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Monday, January 23, 2006

CA-11: Former Rep. McCloskey in Against Pombo

Posted by DavidNYC

As we had previously discussed, former Rep. Pete McCloskey has decided to tap himself for a primary challenge against corrupt Republican radical Rep. Dick Pombo.

However, I'm appalled at McCloskey's involvement with the Institute for Historical Review, a notorious cabal of Holocaust deniers (something I did not know about when I first wrote about him). In a 2000 speech, he told the group, "I don't know whether you are right or wrong about the Holocaust...." Needless to say, this kind of talk disgusts me in the extreme. McCloskey's remark a few days ago that he "will go and speak to any group" doesn't signal very good judgment or contrition, either.

If McCloskey helps unseat Pombo, fine. But my father is a Holocaust survivor. My grandfather (after whom I am named) was murdered by the Germans. So you'll understand that when it comes to such matters, I'm pretty intolerant of guys like McCloskey. I don't treat with such people, and I'm not going to be making common cause with this guy.

Posted at 05:21 PM in 2006 Elections - House, California | Technorati

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Comments

McCloskey totally disavows that group now and says there in "no question" that the Holocaust is historical reality. But the whiff will never go away for many people who were so shocked by his loony assertions. For me, this is just about him softening up Pombo for McNerney. Hopefully, he'll convince enough Republicans that Pombo is anathema that they'll either join with Democrats and independents to cleanse the district or at least stay home in November.

Posted by: DownWithTyranny at January 23, 2006 06:57 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

I completely agree, David -- and also had no idea that someone who has made many positive and progressive contributions in his public career would ever get mixed up with these people. As progressive people, none of us can have anything to do with him -- let the Republicans deal with their own nut jobs. It's not like he was involved with them half a lifetime ago -- this was 2000. As an academic who has researched the right wing in American politics, I can say this group is every bit as vile as the KKK and the American Nazi Party, and given that they operate under the veneer of "academic research," are perhaps even more dangerous.

Posted by: IndianaProgressive at January 23, 2006 08:17 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

DWT: This is the kind of transgression that I can probably never get over. Maybe with a very serious mea culpa... but even then, I doubt it. (And he hasn't exactly issued one.) Fortunately, as IP notes, he's the GOP's problem, not ours.

Posted by: DavidNYC at January 23, 2006 08:59 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

In the field of "Former Congressmen running in California", McCloskey will likely top Bob Dornan's showing against Dana Rohrabacher. I'm not totally confident about him getting too close. There's still a lot of Bush-supporting Republicans and all.

Posted by: RBH at January 23, 2006 09:05 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

Yowch. Dornan got crushed 84-16 in 2004. I think you're right, though - McCloskey would do well to break 20%.

Posted by: DavidNYC at January 23, 2006 09:08 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

I posted my reaction to McCloskey's candidacy on my blog. You can check it out here. Also, I agree with Down With Tyranny that it's about taking out Pombo more than anything.

Posted by: Matt Lockshin at January 23, 2006 09:41 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

I too have a problem with Holocaust deniers having lost family to those schmucks...excuse my language but it's a sensitive subject for me.

Posted by: Daniel at January 24, 2006 03:30 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

wow .. I am amazed that McCloskey is being assumed guilty about this.

Ya, he shoots his mouth off, and gets in trouble for it.

But a snippet of a transcript that he denies is not accurate is not good enough reason to smear. I would have to see the whole statement in context from a reputable source - especially since he denies he said it.

Lexis-Nexis anyone?

Meanwhile .. McCloskey has spoken at Tikkun meetings as well. Why would he do that, if he were an anti-Semite?

I think he will speak anywhere. Good for him: maybe some reasoned discourse will help to change people's minds, in organizations like IHR, or the KKK - or the GOP.

Apparently McCloskey has no love for the ADL. I don't know how that became to be, but sorry - that STILL does not make him a Holocaust denier or anti-Semite.

I say this as a Jew - the label anit-Semite is too easily applied. It's a very pernicious and dangerous label to be throwing around without solid proof.

Yes, McCloskey may be anti-Likud, and anti-ADL. That STILL does not make him an anti-Semite. More proof is required.

And he won't beat Pombo anyway - but he'll help soften it up for the Dem challenged in the 11th.

Posted by: shpilk at January 25, 2006 11:12 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

I say this as a Jew - the label anit-Semite is too easily applied. It's a very pernicious and dangerous label to be throwing around without solid proof.

Of course, neither I nor anyone else called him an antisemite. Obviously, accusing someone of calling someone else an antisemite is "too easily" tossed around. Perhaps you should try to dig up some more - what did you call it? - solid proof before you make your accusations. A simple CTRL-F would have sufficed in this case.

However, I do accuse McCloskey of being, at best, a major idiot for speaking to the IHR. The IHR is a cabal of vicious, Holocaust-denying antisemites. Anyone who speaks before them is a real schmuck and a moron for doing so.

As it happens, this is what the head of Tikkun said after McCloskey spoke at Tikkun:

[Tikkun leader Michael] Lerner said he knew nothing of McCloskey's appearance at the IHR gathering, until asked about it by a reporter Tuesday morning. 'Had I known about it, I would not have allowed him to speak,' said Lerner, who noted that he he lost many family members in the Holocaust.

Posted by: DavidNYC at January 25, 2006 11:58 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

I'll certainly try to give McCloskey the benefit of the doubt in terms of being an anti-Semite. I'd need to see a lot more evidence before I'd level that charge. However, what in God's name was he doing speaking before one of the most well funded, well organized, well known hate groups in America? And if you want proof of just how potentially damaging this was, and how the result was anti-Semitic even if the intention might not have been, go to the IHR's website -- they are prominently promoting McCloskey's speech on the front page, and selling a CD of it.

Posted by: IndianaProgressive at January 26, 2006 12:32 AM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

they are prominently promoting McCloskey's speech on the front page, and selling a CD of it.

Ugh. As someone said upthread, I'm glad he's the GOP's problem and not ours.

Posted by: DavidNYC at January 26, 2006 12:34 AM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment