Antisemitic electioneering always works

# Rewritten Body

Jewish Democrats have reacted with shock to the Democratic primary victory of a senatorial candidate characterized as antisemitic. However, observers note this outcome aligns with a longer trajectory within the party.

The rise of antisemitism on the American left traces to 2000 and the Second Intifada, accelerating after the 2008 economic crisis with the emergence of the Democratic Socialists of America and the elections of Representatives Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Arianna Presley - members of a group called "The Squad." The trend continued with the New York City mayoral victory of Zohran Mamdani, who delivered a speech described as inciting violence against Israel, its prime minister and the American Jewish community.

Throughout this period, establishment Democratic leadership has not opposed these developments, instead accommodating them. The pattern reflects a broader recognition among politicians that antisemitic messaging yields electoral gains and fundraising benefits - a tactic employed historically from Karl Lueger through Adolf Hitler.

The United States historically stood apart as an exception to this pattern. While political operators understood antisemitism's effectiveness, an informal consensus and cultural taboo - rooted largely in American commitments to religious freedom - prevented antisemitic politics from taking hold. Only isolated figures like Charles Coughlin engaged in such rhetoric.

This taboo has been broken by the Democratic Party. The shift stems from opposition to Israel that, analysts argue, extends to Jews broadly. A coalition of progressive and radical Muslim elements has targeted the American Jewish community, viewing it as essential to Israel's American support base. This movement draws on antisemitism and anti-Zionism imported from the Muslim world and merged with Cold War-era propaganda.

Observers characterize participants in this movement as committed ideologues rather than opportunists, while describing establishment Democrats willing to accommodate them as cynically recognizing where electoral support lies. This combination presents risks for American Jewry, particularly if it culminates in an antisemitic presidential election.

Some analysts argue the Jewish American community must prioritize its own interests through pragmatic political alignment with diverse constituencies and movements, employing maximum pressure against perceived opponents, and abandoning expectations of political morality in favor of survival imperatives.