[Update at end of post]
Thus far the Murdoch press has not gained much, if any, traction with its attempts to intervene in the Labour leadership contest. But that has not left Rupe’s troops downhearted, especially after their pundit, (thankfully) former Tory MP Louise Mensch, expended so much energy in recent days trying to stand up her claim that veteran left-winger Jeremy Corbyn was anti-Semitic.
The Murdoch Empire is officially scared of this man
At the allegedly upmarket Sunday Times, it has been decided that Ms Mensch’s supposition is something that they would very much like to stand up, and to this end one of their hacks has been tasked with doing just that. His name is Josh Boswell, and he has been beavering away with apparently little effect, except to let the world know that tomorrow’s edition of the ST will run an anti-Semitism smear on Corbyn.
Boswell approached David Carter to ask “Hi David, I'm a reporter from Sunday Times, looking to include you in an article about Jeremy Corbyn this weekend. Can I DM you?” Carter, whose Twitter bio states “Routinely block Zionist pro-Israelis”, has made such radical statements as “What do I know about Jeremy Corbyn? Unlike past leaders in Britain he will never send young men to die in pointless wars for other countries”.
Meanwhile, Boswell had approached comedy writer and performer Rober Webb to ask “Hi, Sunday Times reporter, can I speak to you/your agent about Corbyn? What's best contact details?”. By now, word was getting round about his apparent intentions, with Kieran Morris Tweeting “Looking at who else he's approached, @JoshTBoswell seems to be deliberately pursuing anti-Semites sympathetic to Corbyn”.
Or perhaps that should be people who he could portray as anti-Semites, something Joel Rayner had sussed: “Times Reporter @JoshTBoswell is doing the rounds for a Corbyn article trying to find anyone that can link him to antisemitism. Steer clear”. Adnan Sadiq was not even slightly impressed: “The Sunday Times and its gutter attempt to discredit #Corbyn. Nice work @JoshTBoswell”.
As one Tweeter called Owais put it, “So @JoshTBoswell are you deliberately being dumb or do you have comprehension issues … How is it anti-Semitic if a tweep says, 'for once a UK political leader won't be in israel's pocket’?!” Quite. And the questions kept on coming.
So did the adverse comment: “@JoshTBoswell your gutter tactics are a lame effort in trying to discredit @jeremycorbyn supporters as Anti-Semitic. Shoddy journalism” declared one Tweeter, while another noted simply “.@JoshTBoswell I presume therefore that you're reporting those 'anti semitic' tweets you have found to police? No? Oh…”.
The problem for Boswell and his bosses is that his deadline was earlier today: the time of 1000 hours was mentioned. So he’s already committed his copy, but with the problem hanging over him - and them - that he’s been found out several hours early. Worse, this is yet another example of a former paper of record having its reputation used as cover for an article whose headline, and direction, have been decided before it has been written.
Once upon a time, the Sunday Times did serious journalism. Not any more, eh Rupe?
[UPDATE 16 August 1910 hours: the print article, of which Boswell is cited on the by-line as co-author, is titled "Kendall and Cooper rise above trolls' 'frenzied bullying'". It features no interviews, or directly relevant comment, from either of the candidates mentioned.
All that has been done is some trawling of Twitter, with the sole intention of smearing Jeremy Corbyn by association. The idea that he can command the public at large to either stop supporting him, or behave in a particular manner, is risible. But that's the downhill slide of a former paper of record into doing something that bloggers and online news sources do for free.
If the Murdoch empire wants to justify charging for its product, it should make sure that product is worth paying for. On this evidence, it isn't]
"Unlike past leaders in Britain he will never send young men to die in pointless wars for other countries”.
ReplyDeleteDavid 1 Josh 0.
How is it anti-Semitic if a tweep says, 'for once a UK political leader won't be in israel's pocket’?!” Quite. And the questions kept on coming.
ReplyDeleteI'll answer this one for you. It is an anti-Semitic trope to assert that one of the ways Jews (in this case Israel, as the Jewish state, is a proxy for Jews) control the world is by influencing heads of state.
You can read up on it here.
http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/International_Jewish_conspiracy
Does that mean that concern about the Israel lobby is also antisemitic?
ReplyDeleteDoes that also mean that concern about the influence of Saudi lobbying is Islamophobic?
Is it anti-American to raise concern about the influence of the White House?
Is concern over Brussels power somehow Euro-phobic?
Does that mean that concern about the Israel lobby is also antisemitic?]
ReplyDeleteDoes that also mean that concern about the influence of Saudi lobbying is Islamophobic?
Is it anti-American to raise concern about the influence of the White House?
