by Joshua N. Lief
In the high-stakes environment of the Virginia General Assembly, debate is expected to be vigorous. Whatever the topic, we rely on elected officials to weigh arguments based on facts, economics, and fairness. However, when a delegate bypasses the substance of a bill and instead targets the identity of one of its proponents, the integrity of the entire process is called into question.
During discussions this past session about legislation seeking fairness for charities a disturbing moment occurred. The leading opponent of the bill, a member of the house of delegates, when pressed on his continued opposition, reportedly responded to a question by referring to one of the bill’s proponents as the “man in a yarmulke.”
Using a religious garment as shorthand for a person’s identity in a professional setting isn’t just a lapse in decorum; it is a classic antisemitic trope – that a Jewish person’s involvement in policy must be driven by a hidden, insular agenda rather than the public good. At a time when antisemitic acts and violence against Jews are both increasing rapidly in the United States, we must demand more from our elected officials.
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