Jewish American Heritage Month

Posted By admin on January 22, 2016

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) on Thursday defended Donald Trump after the GOP front-runner's freewheeling speech before a group of Jewish Republicans drew criticism.

"After having carefully reviewed the speech, we do not believe that it was Donald Trumps intention to evoke anti-Semitic stereotypes," Jonathan Greenblatt, the league's CEO, said in a statement.

The celebrity businessman appeared to touch on several Jewish stereotypes in his speech, including about being a good negotiator and having a tough business personality.

Is there anyone in this room who doesnt negotiate deals?, Trump asked later. This room negotiates a lot. This room perhaps more than any room Ive ever spoken to.

Trump also repeatedly told the audience that he did not want their money.

The ADL pushed back on pundits criticizing Trump's remarks, saying that "context is everything."

The group said that while it does not believe Trump "intended his comments regarding negotiations and money to relate specifically to their Jewishness," the group called on the candidate "to clarify that this was not his intention, and that he rejects the traditional stereotypes about Jews and money."

Democrats pointed to Trump's remarks before the Jewish audience on negotiating deals, as well as remarks from several other GOP candidates, to declare that "these Republican Apprentices are not ready for prime time."

Democratic National Committee spokesman TJ Helmstetter knocked "the Republican candidates tone-deaf and offensive remarks," adding in a statement, "its no wonder that Jewish voters identify as Democrats by a two-to-one margin."

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Anti-Defamation League - TheHill

Category: Anti-Defamation League
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