Durkin's anti-Semitic tropes should disqualify him from public office

Re: “Durkin for DA in Jefferson and Gilpin counties,” Sept. 4 Denver Post endorsement

It is beyond disappointing that The Denver Post nonchalantly overlooked months of Republican Matthew Durkin’s race- baiting rhetoric in its endorsement of him for District Attorney in the 1st Judicial District. This becomes especially troubling in light of his leadership role in a district attorney’s office that shockingly mishandled a clear- cut hate crime in Jefferson County.

To put it simply, Matthew Durkin is running an unapologetically Trump- style campaign. Durkin’s core campaign strategy is to run against George Soros — repeatedly casting a Jewish philanthropist as a puppet master destabilizing society. Durkin’s best case for his election is to use xenophobia and anti- Semitic tropes to scare citizens into voting for more of the same in a DA’s office that is in desperate need of reform.

None of this is accidental. In campaign emails, videos and online interviews spanning months, Durkin repeatedly returns to this antiSemitic stereotype.

The Post even gently raps Durkin’s knuckles in its endorsement, writing, “We’d encourage him to spend less time on his blog blaming liberals like George Soros… .”

Durkin didn’t listen. On Sept. 16, he sent his most disgusting and blatantly anti- Semitic plea for money yet. Approvingly quoting a disgraced politician ( who went to prison for bribery), Durkin’s latest attack on George Soros talks of the need to “disinfect” urban DA offices. Anyone passingly familiar with anti- Semitism’s long history of dehumanizing the Jewish people as parasites or disease would recognize what Durkin is doing.

In its endorsement, The Post also turns a blind eye to the shameful incompetence in the district attorney’s office with the handling of the Singh case. In a case that gained international attention, a violent and racially- motivated attack on a Sikh small- business owner in Lakewood was originally determined by the DA to not be a hate crime — until public outrage forced a retreat.

The initial refusal to appropriately charge this crime sent a disturbing signal to local religious minorities.

Taken together with Durkin’s disgraceful candidacy, it’s clear that change and reform are deeply needed in that office.

Voters must refuse to elect Matthew Durkin, a candidate who openly traffics in anti- Semitic tropes and stereotypes.