Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Wasserman Schultz: Congressman Jordan should apologize for tweet
U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz is demanding an apology from one of her Republican colleagues for using “derogatory, anti-Semitic sterotypes” on Twitter.
Wasserman Schultz, a Broward/Miami-Dade County Democrat, is calling out U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, who is one of President Donald Trump’s most prominent supporters.
On Sunday, Jordan tweeted a response to a news account that U.S. Rep. Jerry Nadler, DN.Y., chairman of the Judiciary Committee planned to issue extensive document requests as part of its investigation into Trump.
Jordan scoffed at Nadler’s move, writing in part that “Nadler feeling the heat big time. Jumps to Tom $teyer’s conclusion — impeaching our President — before first document request.”
Steyer, whose father was Jewish, is a prominent Trump critic. The billionaire investor has spent heavily on an advertising and political organizing campaign calling for Trump’s impeachment.
Using the dollar sign in Steyer’s name is seen as anti-Semitic by many, including Wasserman Schultz, the first Jewish woman elected to Congress from Florida.
“The use of derogatory, anti-Semitic stereotypes has no place in our Congress or our country @Jim_Jordan. This is harmful, offensive and requires an apology!” Wasserman Schultz wrote Monday night on Twitter.
Nadler, who is Jewish, said Jordan’s tweet “counts both as inane AND anti-Semitic.”
Leah Greenberg, co-executive director of the liberal political organization Indivisible, said on Twitter that use of the dollar sign as part of Steyer’s name is a “massive anti-Semitic dog whistle.”
CNBC reported that Jordan’s spokesman emailed a statement noting that Steyer is a billionaire pushing impeachment. “As you may know, the $ symbol represents dollars, of which Mr. Steyer has approximately 1.6 billion and has committed eight figures to fund far left-wing causes.”
Democrats in the House recently condemned remarks from U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., that have been critical of Israel or anti-Semitic. They plan to consider a resolution on Wednesday in response to Omar’s latest comments, in which she suggested supporters of Israel are pushing “allegiance to a foreign country.”
Jordan is a founder of the conservative House Freedom Caucus.
He is embroiled in home state controversy over accusations he did nothing about allegations of sexual abuse by a team doctor when he was a wrestling coach at Ohio State University. Jordan has denied knowing about the abuse.
Jordan is notable for his appearances on cable TV and in House committees because he rarely, if ever, wears a jacket.
His performance at last week’s House Oversight Committee hearing with former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen was extensively parodied on Saturday Night Live. The same SNL skit also poked fun at Wasserman Schultz. She is a former chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee and an outspoken Trump critic.