Yes, I recognize that.
My question really has to do with the manner in which the author invokes his being "half Jewish." He seems to refer to it the same way he as being "half Cherokee" or "half Chinese." But note that it's also his ticket into synagogues, and Ron Paul's protection against anti-semitism. There's clearly a religious connotation, though it's not really clear if the author actually believes or practices Judaism.
It sounds like "half-Jewish" to him, is more a political lever than anything else.
That's not how I read his comments: "I've been asked by others if my former boss is an Anti-Semite. My answer is an emphatic NO. I am half Jewish. I am familiar with Anti-Semites. Ron is not one of them.
But I would say he's very insensitive to issues concerning Israel and for other concerns of Jewish Americans.
Houston Jews were always suspicious of Ron Paul. But Ron could always point to me as his "Jewish Staffer." He would even send me to Synagogues in the District and to Jewish events.
First, he states that others approached him about Ron Paul's possible beliefs on semitism. Then he clearly states that it was Ron Paul who used his 'Jewishness' in response to such inquiries, including sending him to Synagogues and Jewish events. It doesn't seem to me that his 'Jewishness' was his ticket, per se, but Ron Paul's ticket.
Sorry for the double reply, but I should have added in the first that his statement about being ‘half Jewish’ seems merely intended to buttress to his statement about being ‘familiar with anti-Semites’. He’s simply making it clear his familiarity comes from being half-Jewish himself, and not from some other cause.