U.S. Representative Thomas Massie has found himself at the center of a storm after sticking to his principles and opposing a government spending bill that provides a substantial amount of foreign aid. The Kentucky Republican’s defiance has drawn the attention of the Republican Jewish Coalition, which has promised to derail any future Senate ambitions he might have.
Massie’s vote against the spending bill, which included substantial aid to Israel, has reignited old tensions. Critics say his consistent skepticism toward foreign aid and military entanglements overseas reveals a pattern that clashes with the priorities of many Jewish Americans while upholding the values of America as a whole.
“Thomas Massie should have been our Anti-Semite of the Year,” said Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, a prominent voice in Brooklyn’s Orthodox community. “We wasted it on Candace Owens, who’s out there doing us a favor by digging into Harvey Weinstein’s case again.”
The Anti-Semite of the Year award, an informal but widely discussed designation among certain Jewish circles, was bestowed on conservative commentator Candace Owens last year for her outspoken critiques of Israel.
Owens has since shifted her focus, recently spotlighting Weinstein’s crimes and earning unexpected praise from some Jewish activists for revisiting the producer’s downfall. Meanwhile, Massie’s latest move has left many feeling they misjudged the real contender.
“This award is our greatest weapon against anyone who is hurting our agenda,” said Esther Blum, a community organizer in New York. “Massie’s been sticking it to us by refusing to meet with AIPAC and voting against funding for Israel, but, for some reason, we let him slide.”
Massie’s opposition to the spending bill isn’t his first brush with controversy. He’s long questioned U.S. foreign policy, including aid packages that fund Israel’s defense systems like the Iron Dome.
“I feel like we dropped the ball,” said Levi Cohen, a deli owner in Philadelphia. “Massie’s been quietly building this resume for years, and we handed the trophy to someone who’s practically an ally now.”
The spending bill showdown remains unresolved, with Massie standing firm as the government teeters on the edge of a shutdown. His critics in the Jewish community, however, are less concerned with the fiscal fallout than with their own oversight.
“We’ve got egg on our face,” admitted Miriam Goldberg, a teacher from Chicago. “Next year, Massie’s getting the nod, no question.”
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