Jane Ann Morrison

Lies, anti-Semitism intrude on special Saturday night caucus

Hearing an anti-Semitic crack at a special evening GOP caucus for conservative and orthodox Jews and Seventh-day Adventists was like a face slap to Monterey Brookman as she stood to advocate for Mitt Romney.

Not everyone heard it Saturday night, but she and I did.

Ron Paul supporter Evan Donoghue, who had earlier been involved in a fracas outside the caucus, said in a loud voice, "Oh, you're the Goldman Sachs representative."

Actually, Brookman, the first Romney speaker, is a longtime advocate for a caucus time when Jewish Republicans like herself could participate without breaking the Saturday Sabbath.

"Goldman Sachs is code for Jew," said Peter Dubowsky, an orthodox Jew attending the feisty event who considered the comment an insult. He interpreted another speaker's negative reference to "New York lawyers" as another code word for Jew.

The caucus speakers spoke in alphabetical order of the candidates. Fewer than 10 advocated for Newt Gingrich. But more than two dozen spoke for Paul, and from their applause it was clear they dominated the 350-seat auditorium.

But to gain entrance, some signed forms saying they were attending that caucus because, for religious reasons, they couldn't attend the 9 a.m. caucuses on their Sabbath.

"The Ron Paul people all lied on an affidavit," Brookman said.

Well, perhaps not all, but clearly most.

The special caucus at the Adelson Educational Campus in Summerlin was not designed as a catchall for anyone who didn't make the morning caucuses, despite robocalls to Paul supporters claiming it was.

It was designed to begin after sunset because on the Sabbath, observant Jews are forbidden to "work," which covers a wide range of activities, including going to a caucus. Seventh-day Adventists also strictly observe the Sabbath, starting at sunset Friday and ending at sunset Saturday.

Rabbi Yitzchak Wyne from Young Israel Synagogue said that as he stood in line, he was asking people he didn't know: "What religion are you?" Some said they were Seventh-day Adventists. Others, likely Ron Paul supporters, said their religion was personal. "They wouldn't tell their religion."

After initially resisting, Clark County Republican officials were smart to just let people in who were willing to sign the affidavit, even while recognizing many were lying. Even though Las Vegas police had been called, organizers didn't want anything escalating.

The final vote gave a skewed view of how many conservative religious people really felt about the presidential candidates. Out of 318 votes, Paul received 183, Romney 61, Gingrich 57 and Rick Santorum 16.

Las Vegas Sands honcho Sheldon Adelson and his wife, Miriam, attended this caucus and left after they voted , but before the final tally. I didn't see their ballots, but after recently giving a political action committee supporting the former House speaker $10 million, presumably they voted for Gingrich .

I asked, Adelson, "Did this turn out as you had hoped?"

"No comment," he replied.

Despite the problems, the conservative and orthodox Jews I interviewed, while distressed by the disrespect of some in the audience, were grateful their religious beliefs were respected enough by the GOP to organize this special caucus, even one hijacked by Paul supporters.

After Brookman was insulted by Donoghue, only two other people spoke for Romney, who had been declared the winner of Nevada's GOP caucus even before the 7 p.m. event began, making me question the relevancy of the special caucus.

However, a second-place showing by Paul in Nevada would have boosted his campaign.

As she left, Brookman said, "I wish Dr. Paul, who I know wouldn't support this behavior, would tell his supporters to be respectful."

Any Paul fans who signed forms falsely saying they were precluded from participating in the morning caucus "because of my religious beliefs," demonstrated they're willing to lie to win. Not exactly a political game change.

Jane Ann Morrison's column appears Monday, Thursday and Saturday. Email her at Jane@reviewjournal.com or call her at (702) 383-0275. She also blogs at lvrj.com/blogs/Morrison.

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Comments

Note: Comments made by reporters and editors of the Las Vegas Review-Journal are presented with a yellow background.

1. James.Davis Feb. 12, 2012 | 2:43 p.m. Report Abuse

   Anti-semitism is not very prominent in the west. I myself grew up in Arizona and Nevada and had never heard the term till I was older. And of course I learned it from a Jewish commentator. Now not to be biased or rude, I did a quick check and searched "synagogue" in Las Vegas. ( Google Maps ) I found 8. In fact except for CA the Jewish Temples seemed scarce. So I feel confident in my opinion that this article is grasping at straws.

