Perhaps the ADL could sell condo time shares or used cars with what's left of their reputation, or they could rename their organization. The SADL the "S" being for sunshine as in sunshine patriots. What kind of organization abandons it principles as soon as the going gets tough?

The well meaning idiot , as useful a tool in the perverts toolbox as the reliable mania's . For a definition of pervert avert your gaze from the man behind the curtain and look only at the beautiful world of Christmas , or for hard to convince , how's da weather ?.

ADL Director Abe Foxman told Adam Serwer yesterday that he disapproves of the protest, denounced Wilders, and expressed concern about the state of the discourse.

...and then, in the first sentenced you quoted, used the bogus reactionary framing "Ground Zero mosque." Nice.

Still, it's good to see him also use the accurate word "bigotry" to describe what's going on. I hope he keeps that concept in mind next time.

ADL should have remembered that it reaps what it sows. A lesson America will also learn.

This recent anti-Constitutional dust-up regarding some Americans' desire to deny rights to a group they hate is not the first time the ADL has released unfortunate and counter-productive public statements.

I am encouraged with ADL's backtracking, especially since the haters they initially ran cover for are now providing us with more clarity regarding their to-the-marrow hatred toward a religious minority here in the good old USA!

Yet, the swirling of misnomer and misinformation strikes at the heart of the current Republican election campaigns set for the November vote. The not-so-much "Ground Zero Mosque" is raw evidence of such campaign strategy. Insistence on pitting people against the precepts of our Constitution is a despicable tactic, yet that is exactly what we've been witnessing on the likes of Republican TV (Murdoch's station), among Republican candidates and within conservative think-tanks!

The ADL would do well to choose better which controversies it chooses to comment on in the future if it wishes to start that very long road back to rediscovering what credibility is all about! -Kevo

... road back to rediscovering what credibility is all about ...

Money money money MONEY

How queeck we forget .

A padded account here and a reliable back scratcher there , and we are friends for life . No matter who we forget we always remember who , back to back , has sold all for the party . The spitting on America from the Rupertarians has commenced since when ...

The debate surrounding the Ground Zero mosque has surfaced, first, a campaign which is in many places directed against building mosques, and it also has focused attention on the anti-Muslim bigotry that exists in this country.

translation services

Too little, too late, Abe.

You not only took sides, you broke your own mission statement.

Retract your objections, or STFU. You are now "one of them." Congrats.

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Fee Fii mo zero
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Everybody can play

I wonder why the people who find it so easy to believe the Founding Fathers never intended for a mosque to be built near Ground Zero when they wrote the First Amendment have such a hard believing the they never intended the Virginia Tech shootings when they wrote the Second one.

Also: "There seems to be a legitimacy that it's okay now to speak out and act out against Islam, and that's why this rally, on this very tragic day for Americans, but most tragic for those who lost their families, to use it and abuse it as a platform for bigotry, is not only tragic, it's un-American."

Au contraire! That kind of bigotry is a proud American tradition!

Judaism and Islam are both Abrahamic religions who deny that God ever could incarnate as a mortal, and Hebrews, Judeans, and Arabs are all "Semites". Anti-Semitism is hatred for any, and ultimately, all of them. They had all better remember that, too.

ADL re-claim[s] its traditional role
I don't understand. Maybe I'm just not old enough, or too goy, but in my lifetime, the ADL's "traditional" role has been to defend Jews, period. Lately, this has shifted to defending Israel, period - and any Jew that disagrees is an enemy.

I'm sticking with the ACLU when it comes to defending individuals and groups against "defamation." If you're a member of the tribe, you may still prefer the ADL.

If, for any moment, you forget that we should be AT WAR with fanatical religions, read the following about a singer who received 39 lashes with a whip for the sin of singing in front of a mixed audience of both men and women!

http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=186154

Unfortunately, the tragic events of 9/11 have been used as a rallying cry in politics and bigotry since..................well, 9/12.

I don't understand. Maybe I'm just not old enough, or too goy, but in my lifetime, the ADL's "traditional" role has been to defend Jews, period. Lately, this has shifted to defending Israel, period - and any Jew that disagrees is an enemy.

Yes, that's how it's been lately, but 'twasn't always thus. The ADL did once actively speak out against all religious (and racial) bigotry, in keeping with its 1913 charter:

"The immediate object of the League is to stop, by appeals to reason and conscience and, if necessary, by appeals to law, the defamation of the Jewish people. Its ultimate purpose is to secure justice and fair treatment to all citizens alike and to put an end forever to unjust and unfair discrimination against and ridicule of any sect or body of citizens."

Those days are gone. The organization's, and especially Foxman's, credibility and moral authority are absolutely shot. I do not think they have fully grasped how longstanding and deep will be the damage they did to themselves here, though Foxman's half-assed new statement indicates that he may at last be getting a glimmer.

"... Hebrews, Judeans, and Arabs are all "Semites". Anti-Semitism is hatred for any, and ultimately, all of them. "

The correct point about "Semites" notwithstanding, the term "anti-semitism" refers to hatred of Jews. The definition of a word doesn't always follow its etymological roots perfectly.

The ADL initiated the "sensitivity" argument:-- It's legal, but the Muslim center should go elsewhere because it's "insensitive" to others' feelings.

That, of course, is the complaint of enlightened bigots who honor civil rights but don't want minorities to live in their buildings or go to their schools and clubs. "Makes me feel uncomfortable." "Why can't they go where they are welcomed."

Now, the right has pressed deeper into hurt feelings and made sensitivity into something very physical--not just hurting feelings, but as with the oft-repeated, "it's like sticking a finger in our eye (or the eyes of the 9-11 victims.)" From the pain and insult of a "finger in the eye," it's just a small step to preemptive strikes to keep Muslims from hurting us more.

The ADL may have thought things over, but much damage is done.

I don't think ADL has damaged its brand with this display. I bet contributions at ADL are up since this dust-up began.

Foxman is an obvious clown. He's representing his constituents/donors. I can't imagine that anyone takes his arguments or ADL's positions as anything other than the typical dishonest bullshit of politicians, lobbyists or other paid liars.

It's like acting surprised when a lawyer lies. It's their job to lie.