CAIR-linked Islamic supremacist Dean Obeidallah is enraged that Yang “would equate BDS with pre-Nazi Germany fascism,” and being well aware of how victimhood is currency these days, whines that Yang’s position “caused a lot of pain in our community.” What doesn’t, Dino? Anyway, Yang was right the first time: the BDS movement is frankly neo-Nazi in its goals, as the Nazis staged nationwide boycotts of Jewish-owned businesses early in the life of the Third Reich. But Yang knows that in the hard-left one-party state that New York City is today, he will pay no political price for backing away from his criticism of it — indeed, this will make him more popular.
“Andrew Yang regrets ‘poor choice of words on BDS’ at Muslim-American forum,” by Jacob Kornbluh, Forward, March 19, 2021:
Andrew Yang, one of the leading candidates in the New York City mayoral race, clarified his stance on the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement in a statement to the Forward amid backlash and confusion over recent statements on the matter.
“BDS does not recognize the right of Israel to exist,” Yang said on Friday. “Not recognizing Israel’s right to exist is antisemitic. I strongly oppose BDS, as I’ve said countless times.”
The statement came after the candidate seemed to retract his initial bold stance against BDS. In an OpEd for the Forward in January, Yang described the BDS movement as “rooted in antisemitic thought and history, hearkening back to fascist boycotts of Jewish businesses.” However, on Thursday, during a mayoral forum co-hosted by Emgage, a Muslim-American advocacy group, Yang suggested that he had since learned that BDS is a non-violent movement with the right to protest Israeli policies….
Dean Obeidallah, host of The Dean Obeidallah Show on SiriusXM: This is a freedom of expression question about the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movements — a non-violent movement by people who want to change the policy of the Netanyahu administration. All of you have said you would not criminalize or punish those who are involved. Andrew though — and I know you’re a little bit — I have to tell you being of Palestinian heritage I was stunned that you would equate BDS with pre-Nazi Germany fascism. It caused a lot of pain in our community. A lot of people had questions about that because you can oppose BDS, but to use those terms was stunning to us. You know, for example, my Palestinian grandmother’s land has been taken by Israeli settlers and turned into a settlement. What is that called? The non-violent movement in your view is fascism. So share a little bit about why you call BDS fascist?
Andrew Yang: I believe that BDS is the wrong approach. But I appreciate and would never begrudge people who are standing up for what they believe in. I have a political perspective on it, which is why my response to the questionnaire reads in that way. At the time that that statement was written, I had seen materials that suggested that folks who are supportive of BDS had refused to disavow the activities of certain extremist elements that had adopted violent, or at least had not disavowed violent measures towards Israel, which I took as a line that I thought was inappropriate. Since then I’ve spoken to people who have made a different argument, along the lines of what you just expressed — which is that BDS is non violent. I don’t think targeting Israel in this way is the right approach, but I certainly appreciate people who are standing up for what they believe in.
Shirley Ann says
NYC voted for El Commio Del Blasio without a moment’s Hesitation, so Mr. Yang may just be the Right Man, to oversee the end of NYC.
It went from being the Greatest City to being the City to Avoid at all Costs. Very Similar to the Slum of Washington, DC., which even General Washington, who laid out the Streets of the City, exclaimed “IT’S A SWAMP.”
James Lincoln says
Shirley Ann,
The last time that New York City was great was when Rudy Giuliani was mayor…
mortimer says
The BDS movement has much in common with Nazism. It just avoids referring to Adolf Hitler and using Nazi symbols. BDS is based on the delusion that the Arabs in and around Israel are indigenous to the region, whereas, in reality, most of their forebears were immigrants and job-seekers who arrived between 1900 and 1945 due to the booming economy created by Jewish entrepreneurs.
President Roosevelt pointed out in 1939 that “Arab immigration into Palestine since 1921 has vastly exceeded the total Jewish immigration during this whole period.”
maria says
Yes BDS is a communist and muslim racist antisemitic group. They should be forbidden to act and live in the US
gravenimage says
Courting Muslim vote, NYC mayoral hopeful Andrew Yang walks back criticism of BDS movement
……………..
Just repulsive.
RichardL says
by now, every politician with a D behind their name can be assumed to be scum. Tulsi Gabbard will run as an independent for the Senate, I bet
Jayell says
‘Islamic supremacist Dean Obeidallah is enraged that Yang “would equate BDS with pre-Nazi Germany fascism,” and being well aware of how victimhood is currency these days, whines that Yang’s position “caused a lot of pain in our community.”…..’
I’ve seen more civilised behaviour from smaller infantile spoilt brats as they sit in someone else’s pram (stroller) and throw out the toys they happen to find there just because they don’t like them. What NICE people we have here!
No Muzzies Here says
When the choice is between supporting one’s own country, or betraying it for votes and campaign contributions, the choice of most leftist politicians is clear: they will happily sell out their country to organizations that hate it and want to eliminate it.
Pat Erb says
Jews were in the area long before any Arabs and of course Muslims who didn’ T even exist until the late 7th century. What is being taught in American and Arab county schools today. Palestinians didn’t exist until the late 19th century or early 20th century. And asfor Christians they were in the area for more than 2000 years. Jesus was a Jew born in an area of Israel now occupied by many Palestinians. Remember BC and AD. Time references. Jewish people have lived in the area long before there was a state of modern day Israel. It existed and if a palastian grandma had land there it was taken from a Jewish owner. If israelies took it it was part the country of present Israel. And I bet compensation was offered. I am not a Jew or an Israelite but I had to study this in school in about grade 8 or 9 in world history. How can people today get away with rewriting history without any in our schools or universities speaking out
marc says
Thank you @Pat for reminding us, it really isn’t that complex an issue
Miguel says
I thought that Andrew Yang was one of the few “rational” Democrats especially among the presidential candidates. It seems Yang will go back on their morals when it comes to politics. A shame.