2. Mike.Henderson2 Feb. 9, 2012 | 7:22 p.m. Report Abuse

   The headline makes reference to anti-Semitism, but the article doesn't support the headline. What anti-Semitic remarks were made at the caucus? I had heard reports of such, and read the article looking for some substance, but there is none." "Oh, you're the Goldman Sachs representative" is supposed to be anti-Semitic??? Huh??

3. amaimbourg Feb. 8, 2012 | 3:40 p.m. Report Abuse

   Yes, thank you, Sheldon, for allowing the Ron Paul supporters to show Las Vegas who the REAL winner is

4. Moist & Meaty Feb. 7, 2012 | 6:56 a.m. Report Abuse

   Thanks, Sheldon, for your separate but equal caucus.

5. susan.uhland Feb. 6, 2012 | 11:29 p.m. Report Abuse

   The real problem is that the caucus was held at a time that is quite inconvenient time for those of us that must work on Saturday, regardless of their religion. I was unable to attend due to this reason, and I would have loved to vote at the later time. If Ron Paul voters lied to vote that evening then that is the real issue. There should be real consideration given to having more than one time for caucusing. If votes for one group can be counted later, then votes for others should be considered as well. Plus,more times to caucus would increase participation as well.

6. Redleg Feb. 6, 2012 | 10:46 p.m. Report Abuse

   Reference: Jane Ann Morrison - Lies, anti-Semitism intrude on special Saturday night caucus
   
   Ms Morrison was certainly ready with her “code” “anti-Semitic” the third word in a somewhat lengthy article. I am curious as to her intent with the supposed “slander code” is she trying to curry favor amongst her Jew friends, relatives, acquaintances and employers?
   
   Too often certain behavior by Jews is responsible for creating anti-Semitism, in an effort to create a situation where the poor(?) Jew is supposedly being mistreated. This labeling is not always the rest of us who are responsible for creating anti-Semitic feelings. In fact, it could prove to be that Jews themselves, today, are the primary agents fostering anti-Semitism. Is it possible?
   
   Ms Morrison goes on to state “Brookman, ... is a longtime advocate for a caucus time when Jewish Republicans like herself could participate without breaking the Saturday Sabbath.” I am curious how the Jewish Republicans/Democrats, who own and operate the casinos and many other businesses in Las Vegas keep from ‘breaking the Saturday Sabbath’ without closing their casinos, hotels, stores, etc.? Does it make them lessor Jews when they are still doing business and requiring their employees to work during the Saturday Sabbath?
   
   I find it interesting that Ron Paul supporters are called ‘liars’ and are accused of other actions that Ms Morrison obviously finds distasteful. However, no one supporting the other three candidates were denigrated as the Paul supporters. Those other three candidates are in fact just more of the same shysters we’ve had in the past. They want to keep us all as slaves down on the plantation.

7. buzz lightyear Feb. 6, 2012 | 8:21 p.m. Report Abuse

   Where can I get a list of these code words? I have been slamming Goldman Sacks for years and had no idea. I am a republican so I am sure that according to Jane Ann anything that comes out of my mouth is a slur. What a dingbat.

8. Moist & Meaty Feb. 6, 2012 | 6:51 p.m. Report Abuse

   We must disenfranchise everyone who is not of the right religion, just like at Adelson's caucus.

9. amaimbourg Feb. 6, 2012 | 5:42 p.m. Report Abuse

   Rancho Girl- "Shame on those who lie" you say? And yet you support Romney?? If you ever compare his debate performances, you will see how he continually lies and flip flops from one debate to the next. If it wasn't so serious, it might be funny.
   
   I would seriously check out this site before you totally decide to commit to Romney, the smooth talker!
   
   http://romneyfacts.com/issue_tax.php

10. amaimbourg Feb. 6, 2012 | 5:36 p.m. Report Abuse

    tom.p --- my sentiments exactly!!!! Voting IS a civic duty and should not be mixed with religion.
    
    And Long Time Las Vegan......Ron Paul supporters are NOT racist anti-semites....nor is Ron Paul, so please don't let this article misinform you on that note :)

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