South Carolinas Jewish Problem? - August 5, 2003
Times Watch for August 5, 2003
South Carolinas Jewish Problem?
The announced retirement
of long-time Sen. Ernest Hollings, Democrat of South Carolina, is the subject of
Tuesdays story by David Halbfinger and Carl Hulse. After noting Hollings
attack on Bush ("He's a nice fellow. You can't find a better fraternity
brother), the Times notes Hollings saved a barb or two for apathetic voters in
his home state, one that has grown increasingly inhospitable to Democrats."
Several paragraphs later
came this odd bit out of nowhere. Weighing the chances of potential Democratic
replacement candidate Inez Tenenbaum, they write: South Carolina has not
elected a woman to a top post like senator or governor, and it is unclear
whether the state is ready for one, let alone a woman who once lobbied for
abortion rights and has a Jewish surname, said Brad Gomez, a political scientist
at the University of South Carolina in Columbia. Ms. Tenenbaum is Methodist. Her
husband is Jewish. Er, thanks for clearing that up, guys. Is inhospitable to
Democrats Times code for anti-Jewish bigots?
The article ran down a few
of the senators more memorable verbal gaffes, then added: Yet as governor here
from 1959 to 1963, Mr. Hollings oversaw the orderly desegregation of schools, in
stark contrast to other Southern Democratic governors. Its nice that the Times
recognizes that Southern segregation was done by Democratic governors, but the
paper could also have mentioned Hollings own checkered past: As South Carolina
governor in 1962, he raised the Confederate flag over the South Carolina
statehouse.
For the rest of the Times story on Sen. Hollings
retirement,
click here.
Confederate Flag
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Discrimination
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David Halbfinger
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Carl Hulse
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Sen. Ernest Hollings
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Senate
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South Carolina
