Jewish group chides Biden for using 'offensive' term
Source: CNN
(CNN) -- Vice President Joe Biden "should have been more careful" in a speech when he used a term that some consider anti-Semitic, the national director of the Anti-Defamation League said Tuesday.
At a conference marking the 40th anniversary of the Legal Services Corporation, Biden recalled anecdotes from his son's experience serving in Iraq and meeting members of the military who were in need of legal help because of problems back at home.
"That's one of the things that he finds was most in need when he was over there in Iraq for a year," Biden said, "that people would come to him and talk about what was happening to them at home in terms of foreclosures, in terms of bad loans that were being...I mean these Shylocks who took advantage of, um, these women and men while overseas."
ADL National Director Abraham Foxman issued a mild reprimand later Tuesday.
Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2014/09/17/politics/joe-biden-jewish-term/
Aside from the term itself, it's ironic to me that Biden is chastising bankers when, while the Senator from Delaware, he was known as the bankers' best friend in the Senate.
GeorgeGist
(25,319 posts)He should have said shysters.
TexasProgresive
(12,157 posts)candelista
(1,986 posts)Enemy of the State
TexasProgresive
(12,157 posts)noun informal
a person, esp. a lawyer, who uses unscrupulous, fraudulent, or deceptive methods in business.
ORIGIN mid 19th cent.: origin uncertain; perhaps related to German Scheisser worthless person.
candelista
(1,986 posts)Last edited Wed Sep 17, 2014, 02:22 PM - Edit history (1)
Enrique
(27,461 posts)Shylock is different, and the ADL is right, and I'm a little shocked that Biden used the word.
Erich Bloodaxe BSN
(14,733 posts)I expected from the title in scare quotes it was going to be 'occupied territories'.
But yeah, 'shylocks' does have a nasty anti-jewish association, and he should have gone with a different term.
MADem
(135,425 posts)Of course, they don't "do" Shakespeare in high school anymore, so the reference will go over plenty of heads....
no.more.Shakespeare.
Does.ADL.boycot.THAT?
It's all about teaching to the test, that's why they got rid of the more difficult topics.
but.as.I've.got.to.get.on.the.road,I.won't.get.into.that.conversation/thread.now.
Iamthetruth
(487 posts)Sorry folks, the guy is a walking mistake.
MADem
(135,425 posts)That doesn't obviate the good he has done over the course of a career.
He shouldn't have said it. That's that.
Iamthetruth
(487 posts)This is not his first verbal screw up and you're right, I'm not sorry I said nothing wrong.
dballance
(5,756 posts)I was wrong. Using the term "Shylocks" is not a good thing at all. I know this and I'm a fat, old, white guy from TN.
Gees, Joe. What the heck were you thinking?
MosheFeingold
(3,051 posts)Is our counterweight to Bush II and Dan Quayle.
He's not an anti-Semite; he's an idiot.
No clue how any of these guys get power, on either side of the isle.
yurbud
(39,405 posts)He just likes to hear his own voice and doesn't filter well.
MosheFeingold
(3,051 posts)But we can do better. We are the "smart" party. No need to have second-raters anywhere near the top.
yurbud
(39,405 posts)Did the bidding of the one percent
Response to MosheFeingold (Reply #13)
Post removed
MosheFeingold
(3,051 posts)Your post doesn't make any sense.
Cruz?
What does that whacko have to do with anything?
Cruz just got booed off the stage at a John Ashcroft-sponsored event, which is the base of the Republican party. He's a non-issue.
groundloop
(11,518 posts)And I'm not sure I agree that 'shylock' specifically refers to those with a Jewish background merely because the character in The Merchant of Venice happened to be Jewish.
Adrahil
(13,340 posts)The use of the term "Shylock" might not be overtly racist, but The Merchant of Venice does have a long history intermingled with antisemitism. I don;t doubt that Joe didn't intend it that that, but best to use another term. For example, I find that a lot of people don't know that saying you've been "Gypped" is actually a slur against Gypsies.
Iamthetruth
(487 posts)So you want to cut him a break because he most likely was not a member of Mensa.
Adrahil
(13,340 posts)TexasProgresive
(12,157 posts)Loan sharks
Usurers
Gombeen men (Irish usurers who lent money at high rates during the great famine)
Hornswogglers
Bunco artists
Travelman
(708 posts)Omaha Steve
(99,582 posts)Look at the list of national banks that are chartered there.
http://banking.delaware.gov/reports/financialinstitutions/DEFinInstitutions.pdf
closeupready
(29,503 posts)for abusing the middle class?
He helped them get into positions of dominance over the middle class (to the extent that complaints from working people are what prompted these offensive remarks).
He's a hypocrite, and this is probably the #1 reason I don't trust him.
SoapBox
(18,791 posts)Sheesh...seems everything offends.
Just get the whining over.
Iamthetruth
(487 posts)That if I used terms to degrade certain races, nationalities or other religions you would have a different view.
candelista
(1,986 posts)That doesn't make him a mean guy. Just a loose cannon.
daschess1987
(192 posts)can't we just have him play video games at an undisclosed location until after the election?
Feral Child
(2,086 posts)The term could be deemed appropriate, and has been in the past because Shylock was a Shakespearian character, a money-lender who engaged in usury.
"Shyster" as used by another poster isn't a suitable substitute; Biden was discussing mortgage holders; ie, "money-lenders", not lawyers.
He was also Jewish and this reflects the antisemitism common in Elizabethan England.
Since then, the term has been used to characterizes Jews as a people as avaricious and untrustworthy. The anti-Semitic usage has become more pointed and strident since Willy penned "The Merchant".
Don't mind me, I know everybody knows this, I'm just extra loquacious today due to a recent harvest.
Anyway, I don't think Biden was thinking about Israel or Jews when he made the comment, he was probably just showing off his academic flair.
Still, the term was unfortunate, especially in reference to the ME where antisemitism can be deadly.
Not as bad as W's "Crusade" blunder, but definitely not diplomatic.
marble falls
(57,077 posts)reorg
(3,317 posts)through one of my favorite movies, "Get Shorty", by Barry Sonnenfeld.
marble falls
(57,077 posts)unblock
(52,196 posts)closeupready
(29,503 posts)At least that's how it appeared when I posted it this morning. (I realize you may not be asking ME, but positing a rhetorical question for readers here to consider.)
Ash_F
(5,861 posts)NaturalHigh
(12,778 posts)I will give him the benefit of the doubt that he wasn't aware of the offensive nature of the word though. I don't think most people who use it are. Hell, I still hear people say they "jewed" down the price of a car. I often get blank stares when I explain why that is offensive.
bigwillq
(72,790 posts)GM=Gaffe Master.
Can't wait until he is out of politics.
NaturalHigh
(12,778 posts)and The Onion loves him.
bigwillq
(72,790 posts)And then laugh at myself for voting for them. lol
NaturalHigh
(12,778 posts)An oldie but goodie.:
Poll: Many Americans Still Unsure Whom To Vote Against
http://www.theonion.com/articles/poll-many-americans-still-unsure-whom-to-vote-agai,1177/
bigwillq
(72,790 posts)instead of voting for someone.
This is why I laugh.