Pondering the Unanswerable – Why Is Any Jewish Person a Conservative?

Just What is the Attraction of Religious Bigotry?

[Editor’s Note:  The Dismal Political Economist is Jewish.  He has always been Jewish and will always be Jewish.  He enjoys being Jewish, thinks everyone should try it.]

The Dismal Political Economist has previously noted the anti-Semitic attitude of some Conservative Texas politicians who were offended that a member of the Jewish faith was seeking a high leadership position in the Texas legislature.

This results in situations like this, where Joe Strauss, a  Republican Jewish member of the Texas State House was opposed for a leadership position because

State Republican Executive Committee, official John Cook stressed the need for a Christian to lead other Christians in the legislature. 

"We elected a house with Christian, conservative values. We now want a true Christian, conservative running it," Cook said in the Nov. 30 e-mail, first published by the Texas Observer. 

Mr. Cook went on to say about a charge of anti-Semitism on his part,

"It's not true at all. I have friends who are Jewish," he said. "I have no racial bigotry."

Now it seems another member of the Texas legislature has problems with the Jewish people. 



Larry Taylor - Gosh He Doesn't Look Despicable But . . .



State Rep. Larry Taylor, at a legislative oversight hearing Thursday concerning the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association, used the slur “Jew them down” when making the point that it needs to pay claims on time.

"Don't nitpick, don't try to Jew them down," he said, according to the Quorum Report. Taylor, a Republican from Friendswood, quickly added, "That's probably a bad term."

A bad term?  No a bad term is when you call someone like Mr. Taylor a moron instead of stupid or bigoted. 

And Mr. Taylor did apologize, sort of

"At a legislative oversight committee hearing today, I inadvertently used a phrase that many people find offensive. I corrected myself immediately when I realized what I had said. I regret my poor choice of words and sincerely apologize for any harm they may have caused."

Many people find offensive?  How about every decent American, that's who find such a term offensive.  But notice that in Mr. Taylor’s world only many, and thus not all people find what he said offensive.  Gee, anybody wonder who those people are that Mr. Taylor associates with that do not find such a characterization offensive?  Here’s an educated guess who they are,  they are BIGOTS.

And there was this observation

Alex Winslow, the executive director of Texas Watch, an advocacy organization for insurance customers, said he was aghast when he heard what Taylor said. “I agree with the sentiment that TWIA needs to pay claims on time and in full, but certainly don’t agree with his characterization or use of that offensive phrase,” he said.

Winslow was in the overflow room at the hearing when the statement was made and said no one on the committee addressed the comment. 

Well why would they comment, it’s probably something they hear everyday.