Dan Malloy Blasts Whitnum for Anti-Semitic Views

This afternoon Stamford Mayor Dan Malloy spoke out against an anti-Israel editorial written by Lee Whitnum, and published in the Sunday editions of both the Greenwich Time and the Stamford Advocate.

Remarkably, the editorial was included in the Op-Ed pages of the print editions only, and is not available online. (I am trying to get a PDF.)

The Greenwich Post describes the editorial:

Ms. Whitnum, who has made several past statements critical of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), stated that the group was “instrumental” in getting the United States to invade Iraq and that the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks were retaliation by Al-Qaeda for America’s close relationship with Israel

Ms. Whitnum accused AIPAC of “influence peddling” with politicians, including her primary opponent, Mr. Himes, who recently went on a trip to Israel. Ms. Whitnum charged that AIPAC paid for it and that the group now has Mr. Himes “in it’s pocket.” Mr. Himes has denied that AIPAC had anything to do with the trip and has criticized Ms. Whitnum for her remarks about Israel and the Sept. 11 attacks calling them “abominable.”

Dan Malloy's response at today's press conference:

On Monday, Mr. Malloy, a Himes supporter, took it further, directly labeled Ms. Whitnum’s comments as anti-Semitic, saying she was invoking “age-old stereotypes of Jewish media control in her attacks on Himes.”"

"Later he added “To claim that Israel is somehow to blame for 9-11 is deeply disturbing and quite frankly belies a disturbed sense that Ms. Whitnum has. I also have come to the conclusion that her statements are unfortunately anti-Semitic in their nature.”"

All I can say is thank you Mayor Malloy. I understand that the Hearst papers have bent over backwards to give Ms. Whitnum the benefit of the doubt, but enough is enough. Tomorrow will be a welcome end to her anti-Immigrant, anti-Israel ranting.

Here for the record books is YouTube video of her debate remarks about "the reason we had 9/11".