An Oct. 18 Times and Democrat editorial page column authored by two county Republican Party chairmen is prompting outcries about anti-Semitism.

The column by Jim S. Ulmer Jr., Orangeburg County chairman, and Edwin O. Merwin Jr., Bamberg County chairman, praised U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint’s stand against congressional earmarks. In lauding DeMint’s frugality, the two men wrote:

“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. By not using earmarks to fund projects for South Carolina and instead using actual bills, DeMint is watching our nation’s pennies …”

The reference prompted dozens of critical comments at TheTandD.com and became a national topic of discussion when Web sites such as the Huffington Post reported the reference.

Late Monday, one of South Carolina’s two Jewish members of the General Assembly, Sen. Joel Lourie of Columbia, issued a statement about the column. The statement was sent to Columbia media but not to The Times and Democrat, which Lourie and others are also criticizing for allowing the two Republicans to make such a statement.

Lourie called on DeMint and S.C. Republican Party Chairwoman Karen Floyd to denounce the “inflammatory comments” made by Merwin and Ulmer.

“The words of these key Republican leaders are disgusting, unconscionable and represent prejudice in its purest form. To say that I am shocked and outraged is an understatement. Mr. Erwin and Mr. Ulmer need to be sanctioned immediately and removed from their positions. I call on Chairwoman Karen Floyd and Senator Jim DeMint to denounce their comments and request that they apologize.

“At a time when we can least afford more negative attention for South Carolina, we have two individuals who unapologetically espouse racist and stereotypical attitudes.

“I am also disappointed that The Times and Democrat would print such an inflammatory piece. I believe that newspapers still have a responsibility to edit their content and reject editorials that promote such blatant intolerance.”

DeMint called the comment thoughtless and hurtful.

S.C. House District 90 Rep. Bakari Sellers issued the following statement on Tuesday:

"From Carroll Campbell and Fritz Hollings to Lindsey Graham and Jim Clyburn, this state's leaders have always sought the common ground between us to move us forward as one people. It is unfortunate that not everyone lives up to their example."

Ulmer and  Merwin were responding to state Rep. Bakari Sellers’ op-ed piece assailing DeMint’s stance on earmarks published on October 1. Sellers said he was disappointed when he read the editorial, calling the remark digusting.

He feels this is just the latest in a string of incidents that’s giving the Palmetto State a bad national reputation.

However, Sellers says he doesn’t think the duo meant to alienate anyone.

South Carolina Democratic Party Chair Carol Fowler also chimed in on Tuesday. In a statement issued by her office, she said that the arguments made by Ulmer and Merwin in defense of DeMint were ignorant and hardly deserve response.

"South Carolina Democrats are delighted that we have strong candidates who will bring embarrassments like Jim DeMint and Joe Wilson home in 2010. Like Mark Sanford, these Republicans represent the worst our state has to offer," Fowler said.

Ulmer, Merwin apologies

In the wake of the criticism, both Ulmer and Merwin on Tuesday issued apologies via e-mails:

Ulmer wrote: “Last week I co-authored a letter to the editor which focused on the vital importance of reining in the unsustainable and excessive federal government spending which is going on currently in Washington, D.C. In one of the paragraphs which I wrote, 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 admit that perception is indeed reality to many and that I could have certainly worded that sentence much better. I sincerely apologize for this great error. If I had quoted that great man from Pennsylvania, Ben Franklin, using his, ‘A penny saved is a penny earned,’ I doubt I would be writing this note.

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

Merwin wrote: At this time I wish to deeply apologize for any material included in that letter that would be considered anti-Semitic in any way. I have always abhorred in the past, and shall continue to do so in the future, anti-Semitism in any form what so ever. I concur fully with the apology offered by my co-author, Jim Ulmer, and likewise beg that any and all who were offended will accept my deep felt apology.”

Views of S.C.

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Dwight Drake on Tuesday said the Ulmer-Merwin comment further damages South Carolina’s national image: “I was deeply disappointed to see two South Carolina Republican leaders resorting to offensive stereotyping in an editorial supposedly defending Senator Jim DeMint. There is no place for that kind of discourse among fair-minded people, and it’s another black eye for our state at a time when we can scarcely afford it.”

And in letters sent to Ulmer, Merwin and The Times and Democrat, Rabbi David Saperstein, director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, wrote:

“The troubling use of this caricature of the Jew, no matter your intention in defending Sen. DeMint, blatantly perpetuates centuries of anti-Semitic canards about Jews as greedy, miserly money handlers.

“Public expression that smacks of anti-Semitism – especially made by those in positions of power and respect – is cause for grave concern. Such statements have been used throughout the years as validation by those who would incite hate against Jews and who have cultivated and perpetuated insulting characterizations of the Jewish people. It is especially unfortunate when these odious stereotypes find their way into public discourse about the current economic challenges faced by our nation and world.

“With the onset of the economic crisis, reports of anti-Semitic attitudes and incidents at home and abroad appear to be on the rise – a recent Anti-Defamation League survey of 3,500 adults in seven countries found that 31 percent of those surveyed ‘blame Jews in the financial industry for the current global economic crisis’ and 40 percent ‘believe that Jews have too much power in the business world.’ In such tenuous economic times, statements like yours are not only offensive but convey images and ideas that incite those who would blame Jews for the country’s financial difficulties.

“Innocent’comment

Coming to the defense of the two men in an Internet article is Yomin Postelnik, who references himself as “the first visibly observant Jewish candidate for state office in my state.” He is a candidate for the Florida House of Representatives.

Postelnik wrote: “Two Republican county chairmen in South Carolina wrote an op-ed in support of one of our greatest Senators, Senator Jim DeMint. In their op-ed, they innocently used the argument of the frugality purportedly displayed by some Jews as a role model for sound economic policy. Their choice of words was open to misinterpretation, but their well meaning and intentions were not.

“Democrats pounced on one line in the op-ed and even a great Jewish conservative organization, afraid of what this would do to Republican recruitment, wrongly chastised the writers. To be fair, the organization stated that the intentions behind the op-ed seemed fine, but that the wording was problematic. The trouble is, it’s only problematic if you grow up among Jews and know that saying “the Jews who became wealthy” sounds like a slur based on the way it’s been used by those who are less than friendly. These two gentlemen were using Jewish frugality as a compliment, as was clear from the context of their remark.”

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