Cross posted to the MRC's NewsBusters blog
On Monday's CNN Tonight, CNN terrorism analyst Juliette Kayyem accused Rudy Giuliani of "spewing anti-Semitism" during a discussion of a recent interview he did with reporter Olivia Nuzzi of New York magazine.
Fill-in host Laura Coates quoted from the article as Giuliani attacked wealthy liberal political activist George Soros and defended himself from charges of anti-Semitism over this criticism:
LAURA COATES, FILL-IN HOST: He also attacked George Soros, and he makes this really strange and really offensive comment. He says: "'Don't tell me I'm anti-Semitic if I oppose him.' He said, 'Soros is hardly a Jew. I'm more of a Jew than Soros is. I probably know more about -- he doesn't go to church, he doesn't go to religion -- synagogue.'"
The CNN host then vaguely referred to Soros as being a Holocaust survivor as she turned to Washington Post reporter Philip Bump and hinted at her disapproval of Giuliani: "Soros survived Nazi-occupied Hungary. I mean, what do you even say to this, Philip?"
She did not clarify that Soros's actions during the Holocaust are very controversial because, as an underage teen, he assisted a Nazi collaborator who worked against his country's Jewish population. He even stated in a CBS interview that he did not feel any guilt over his activities.
Additionally, Soros is known for funding anti-Israel groups that try to undermine the Jewish state.
After Bump railed against Giuliani for spreading "conspiracy theories," Kayyem got to speak and accused the former New York mayor of anti-Semitism:
JULIETTE KAYYEM, CNN TERRORISM ANALYST: And can I just say one thing about conspiracy theories and George Soros? I just think it's important that we call it "anti-Semitic," just, period. It's the second night of Hanukkah. Giuliani is spewing anti-Semitism and hatred, and so I just think it's important to call it that. It's not his conspiracy theory, though, it is George Soros conspiracy theory. It's just hatred which just surrounds this President and all of the people around him, which is just, you know, still jaw-dropping after all these years.
Coates indicated her agreement as she wrapped up the segment:
LAURA COATES, FILL-IN HOST: You got to call balls balls and strikes strikes. Thank both of you for playing tonight. I appreciate it. You know, it's important to think about and actually articulate what it is we're seeing because if we ignore it, then it becomes normalized.
Below is a transcript of relevant portions of the Monday, December 23, CNN Tonight:
LAURA COATES, FILL-IN HOST: He also attacked George Soros, and he makes this really strange and really offensive comment. He says: "'Don't tell me I'm anti-Semitic if I oppose him.' He said, 'Soros is hardly a Jew. I'm more of a Jew than Soros is. I probably know more about -- he doesn't go to church, he doesn't go to religion -- synagogue.'" Soros survived Nazi-occupied Hungary. I mean, what do you even say to this, Philip?
(…)
PHILIP BUMP, WASHINGTON POST: The important thing to realize, though, is that that comment -- that bizarre comment that he's more Jewish than Soros. He makes that after having said that the former ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch, was under the control of Soros. So it is not only that he is, you know, assuming that he isn't enough Jewish, and not only that he's supporting these conspiracy theories broadly about Soros -- but he is spreading conspiracy theories very specifically about the person at the center of the impeachment without any evidence.
I mean, it's just this baffling conspiracy theory that he's throwing out there. And, again, I just hate to repeat myself, but this is the crux of the issue. Donald Trump has been hearing from Giuliani for a year now, but all these vast conspiracies because Giuliani is picking it up -- as Juliette said -- he's getting paid by various people, including the former prosecutor in Ukraine. And Giuliani is biting it hook, line and sinker because it benefits Trump politically. It's baffling.
(…)
JULIETTE KAYYEM, CNN TERRORISM ANALYST: And can I just say one thing about conspiracy theories and George Soros? I just think it's important that we call it "anti-Semitic," just, period. It's the second night of Hanukkah. Giuliani is spewing anti-Semitism and hatred, and so I just think it's important to call it that. It's not his conspiracy theory, though, it is George Soros conspiracy theory. It's just hatred which just surrounds this President and all of the people around him, which is just, you know, still jaw-dropping after all these years.
LAURA COATES, FILL-IN HOST: You got to call balls balls and strikes strikes. Thank both of you for playing tonight. I appreciate it. You know, it's important to think about and actually articulate what it is we're seeing because if we ignore it, then it becomes normalized.