RIP Tom Lantos

6Comments

1. 1.

   Wilfred

   February 11, 2008 at 12:49 pm

   His entire political career was oriented and determined by his experience as a Holocaust survivor, resulting in tireless devotion to what, in my opinion, were the worst aspects of the state of Israel. He was no friend to the Arabs, and thought nothing of receiving gushing testimonials from his peers on the same day that Palestinian children returned to school in Gaza without light, heat or even the necessary school materials, all results of the Israeli policy of collective punishment for the occupied territories, which he supported wholeheartedly to his last breath.
   One of his last official acts was to browbeat a Dutch delegation that had condemned Gitmo with Holocaust guilt, stifling any debate on the repressive policies that he had come to represent by accusing the delegation of forgetting their debt to America in the time of the Nazis. He was a tireless supporter of the worst excesses of the Bush Administration – everything from the AUMF, which he co-sponsored, to FISA abuses and the routine detention of anyone the government feels like detaining, as long as they were Arab.

2. 2.

   maxbaer (not the original)

   February 11, 2008 at 3:25 pm

   Can’t think of anything nice to say so…

3. 3.

   bernarda

   February 11, 2008 at 5:33 pm

   I would like to have sympathy for this zionist, but I don’t.

   “Holocaust survivor” and then? What does that have to do with anything? It doesn’t give him anymore intelligence or moral value than anyone else.

   Apparently he supported Israeli terrorism 100%.

   I for one will not miss him. He helped send tens of billions of taxpayer dollars to Israel.

   With a bit of chance he will be replaced by someone who prefers America. From the 2004 campaign,

   “But the greatest threat to Lantos’ hold on his seat is not Abu-Ghazalah, but Ro Khanna, an Indian-American.

   Khanna is a 27-year-old newcomer to politics, whose youth and opposition to the war in Iraq align with the results of polls showing that 12th District voters — meaning those not only in San Mateo, but in parts of San Francisco — overwhelmingly opposed the war in Iraq and the Patriot Act, while the 76-year-old Lantos voted in favor of both.

   Khanna’s Jewish endorsements include Rabbi Pam Frydman Baugh, spiritual leader of Or Shalom Jewish Community.

   “Ro Khanna opposes the Patriot Act and Bush’s policy on preventative war, and I believe these are the majority views in our district,” said Baugh. “He also seems to take a measured and nuanced approach to the Middle East, which is supportive of Israel, but also sensitive to the plight of the Palestinians.”

   Khanna attended several Jewish-Palestinian dialogue group meetings in San Mateo to help shape his Mideast policy. He has also met with AIPAC staffers.

   But just as Khanna has earned the support of some of the more grassroots organizations, Lantos — a Hungarian-born Holocaust survivor — has the endorsements of most of the Democratic establishment, including the California Democratic Party. The Jewish establishment is also firmly behind Lantos, as he has the support of the Raoul Wallenberg Jewish Democratic Club.”

   http://www.jewishsf.com/content/2-0-/module/displaystory/story_id/21651/edition_id/440/format/html/displaystory.html

4. 4.

   The Moar You Know

   February 11, 2008 at 5:44 pm

   Everybody on this thread: Wow. Fuck you all with a chainsaw.

   Now, as to the real reason I clicked on the story; just wanted to say Tom, you will be missed. Saw your work when I lived up in the Bay Area and you always did a good job for your constituents and for the area. Nice work. Sorry to see you go.

5. 5.

   Birdzilla

   February 11, 2008 at 8:43 pm

   HE,S DEAD JIM

6. 6.

   anon

   February 12, 2008 at 1:41 am

   “Saw your work when I lived up in the Bay Area and you always did a good job for your constituents and for area Likud Party headquarters.”

   Fixed.