RJC slams congressman for counting opponent's 'Jewish money'

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release) — Republican Jewish Coalition Executive Director Matthew Brooks on Friday issued a statement in response to Rep. Mike McMahon’s (Democrat-New York) reelection campaign attacking “Jewish money” going to a potential Republican challenger.

“In more than 25 years in politics I have never seen anything more despicable and offensive than this. This raises serious questions about the whole campaign, from the finance and communications teams to Congressman McMahon himself,” said Brooks.

“Congressman McMahon has fired his communications director, but what about the other staff involved? Who asked for that list to be compiled? Who approved that action? Congressman McMahon needs to do more than apologize for ‘inappropriate comments’ – he must be held accountable for actions that his campaign staff took to count Jews supporting his rival,” Brooks said.
 
“It is appalling to see such anti-Jewish stereotypes coming from the campaign of a congressman who describes himself as a mainstream, centrist Democrat,” Brooks added. “I don’t think this is something that should be swept under the rug. Seeing such bigotry from a sitting congressman’s campaign is deeply troubling.”

On Thursday, the reelection campaign of Democratic Rep. Mike McMahon (NY-13) shared with the New York Observer a list of Jewish donors who contributed to Mike Grimm, a potential Republican contender for his seat in November. McMahon’s staff offered a list of over 80 names, labeled “Grimm Jewish Money Q2,” supposedly to show that Grimm’s substantial second-quarter fundraising proceeds came from outside the district.
 
David Freedlander of the New York Observer quotes McMahon campaign spokesman Jennifer Nelson:

“There is a lot of Jewish money, a lot of money from people in Florida and Manhattan, retirees.”

Freedlander also noted: As a point of comparison, the campaign also provided in-district and out-of-district fundraising totals from McMahon and Grimm’s G.O.P primary opponent, Michael Allegretti. However, they did not provide an out-of-district campaign filing from Grimm, but only a file of Jewish donors to him.

Politico.com picked up the story, quoting Grimm’s response:

“This is a United States congressman that’s segregating people out by their religion. I’m outraged. Even an apology isn’t going to make it right,” he added. “This goes to his thought process and his feelings.”
 
Within hours, McMahon fired Nelson and issued an apology for the “inappropriate” and “unfortunate” remarks made by Nelson.

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Precedin provided by Republican Jewish Coalition