normal standards of decency and civility not apply when talking about Arabs?”

It would be equally nice if we could be allowed to hear those noble Israeli voices that say the same thing. But then they’d be accused of being anti-Semitic!

Michelle F.

11/13/08 12:59 AM

First of all, with their interpretation of this statement, maybe the only thing the ADC IS qualified for are moping floors.
It is obvious that the statement reads; why else would his son be at the White House if not to give advice, he is not there to mop floors?

There is not a huge politically thought out hidden agenda, or secret message or a dig at any particular race; it is what I could hear any Jewish parent say, verbatim.

“Do the normal standards of decency and civility not apply when talking about Arabs?”
Well, when Arabs stop saying they want to kill every Jew and raise their kids to strap bombs around their chests with the intent to kill Jews, or hijack planes then fly them into buildings, or jump on tractors and drive them into people and over cars, or try to push the entire country of Israel into the sea........

Where is my apology?

I voted for McCain, first time voting for a Republican.

11/26/08 05:07 PM

Sure, Emanuel should “repudiate” his father’s remarks...as long as the Arab American Anti-Discrimination Committee “repudiates” it’s regional chapters that have organized anti-Israel rallies and have supported anti-Israel campus activities; in California its local leaders established the radical Free Palestine Alliance and have held leadership roles in ANSWER and Al--Awda, both of which support terrorism and reject Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state.
UNTIL they stop discriminating against others, then they can’t ask that others not discriminate against them.

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