Michigan State Rep. Callahan a “Disgrace to Public Office”
Listed in: Other Domestic Policy, NJDC News, Press Releases
Washington, DC: According to the Associated Press and other media reports, Michigan State Representative William Callahan - the opponent to incumbent Representative Sander Levin in Michigan's 12th district Democratic primary - asserted on Monday that Rep. Levin should not continue representing Michigan's 12th district in part because he is Jewish. According to the Associated Press, Callahan said, "I mean, that man has never owned a Christmas tree. He's not a Christian. And I'm thinking, 'Jeez, how can he represent me then?'" Callahan further commented in today's Detroit Free Press that his comments were "grossly out of context," yet he went on to note, "I am a Catholic who is pro-life and of Irish, Polish and German descent.... He is very much pro-choice and Hebrew. Enough said."
"State Rep. Callahan's assertion that he can only be properly represented by a Christian member of Congress is reminiscent of the most vile anti-Semitic canards, and he is a disgrace to public office," said National Jewish Democratic Council Executive Director Ira N. Forman. "Divisive and exclusionary statements like Rep. Callahan's are thankfully rare in American politics, and for good reason: such sentiments are reprehensible, and they have no place in our nation's political discourse. One of the surest signs of success of our democratic system of government is that Americans are well-represented in Congress by Jew and Christian alike, white and African-American alike - often regardless of the demographic make-up of a given congressional district.
"Rep. Callahan is rightly being excoriated from many directions, and the Macomb County Democratic Party should be praised for quickly and forcefully condemning him. County party chairman Ed Bruley had it exactly right when he noted that there is no room in our party for such sentiments."
