Nary Gary (A DejaJew?)

You'll recall Gary Ackerman of the "settler pogroms" (plural) remark. Well, it's being reported by Adam Dickter that has been defending himself:

Rep. Gary Ackerman is defending his use of the term “pogrom” to describe settler violence against Palestinians late last year...in an interview on Tuesday, a testy Ackerman noted that the word “pogrom” was first applied to the settler incident by Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert...

...Morton Klein, president of the ZOA, said...“It was shocking that Gary Ackerman would inaccurately use a term like pogrom, which enables Israel’s enemies now to use that term. A pogrom is a state-sponsored massacre. This wasn’t state-sponsored and it wasn’t a massacre.”

Abraham Foxman of the Anti-Defamation League said..."it’s another for an American congressman in the context of discussing a geopolitical issue about bringing peace to use that terminology and make that comparison.”

Well, Mr. Ackerman represents my Congressional district, the 5th, and I would think that the Honorable Representative is speaking bovine feces.

First of all, does a US Congressman have to parrot every inanity and an untruth an Israeli politician makes? The shooter was never prosecuted as hius actions were indeed viewed as defensive, responding to a real threat. Yes, there were defacings of Arab property and stone-throwing by Jews, just as Arabs were violent that week in Hebron and I condemned their actions (here, too).

But has he signed on the request that the $900 billion-plus windfall that Hillary Clinton is awarding Abbas be scrutinized for terror-links? (There was a similar initiative last year). According to this he hasn't, as yet, if at all.

That would be an honorable deed or is Gary a Democrat that is afraid of upsetting his party?

And remember, there's always Liz Berney as a preferred candidate.


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UPDATE

Did you know there's a new slang word: dejabrew?

Much like deja vu, the term dejabrew is when you start to remember things you did last night while drinking an excessive amount of beer.

Hmmm. Is Gary Ackerman a dejajew?

Dr. Gary and Mr. Ackerman - My Congressman

Gary Ackerman One January 9, 2009:

...Countries have a right to defend themselves.

...A country that was founded to protect the lives of Jews from destruction and annihilation after World War II, held its calm, held itself together until the missiles started falling. Fifty a day, eighty a day, one hundred a day and they warned the Palestinians they would strike back. And they have, as is their right, as is their responsibility to their citizens.

We are all upset at the loss of innocent lives in this altercation and any altercation. But you know, it reminds me of my two boys when they were growing up. They’d been in a little tussle and I would separate them. I said ‘who started this?’ And Ari would say ‘Corey hit me back first.’

If you don’t want to be hit back, don’t hit. That is the message. Israel has the right to defend itself and we stand with Israel as it exercises that right to live in peace with its neighbors.”

Gary Ackemran Two, February 11, 2009:

Settler "pogroms," settlement building and Israeli intransigence are joined with Palestinian terrorism in a "downward spiral," a top U.S. Jewish congressman said.

Rep. Gary Ackerman (D-N.Y.), chairman of the House of Representatives Middle East subcommittee, made clear in a subcommittee hearing Thursday that he was not trying to draw a moral equivalence between Israeli hard-liners and Palestinian terrorists, "but they are all part of the same destructive dynamic."

In his opening statement, Ackerman described "downward pressure" that "comes from terrorism and the march of settlements. It comes from the firing of rockets and the perpetration of settler pogroms. It comes in daily images of destruction and the constant reiteration that 'they only understand the language of force.' "

The "settler pogroms" apparently are a reference to attacks by Hebron settlers on Arabs in December after Israel evacuated settlers from a building.

Ackerman went on to say, "It comes from tunnels in Gaza and, yes, from digging in Jerusalem as well."

And to think, he's my congressman.


His Press Contact info:

Jordan Goldes Phone (718) 423-2154; Fax (718) 423-5591

His offices:

Washington, DC
2243 Rayburn House Office Building
House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-2601
Fax: (202) 225-1589

Bayside Office
218-14 Northern Boulevard
Bayside, NY 11361
Phone: (718) 423-2154
Fax: (718) 423-5053


The possible answer:

Committee to Elect Liz Berney P.O. Box 222010, Great Neck, New York 11022, lizberneyforcongress@gmail.com