Bernie Sanders, the US senator from Vermont and Democratic candidate for the 2020 presidential nomination, has attempted to fully embrace his Jewish background in a recent campaign video, which highlights his bid to become “the first Jewish president” in the history of the US.
I'm very proud to be Jewish and I look forward to becoming the first Jewish president in the history of this country. pic.twitter.com/UOPvEomHNE
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) February 17, 2020
The video, which opens with remarks by Jewish climate change activist Jamie Margolin, features several photos from the Holocaust, visuals from news reports on recent incidents of anti-Semitic violence in the US, as well as footage from the nationalist march in Charlottesville, all while being accompanied by Trump’s taken-out-of-context comments.
Margolin herself asserted that it was “definitely a difficult time to be Jewish right now considering the Trump administration’s anti-Semitism”. The activist also recalled the “Jews will not replace us” chants from the 2017 Charlottesville’s nationalist rally, while asserting that “having a Jew literally replace them … would be so satisfying”, potentially referring to Sanders’ presidential bid.
However, her opinion was not fully endorsed by some on social media, who rushed to point out that Sanders was not the only contender for the Democratic party nomination with a Jewish background. Some also slammed the Vermont senator for getting campaign help from Ilhan Omar, a Democratic congresswoman from Minnesota who has been accused of inciting anti-Semitism in the past with her strong and not always careful remarks.
Yeah I'm surprised you have @IlhanMN helping you campaign. Not sure you remember, I mean I know you're getting senile, but she has been known to say some antisemitic things from time to time.
— Kash Jackson (@KashJackson2018) February 17, 2020
The guy with the biggest coalition of Anti semites in his staff, conveniently using his jewesness suddenly to pander for a vote
— leste (@onlymalarkey) February 17, 2020
We need a Jewish President very badly...
— anondaytrader2019 (@anondaytrader21) February 17, 2020
....Mike Bloomberg!!!!!!!
I am proud of my Jewish heritage as well @BernieSanders but you won't be President.
— Sean Antrim (@sean_antrim) February 17, 2020
Many also disagreed with the senator’s bold claim that since Trump took office, the US and the world has been witnessing “the rise of anti-Semitism”.
This attack on Trump administration was especially surprising considering the US president’s recent efforts to bring peace to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict with his long-awaited “the Deal of the Century” masterminded by his son-in-law Jared Kushner, a plan which many see as being openly biased towards the state of Israel.
No president has done more for the Jews than president Trump!
— Swather (Text Trump To 88022) (@DebiDkruse) February 17, 2020
Donald Trump is the most Pro-Israel, Pro-Jewish National Leader in the history of the World, including actual Leaders of Israel. @realDonaldTrump #Israel
— stealtheagle (@EagleFire77) February 17, 2020
Bernie Sanders has recently emerged as one of the leaders in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination, gaining 26 percent of the vote of in the New Hampshire Democratic primary, narrowly beating out Pete Buttigieg, the former South Bend mayor and the winner of the Iowa caucuses .
