The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Perdue team cites error in ad, but Democrats call it anti-Semitism
A digital ad for Republican U.S. Sen. David Perdue’s reelection campaign sparked accusations of anti-Semitism by Democrats because it enlarged the nose of challenger Jon Ossoff.
Perdue’s aides called it an “unintentional error” by an outside vendor, but Ossoff, who is Jewish, and other Democrats were having none of it.
“This is the oldest, most obvious, least original anti-Semitic trope in history,” Ossoff said. “Senator, literally no one believes your excuses.”
Perdue spokeswoman Casey Black said the accident was created in the graphic design process, when an outside vendor resized a photo of Ossoff and then used a filter.
She said the ad was taken down to ensure “no confusion” and added that Perdue had not seen it.
Perdue’s team also pointed to the senator’s record, saying he had supported a resolution that condemns anti-Semitism, backed pro-Israel and Jewish causes, and co-sponsored legislation that sought to toughen penalties on offenders in crimes motivated by religious or racial bias.
“Anybody who implies that this was anything other than an inadvertent error is intentionally misrepresenting Sen. Perdue’s strong and consistent record of standing firmly against anti-Semitism and all forms of hate,” Black said.
State Sen. Nikema Williams, who heads the Democratic Party of Georgia, called on Perdue to apologize to Ossoff, fire the vendors involved and “take responsibility for injecting these kinds of hateful stereotypes into this election.”