I voted no (the word “materially” being noted). Anti-Semitism at all, let alone as a factor influencing the position one takes in regard to this war, is hard to credit being present in men who have sense. Of course, the reverse argument also applies — it’s hard to credit the non-existence of something which is claimed by men of sense to exist. Furthermore, my own smug feeling of assurance in regard to anti-Semitism’s nature and perhaps rarity was shaken recently on this Forum.

Nevertheless, for now I vote no while striving to keep an open mind.

I’m not sure that the Poll will give accurate results.

Clearly some of the anti-war right are anti-Semites. Many are anti-Zionist, which is not the same thing, but there is a logical and real corelation.

While I have yet to run into an anti-Semite who supports the war, I’m sure there are some. Even if there are no anti-semites who support the war, it doesn’t follow that all anti-semites oppose the war because they are anti-Semetic. Clearly many will oppose any action they deem to be pro-Israel. However, other will simply ignore Israel or be anti-War for the many other legitimate reasons.

Ron, the question said, “materially.” There will always be exceptions and fringe wackos — and that’s true of every side in every issue, not just of right-related stuff. The pro-Israel, pro-war side has their fringe-loonies too. Maybe the two balance each other out.

I suppose this question depends on whether anti-simitism means a man who hates Jews; or as Joe Sobran recently wrote, a man who is hated by Jews.

Sobran’s definition has by far become the more common, when anti-semitism is refered to by most columnists as the reason for opposing the war in the middle east. It of course isn’t expressed this way. But being opposed to Isreal will generally get anyone called an anti-semite, no matter what the true reason for the oppostition.

So given that Israel wants war in the middle east as evidenced by Sharon’s actions, and the neocon war mongering and vilifying of all who oppose Israel as anti-semite, and also given the latter more accurate Sobran definition, I must conclude Yes, anti-semitism is always a reason for opposing war in the middle east. Simply by definition.

I just read my post above and noticed, as I’m sure you just did, a number of spelling errors etc.. Is there a way to edit my post?

Looking in on the vote from time to time, to watch how it is going, I must say the consistently high percentage of yes votes has been amazing to me. I would’ve predicted somewhere around ten percent of yes votes OR FEWER! On the other hand, Jewish-Americans, who I tend very much to feel overdo the worrying on the question of anti-Semitism, probably can’t be said to have generally succeeded in society to the extent they have by a strategy of needlessly wasting lots of time and energy worrying about pure fantasy they don’t need to worry about. Maybe there’s something to this stuff. Once, I was driving home from the office listening to the Tom Likis (spelling?) show, a show catering to the same demographic as, say, Penthouse Magazine, or MTV at its obnoxious worst, and for the same reasons (mindless sexual hedonism — though this is not to criticize Likis, whom I like in many ways). This is a demographic who, in Likis’ words, “doesn’t give a rat’s ass about politics or who wins or loses elections.” On the show that evening, something had taken place — I don’t recall what — which made callers comment on the candidacy of Gore-Lieberman, and it was amazing, given the audience demographic of the show (low-IQ under-25s who if anything prefer politicians who are liberal and hate any traditional restraints on sexual behavior — in other words, THE LAST demographic you would expect to be anti-Semites) — given the audience demographic, it was amazing how many callers phoned in to say they wouldn’t vote for the ticket because there was a Jew on it, and/or wouldn’t ever vote for a Jew for president or vice-president. It wasn’t anything near a majority, to be sure — but it startled me to hear it at all from such an audience, the kind of mindless people, for example, who would NEVER, EVER read an internet political web-site of any orientation whatsoever. I said to myself there was something out there I wasn’t aware of and it definitely wasn’t coming from intellectuals or any sort of politically-savvy people.