(Jewish Group) Trenton councilwoman calls "Jew down" a verb, says it referred to 'negotiating and no

[Behind the Aegis]

Trenton councilwoman calls “Jew down” a verb, says it referred to ‘negotiating and not hate

Trenton City Councilwoman Robin Vaughn is defending a colleague’s “Jew her down” comment, calling “Jew down” a verb and suggesting that the term isn’t “anti-anything.”

“We really need to get a more acute meaning and understanding of ‘anti-Semitic.’ I believe her comment ‘Jew down’ was more in reference to negotiating, not ‘I hate Jews,’” Vaughn said. “Inappropriate in today’s PC culture absolutely, but to Jew someone down is a verb and is not anti-anything or indicative of hating Jewish people.”

Vaughn said she didn’t recall Council President Kathy McBride saying during a closed-door discussion of the settlement of a lawsuit filed by resident Vivian Soto that Assistant City Attorney Peter Cohen “able to wait her out and Jew her down” to settle the case at a lower amount during an executive session of the City Council on September 5.

But Vaughn appears to contradict her own statement, saying that McBride was not talking about a specific person but rather discussing the “settlement of a low-dollar amount.”

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WOW! These assholes are really showing their true faces! It is "just a verb"?! There is an excuse I have never heard before. It is BEYOND disgusting to watch these defenses of anti-Semitism.

[madaboutharry]

1. That phrase is among the worst anti-Semitic tropes.

It slanders the Jewish people as being cheap and devious. It connects back up to the whole "money lender/Jewish money" stereotype.

I am sick of it too.

[Cousin Dupree]

2. If you don't identify your anti-Semitism for what it is, you get a pass. This is basically what

she’s saying. Unbelievable how these people think and how they rationalize their behavior.

[Mosby]

3. Unreal.

People are defending bigotry, what's next?

[Behind the Aegis]

4. What's next? Claim RACISM!

Official who called ‘Jew her down’ a verb says Black women held to double standard

Trenton City Councilwoman Robin Vaughn, who said over the weekend that “Jew her down” was just a verb, is doubling down on her support of embattled Council President Kathy McBride.

“My Fellow Americans, a must read article in the Times of Israel,” Vaughan said in a post on her Facebook page. “Yet again, there appears to be a double standard in America when a white woman says an anti-Semitic comment she is allowed to apologize, it is accepted, no one required her to resign and everyone moves on. Why not the same forgiveness afforded to Council President Kathy McBride, who is Black?”

---snip---

She (McBride) has not apologized for her comment, despite criticism from local and state political leaders, including U.S. Senators Bob Menendez and Cory Booker.

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[MyMission]

5. I'm about to use offensive language to draw a comparison!

The first time I heard the term (verb?) nigger-rigged I was confused, didn't understand, then I was appalled when it was explained. And I've been appalled any time I've heard it since, which has not been often.

And that first time, over 30 years ago, I hadn't realized until then that the person who said it was a racist. I called her out! Told her that makeshift is a term to use, or just rigged. And the term she used was very offensive, inappropriate, told her not to say it in my presence and strongly suggested she not use it again. She didn't understand what was wrong with the expression, showing her true face!

I have black friends with whom I've discussed racist and anti-Semitic expressions, how they become part of speech without folks realizing how they came about, or how offensive they are. We agreed that dialogue is needed, in order to educate or inform others when they use words that are describing people's race or situation/condition and using it as a verb, adjective, or other parts of speech. They've pointed out that the word black is regularly used to describe bad, bleak, (or dark) forces. Since then I've been careful not to use the words black or dark in those ways. If dealing with a cruel person, I will say they have a cold heart, not a black or dark heart. A black mark is now a bad mark, or just a mark against whatever.

I never use the n word, as a firm rule. Felt compelled to mention it here because I wonder how this woman would feel hearing it, used as a verb or in any other way; putting this in terms she can understand.

Really, the best replies when being accused of racist or anti-Semitic or anti-LGBTQ, or insensitive speech will include some of these: "I apologize I didn't realize it was inappropriate, or insensitive. That wasn't my intention. I've never thought about it before. No one ever pointed that out or called me out on this before. I'll make every effort to be conscious of this and considerate in the future. I'm sorry I offended you, I was repeating what I've heard without really thinking about where the term came from. Thank you for telling me how you perceived it. I will remove that expression from my vocabulary."

In other words, we're human, we use language to communicate, we all may use words or expressions without grasping where or how they originated, or how they might be construed. But once we are made aware, we should apologize and make every effort to remove the offensive language from our vocabulary and speech patterns!

IMO, not doing so indicates you harbor bad feelings for the group you've maligned, and are not willing to hear them or change your language choices. Yes, showing your true face!

[Mosby]

6. The term is a racist, degenerate version of jury-rigged

It's a good comparison, only a complete idiot or racist can't see the problem with jewed them down or n-rigged.

[Behind the Aegis]

7. She has "apologized".

First and foremost, I am sincerely sorry. My comments were wrong. Never was it my intention to hurt, disrespect or demean anyone when I described a racial slur or its usage, as a verb. I defended my Council colleague for using the derogatory term, “Jew down”. I do not believe her to hate Jews nor harbor anti-Semitic feelings. Nonetheless, my defense of her behavior was an error of my judgment. My sincere intention is to be the best elected and public official possible. In the risks and requirements of the job, mistakes will be made. This is my request for forgiveness to all of those I may have offended. I respectfully ask that you allow me to continue doing the work to build our capital city, Trenton, New Jersey. Robin M. Vaughn, West Ward Councilwoman, City of Trenton, NJ source