Randi Weingarten (president of the American Federation of Teachers), one of the largest labor unions in America, accused Senator Marco Rubio (R–FL) of antisemitism because he proposed an amendment that targeted “Soros-backed prosecutors.”
Rubio was referring specifically to the dozens and countless of prosecutors who were elected with financial support from George Soros, a left-wing billionaire. They have pursued radical “criminal justice Reform” agendas that have often seen violent repeat offenders being released.
In a Wall Street Journal opinion, Soros acknowledged that he was responsible for defending these prosecutors. He claimed that the fact that blacks are more likely than whites to be imprisoned is a reason to be more gentle about urban crime.
Rubio’s amended was one of many offered by Republicans in “vote a-rama” on amendments to the so-called Inflation Reduction Act. This bill, which funds climate change and raises taxes for corporations, but has little effect on inflation, spends on it.
Weingarten tweeted that Rubio’s mention of Soros-backed prosecutors is antisemitic, because Soros was a “Hungarian Jew” who survived the Holocaust.
Some controversy surrounds Soros’s Holocaust experience. However, it is now clear that Soros’s claim of being antisemitic for attacking him has been completely disproven, particularly given his support of anti-Israel groups.
Weingarten claimed that Rubio’s critique of Soros was antisemitic, because it occurred on a Jewish fast.
Tisha B’Av, also known as the Ninth Day of Av commemorates the destruction of two Holy Temples by the Romans and the Babylonians. This fast is observed by religious Jews, but it is not well-known or observed outside of the community.
Biblical and historical sources confirm that the Temples weren’t destroyed by “hatred of Jews” as used in the modern sense. The primary causes of the destruction are cited by the Jewish Sages as hatred within the community and religious and political corruption.
Weingarten didn’t say if she was fasting.
Rubio has strong support from both the pro-Israel community as well as Jewish Republicans.
