Dems cry oy at Armey's Jewish gibe

New York Daily News ^ | 9/25/02 | Helen Kennedy

[areafiftyone]

WASHINGTON - Democrats lashed out yesterday at House Majority Leader Dick Armey (R-Tex.) for saying he splits the Jewish community into those with "deeper intellect" and those with "shallow, superficial intellect."

The Republican leader was speaking to Jewish leaders in Florida on Friday when he differentiated between smart Jews - conservatives - and dumb ones - liberals.

"I always see two Jewish communities in America," Armey said. "One of deep intellect and one of shallow, superficial intellect."

He said Republicans tend to have "occupations of the brain" such as economics and engineering, while Democrats flock to "occupations of the heart," such as the arts.

"They're going to be liberals," he said, "because they want to feel good."

Rep. Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.) and Texas Rep. Martin Frost, chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, issued a statement calling Armey's comments divisive and "absolutely breathtaking in their ignorance."

Armey - who once referred to gay Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) as "Barney Fag" - brushed off their complaints, saying he was trashing all liberals, not just Jewish ones.

"Liberals are, in my estimation, just not bright people," he said. "They don't think deeply. They don't comprehend. They don't understand. They have a narrow educational base, as opposed to the hard scientists."

Armey also said none of the Jewish leaders he addressed at the event for GOP congressional candidate Katherine Harris were offended. But Allan Fedder, president of the Sarasota-Manatee Jewish Federation, told the Bradenton (Fla.) Herald he was shocked.

[AirmanAlaska]

Every once in awhile you get one of those articles that's just plain fun... Go Armey. (pun intended)

[buzzyboop]

....splits the _________ community into those with "deeper intellect" and those with "shallow, superficial intellect."

Fill in the blank with any group, and the statement's still true. What's to offend????

[fuzzthatwuz]

"Rep. Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.) and Texas Rep. Martin Frost, chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, issued a statement calling Armey's comments divisive and "absolutely breathtaking in their ignorance."

Well guys, how do you and the Democratic Caucus feel about Hillary's ignorant and racial reference to those FJB's?

[hapsgroupie]

I believe there are two types of people in the world: those who use their brains, and those who don't.

This philosphy goes for blacks, whites, Jews, Christians, Muslims, Asians, etc. etc.

[areafiftyone]

I agree.

[Dog Gone]

There are stupid Jews? What a shock.

[P7M13]

for shame! You know she can't defend herself.....LOL

t

[SpinyNorman]

Rep. Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.) and Texas Rep. Martin Frost, chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, issued a statement calling Armey's comments divisive and "absolutely breathtaking in their ignorance."

What is she complaining about? The same could be accurately said of the Congress!

[BrooklynGOP]

Unfortunately I know many.

[Dog Gone]

Yeah, that was too easy.

[LouD]

"Liberals are, in my estimation, just not bright people," he said. "They don't think deeply. They don't comprehend. They don't understand."

I couldn't have said it better myself.

[Marysecretary]

Don't you just love it when liberals are "shocked!" Go ahead, baby, MAKE MY DAY! Good for Armey. GO, MAN, GO!

[Stingray51]

This is terrible. I don't see how anyone could say such a thing. </sarcasm>

[rellimpank]

--it's a corollary of my opinion that the Democraps are the party of the stupid and ignorant, led by criminals, thieves and traitors, who take advantage of that stupidity and ignorance--

[Kenton]

"I always see two Jewish communities in America," Armey said. "One of deep intellect and one of shallow, superficial intellect."

I guess the group he was addressing considered themselves to belong to the former, not the latter group. I wonder if he made it clear that the "shallow, superficial intellect" Jews consisted mostly of people living in Hollywood and Dade County, Florida?

[x]

This is the sort of thing Armey should have left to Rush Limbaugh, who'd do it with a lot more class. Is it true? In a way it is, but there are a lot of generalizations that have truth in them, but that are off-limits to politicians. Arguing about who has more "brains" and who has more "heart" is fine for true believers, but it distracts from the real issues of the day. Tearing into who thinks more, who cries more, who drinks more, who earns more is fine for anthropologists and collectors of ethnic and political jokes, but it's the sort of thing would-be statesmen should avoid. "We're smarter than you are" never worked as a liberal argument, why would it serve conservatives any better?

[Mind-numbed Robot]

"We're smarter than you are" never worked as a liberal argument, why would it serve conservatives any better?

Because it is a common sense, historically accurate and verifiable truth, much as any other Liberal vs. Conservative position.