S.C. GOP Invokes Jewish Stereotype

By Julie Bolcer

Two Republican county chairmen from South Carolina invoked a Jewish stereotype about money management to defend U.S. senator Jim DeMint (pictured) from charges that he had failed to obtain enough federal funding for his state.

State senator Bakari Sellers attacked DeMint in The State, a South Carolina newspaper last week, for his inability to procure federal funds. On Sunday, Bamberg County GOP chairman Edwin Merwin and Orangeburg County GOP chairman James Ulmer fired back, and “resorted to the stereotype of penny-pinching Jews to make their point,” according to CBS News.

"There is a saying that the Jews who are wealthy got that way not by watching dollars, but instead by taking care of the pennies and the dollars taking care of themselves," Ulmer and Merwin wrote in The Times and Democrat. "By not using earmarks to fund projects for South Carolina and instead using actual bills, DeMint is watching our nation's pennies and trying to preserve our country's wealth and our economy's viability to give all an opportunity to succeed."

Ulmer apologized in a statement late Monday, according to CBS News.

“In one of the paragraphs which I wrote,” he said, “I quoted a statement which I have heard many times in my life, truly in admiration for a method of bettering one's lot in life.”

“I meant absolutely nothing derogatory by the reference to a great and honorable people,” he said. “I hope that anyone and all who were offended by my comment will accept my humble apology.”

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Reader Comments

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Name: Larry
Date posted: 10/20/2009 10:41:16 PM
Hometown: Columbus, OH

Comment:
Gee, I wonder if they had said "There is a saying that the Niggers who are wealthy got that way not by watching dollars, but instead by taking care of the pennies and the dollars taking care of themselves," or, "There is a saying that the Faggots who are wealthy got that way not by watching dollars, but instead by taking care of the pennies and the dollars taking care of themselves" if their defenders would feel any differently. Fucking republicans!
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Name: David P
Date posted: 10/20/2009 4:11:18 PM
Hometown: S Pete

Comment:
Funny how you are so critical of Republicans. At least he apologized instead of the Democrats who try to deflect and lay blame on someone else for their stupidity. I am a gay man who used to be a democrat but decided that personal responsibly was a choice and have switched partied. All he did was make statement that had some morals. Watch the pennies and the dollars watch themselves. Guess everyone cannot see beyond the word Jewish and look at the statement and accept that he is right. If people would stop being so whiney and take personal responsibility, then we could be able to make this a great nation instead of the joke the democrats are making it.
Back to top Post a Comment Report Abuse
Name: Joe
Date posted: 10/20/2009 2:59:15 PM
Hometown: Long Beach

Comment:
Please stop hassling these fine, upstanding Republican men for their comments. They can't help it---it's just the way "those people" are.
Back to top Post a Comment Report Abuse
Name: Preston
Date posted: 10/20/2009 12:10:51 PM
Hometown: Fishers, IN

Comment:
The only thing that Republicans are sorry for is getting caught...
Back to top Post a Comment Report Abuse
Name: Nathan
Date posted: 10/20/2009 10:20:07 AM
Hometown: Franklin

Comment:
A republican being truly sorry would be like hearing NASA say the sun is made out of orange cheese.

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