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Celebrating 50 years of growth with the Detroit Jewish Community

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THE JEWISH NEWS

11 SIVAN

5 7 5 2/JUNE 12, 1992

Anti-Semitism In GOP?

As ADL investigates charges of bias, Jewish leaders
suggest discretion when making allegations.

KIMBERLY LIFTON STAFF WRITER

he Anti-Defamation League is in-
vestigating charges that the wife of
a Macomb County state senator
made anti-Semitic comments dur-
ing last month's Republican State
Convention.
Richard Lobenthal, Michigan re-
gional director for the ADL, said
charges were "not conclusive," but
he said the ADL will continue its in-
quiry.
Charges were first reported last
week after the Macomb Coalition of
Republicans (MCOR) sent a press
release to members of the local me-
dia. MCOR provided two eyewit-
nesses to the alleged incident, and
the MCOR members volunteered
to testify under oath.
MCOR also publicly condemned
religious and racial bigotry within
the Republican Party and called
upon Sen. Doug Carl to denounce re-
marks allegedly made by his wife,
Maria Carl.
The complaint to the ADL alleges
that Mrs. Carl told voters not to cast
ballots for Republican State
Committeewoman candidate An-
drea Fischer because "Fischer is a
Jew."

"You open a door, get in, put the key
in and turn the ignition," explains auto
worker Jerry Weinhaus. "Now do this
every minute each hour for eight hours
a day and tell me you wouldn't be
tired." Mr. Weinhaus is describing life
on the assembly line. He is proud of
his work, and hates being called lazy
by the Japanese. He is one of three
Jewish auto workers at the Ford Truck
Plant in Wayne, Mich. Their reasons
for being there vary. And their stories
may surprise_ ou.

"Jewish people are pioneers in the
Republican Party," he said.
Jewish leaders suggested the corn-
munity use caution in accepting as
fact charges of racism or anti-
Semitism.
"We shouldn't dismiss this, espe-
cially if reports about this person
continue to come," said David Gad-
Harf, executive director for the
Jewish Community Council. "We
should keep our antennae well
tuned. But we shouldn't react pre-
maturely or with haste.
"It is in the realm of hearsay, so
it is hard to verify. We can't make

Through a spokesperson, Mrs.
Carl denied the allegations.
Betsy DeVos of Grand Rapids
won the race against Ms. Fischer
and two-term incumbent Ronna
Romney of Bloom-
field Hills.
Ms. Fischer
said she did not
hear the remark,
and she declined
to comment fur-
ther on the
charges.
Sen. David Ho-
nigman of West
Bloomfield, the
only Jewish Re-
publican serving
Dick Lobenthal
Andrea Fischer
in the state legis-
lature, said a
"small undercurrent" of anti- accusations based on hearsay," Mr.
Gad-Harf said. "Given that this is
Semitism exists within the GOP.
He hasn't faced any personal at- an election year, it is hard to sepa-
tacks. But every once in a while, a rate the intra- and inter-party ri-
piece of hate mail — like a swastika valries from real issues and
occurrences."
— finds its way to his desk.
Added Matt Brooks, executive di-
"I think it is a very small minor-
ity," he said. "I've run into it before, rector for the Washington-based
but I think it is because there are
not that many Jewish Republicans. ANTI-SEMMSM/page 18

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Contents on page 5