Texas state Representative Larry Taylor had the following to say about making timely claims payments to the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association at a Thursday hearing in Austin: “Don’t nitpick, don’t try to Jew them down.” He then added, “That’s probably a bad term.” No, that’s definitely a bad term.
His subsequent apology was even lamer. “At a legislative oversight committee hearing today, I inadvertently used a phrase that many people find offensive,” read the statement released by his office. “I corrected myself immediately when I realized what I had said. I regret my poor choice of words and sincerely apologize for any harm they may have caused.”
Where to begin. He didn’t say anything “inadvertently.” It’s not like it was a mispronunciation of “bargain.” He might not have realized members of the press were listening, but it’s not like he has Tourette’s. It doesn’t really matter if “many people” find the term offensive, it matters whether or not he subscribes to the anti-semitic stereotype that’s at the root of this usage. I don’t even know what “I corrected myself immediately” means, but as for his actual apology, most of the harm his words caused were to his own image and I don’t doubt he does regrets that.
Antisemitism is still a part of American life, especially in the south. That’s the problem. Not that politicians sometimes forget that they shouldn’t express it while conducting public business.
