The Washington Times and Anti-Semitism

I could not ignore this story. Other blogs were reporting on it.

The Washington Times has apologized for running an anti-Semitic advertisement last month. The newspaper, however, has not yet printed an apology in its pages.

In a letter to the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington, Times vice president and general manager Richard Amberg Jr. said he was sorry "both personally and on behalf of The Washington Times" for the "offensive ad that appeared on Jan. 20.[...]

"We have procedures and policies in place that should have -- and I stress should have -- prevented such ads from ever being published in The Washington Times," wrote Amberg in the letter.

The paper, he said, "never knowingly" allows ads that are "false, denigrate religions, or commit a variety of other infractions." He said all questionable ads are supposed to be seen by him, as well as the advertising director, "but neither occurred."

The paper has "strengthened our policy as a result of this lapse ... and there will be suspensions and, if necessary, termination for any violation," Amberg said.

"I doubt there is any major newspaper in the United States that is more favorable to religious brotherhood and more opposed to the attacks on Israel (and thinly disguised attacks on Jews) than The Washington Times in its news and editorial columns," wrote Amberg.

He said that advertising is "part of the legitimate debate that a democratic society can and should have," but "we, of all newspapers, are conscious of what bigotry means and brings, and while we want minority voices to be heard, we do not want the hateful voices of the sort that occurred in the ad of Jan. 20."

JCRC executive director Ron Halber said he hoped the paper would acknowledge the mistake to its readers, but said that the Times deserves "high public praise from the Jewish community" for its quick response when the JCRC brought the matter to its attention and the paper's actions to prevent such ads from being printed in the future.

This is the same group that is owned by Moonie. If you didn't follow the story this summer, than you have not been reading anything by John Gorenfeld. Gorenfeld is linked by Ron as well. Plus, Moon funneled over $200,000 to the inauguration.

Dean Wormer has died at the age of 72. John Vernon, no matter how many villains he portrayed will be missed. I still think that National Lampoon's Van Wilder should have been called National Lampoon's Van Stratton since Tim Matheson (Eric "Otter Stratton) was in it as the father, Vance Wilder, Sr.

Vernon appeared in a DVD edition of Animal House as part of a satiric update on the characters. Wormer was portrayed as a curmudgeonly old man in a wheelchair.