Hastings' Inflammatory Remarks

RJC:

Hastings says Palin doesn't care about Jews and blacks.
Cohen calls Jesus a Democrat.

Washington, D.C. (September 25, 2008) -- Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) Executive Director Matt Brooks responded today to comments made yesterday by Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-FL) and Rep. Steven Cohen (D-TN):

CNN reported yesterday that Rep. Hastings, speaking to the National Jewish Democratic Council (NJDC), said, "Anybody toting guns and stripping moose don't care too much about what they do with Jews and blacks." Addressing the same panel, Rep. Cohen called Jesus "a great Democrat."

"Representative Hastings stooped to the worst kind of divisive politics yesterday. Hastings' unconscionable remarks do nothing but sow seeds of fear and divide people," said Brooks. "There should be no place in our country for this sort of political discourse. We can constructively disagree on the issues without denigrating others. As for the comments made by Rep. Cohen, I do not believe the NJDC would have been as permissive if it had been a Republican calling Jesus 'a great Republican.' This sort of rhetoric is inappropriate, offensive and should be repudiated."

CNN story here.