Former Wisconsin governor and Republican presidential hopeful Tommy Thompson told Jewish activists Monday that making money is “part of the Jewish tradition,” and something that he applauded.
Speaking to an audience at the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism in Washington D.C., Thompson said that, “I’m in the private sector and for the first time in my life I’m earning money. You know that’s sort of part of the Jewish tradition and I do not find anything wrong with that.”
Thompson later apologized for the comments that had caused a stir in the audience, saying that he had meant it as a compliment, and had only wanted to highlight the “accomplishments” of the Jewish religion.
“I just want to clarify something because I didn’t [by] any means want to infer or imply anything about Jews and finances and things,” he said.
“What I was referring to, ladies and gentlemen, is the accomplishments of the Jewish religion. You’ve been outstanding business people and I compliment you for that.”
Thompson left public office in 2005, having served four terms as Wisconsin governor and later as President George W. Bush’s Health and Human Services Secretary. He announced his candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination at the start of April.
(Source: Haartez)
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14 Responses
send him an autographed ‘GELT’ cd from Lipa!!
Some stereotypes are not all that bad. There is nothing essentially wrong with earning money. Why make an issue of it? It’s not the same as if he said “Judaism is all about making money” which would be anti-Semitic.
I’m sorry but as bad as it may seem, it is still hilarious
The Town Crier who cares ha kol b’yidey shamaim chutz meyiras shamaim.
A Freudian Slip, A Freudian Slip…
In America money is holy and considered “good.” So Thomson actually thought he was complimenting Jews.
Brisker is correct. However, because of today’s paranoid victim mentality, hypersensitivity and guilt, everyone spends most of their time apologizing, except, of course, for Zionists, who never apologize about anything…..
A few years ago, Rabbi Sholey Klein, one of the original members of the Dallas Kolel, entered a store somewhere in Texas. As he handed the cashier the money, the cashier looked at him as if he were from the moon and said, “Do you mind if I ask you a question?” to which Rabbi Klein politely respoded, “OF course.”
The cashier: “Was that difficult for you?”
Rabbi Klein: “Was what difficult for me?”
The cashier: “To pay!”
Rabbi Klein, hesitantly: “No. Why do you ask?”
The cashier:”Well, I heard that it is hard for Jews to part with thier money!!”
(A true story. Rabbi Klein was tryin gto show how xenophobic some people are.)
Nothing wrong with what he said. Beats the peope who think their tachlis on the world is to live off govt money all the time. We have names for those people…. Sharpton and Jackson!
iameckstein its not a Freudian Slip this truely how he thinks but many people dont get it
How could we tell him not everthing is GELT.
iameckstein;
With respect to Rabbi Klein, I would hav answered alittle differently.
I would have told the cashier to do some research and see how muchTZEDAKKAH come out of Jewish pockets!!!
Maybe that would have kept his mouth shut!!!
ps. NOT TO forget that by many non Frum EVEN to non Jewish causes!
Why isn’t Sharpton calling for Thompson’s head. Is this any different then what Imus did?