Is concern over Brussels power somehow Euro-phobic?
The tweet does not state a concern about lobbying, it explicitly says UK leaders are in the pocket of, ie controlled by, Israel, ie Jews.
If the intent was to criticise Israeli lobbying (note also that Netanyahu's Israel has a vastly diminished influence on the global stage these days, his wishes are mostly ignored, whether on Iran or rights for Palestinians - Obama has hinted he will allow a vote of Palestinian statehood to go ahead at the UN), then it was profoundly unwise to choose a form that so neatly fits into the trope of the International Jewish Conspiracy.
ReplyDeleteWhile I am sure that the Tory Press and Murdoch are more than happy to smear the Labour Pary as harboring an anti-Semite in their midst for 35 years, I am astounded that the Labour Centre is prepared to help them with this lie in order to put their man or woman forward as leader.
I mean, it doesn't matter a Labour MP of 35 years, the Father of the House and a scrupulously honest hard-working member who has dedicated his life to the party and his constituency is branded as a racist, does it? As long as your preferred candidate gets in. Right?
Anybody who claims the state of Israel represents ALL Jews is a fool. It represents nothing but a gang of establishment crazies with illegal expansionist and warmongering objectives.They're every bit as crackpot as Christian or Muslim or Hindu "fundamentalists" (or any other religious nutters). Their own god knows they've got a lot to answer for.
ReplyDeleteJeremy Corbyn is NOT anti-semitic. But he does want justice for the Palestinian people. Which is more than the Murdoch and Dacre boot boys want.
Don't make book on how low the ur-fascist Murdoch-Dacre gang can go. They're so stupid they can't see just how much their smears underpin the long term prospects of a return to relative social justice. If Corbyn becomes Labour Party leader he might lose the next general election. But he has shown that it is still possible to resist far right propaganda and keep your dignity and decency and credibility.
The neocons and their corrupt organisation won't go on forever. It only seems like it. No matter how long it takes, sooner or later they'll lose, and lose definitively. If Corbyn is only a part of that historical process his candidature will have served its purpose.
"It is an anti-Semitic trope to assert that one of the ways Jews (in this case Israel, as the Jewish state, is a proxy for Jews) control the world is by influencing heads of state"
ReplyDeleteSo factual truth about Israel government is anti-semetic?
Anybody that says this isn't true, doesn't follow US OR UK politics. Israel is lobbying hard to get the Iran deal overturned and as demonstrated by Netenyahu's visit to the US recently, he has substantial influence over US politicians more so than their own president in some cases!
And now we have Netenyahu visiting England - just one year after he blew 500 Palestinian babies to bits. Israel has a massive stockpile of nuclear weapons, continues to steal land for more illegal settlements and keeps the people of Gaza in a prison camp. If Israel didn't have such huge influence on British politicians, he wouldn't be allowed in the country and we'd be joining the majority of the world in demanding Israel held to account for their crimes - something that will never happen, mostly because every time the UN tries to do something, US uses their veto.
And NONE of that is anti-jewish, simply truth. The Israel regime is no more representative of the Jewish people than ISIS is of Islam or Tony Blair/David Cameron is of Brits - but they are all murderous, illegal war waging monstors.
I wish people would get this "Jewish Lobby in the USA" stuff in its proper perspective.
ReplyDeleteAnti-semitism is as odious and "strong" as it is anywhere else in the world. It always has been. It not only ensures Jews have no controlling influence, it ensures there's not even a prospect of it. It has the same kind of US roots as racism. It's built into their "culture."
According to https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/jewpop.html Jews represent a mere 1.8% of the US population. Given that statistic and the established anti-semitism it's absurd to think there is Jewish dictation of US policy.
Israel has exactly the amount of influence the US WASP establishment gives it, no more no less. Which is to say virtually none. US support has much wider geopolitical intent, principally divide et impera in the Middle East.
Oh sure, there are far right Jews who think they can force an issue. But they're kidding themselves. If the overall balance swung in the Arabian Peninsula Israel would be sacrificed tomorrow. That's why nutters like Netanyahu are nothing but puppet tin drummers. There are too US Christian loonies who are dopey enough to believe the religious crackpottery.
Hardly any of it has anything to do with religion or democracy. It has to do with geopolitical power and US/European exercise of it. Israel is merely a convenient fulcrum.
“So @JoshTBoswell are you deliberately being dumb or do you have comprehension issues … How is it anti-Semitic if a tweep says, 'for once a UK political leader won't be in israel's pocket’?!”
ReplyDeleteYeah because that isn't remotely anti-semitic at all is it Tim?