Jake Tapper tweets that people protesting his colleague Dana Bash are antisemitic. Max Blumenthal absolutely eviscerates him in response

[u/Roy4Pris]

https://x.com/MaxBlumenthal/status/1832196541735657532

[u/kimonoko]

This particular exchange to one side, it depresses me that Max Blumenthal/GZ gets airtime in this sub. We've got to be more discerning than that, folks. We're not going to find liberation by allying with a guy who denies China's oppression of the Uyghurs, denies chemical attacks by Assad, and spreads misinformation in Russia's favor with regard to Ukraine (in addition to regularly appearing on RT).

Blumenthal is not our friend.

(Side note: honestly had no idea Dana Bash is Jewish.)

[u/DCF10 → u/kimonoko]

“The enemy of my enemy is my friend.”

Max made excellent points to raise awareness of a mainstream Zionist propagandists lies to deserve the “airtime” and you chose to be depressed because he’s an imperfect ally.

You have valid criticisms of Max but I disagree that he should not be considered potential friend who could help bring about liberation for the Palestinians through indicting Zionist propaganda, simply bc he bought Chinese/Russian propaganda.

You cannot build an intersectional movement capable of real change by gatekeeping anyone who doesn’t meet your “standards of truthfulness”.

I just think you shouldn’t be depressed but grateful that there are brave people willing to stand and rebuke powerful genocide apologists, even if they aren’t on the same page on every global incidence of oppression.

Regardless, thank you for bringing additional context about Max

[u/kimonoko → u/DCF10]

“The enemy of my enemy is still my enemy." ~ Drago Museveni

I think liberation movements have no place for allies of fascist and dictatorial regimes, personally. With respect, this is how charlatans and sometimes blatant antisemites like Fuentes or Red-Brown fascists like Caitlin Johnstone find their way into our spaces and rot them from the inside.

Good episode about why it's so crucial to remain vigilant about entryism and misinformation (in the context of environmental orgs but it applies broadly) over at "12 Rules for What?"

[u/ArmyOfMemories → u/kimonoko]

First of all, the Palestine solidarity movement is not a monolith.

It doesn't have to cater to your statements implying ideological purity.

Palestinian factions are deeply flawed, because they're only human. I've seen people here, in an anti-Zionist sub, criticize the various factions to varying degrees (from taking issue with the term 'resistance' as opposed to terrorism, to defending them wholesale, to defending with caveats, etc.).

And historically that's been the case in general with Palestine solidarity - there are basic liberals who support Palestine and far-left 'tankies' who support Palestine, with everything in between.

I've seen users here hate on Within Our Lifetime or even the BDS movement.

We have had an influx of users in the sub since 10/7 - and not all of them are anti-Zionist.

We have a range of views here.

And no one is fit to say 'we only represent the Palestine solidarity movement'.

Discounting Max, based on his views on other issues is nonsense.

[u/murderouspangolin → u/kimonoko]

Allies come from all corners. You can't gatekeep the movement with elitist and liberal litmus tests. It's divisive and unhelpful to cancel the GZ and others with misinformation around ties to dictatorial regimes and fascism. Fuentes - fair enough, he's openly antisemetic should be disregarded

[u/Ok_Editor_710 → u/kimonoko]

I beg your pardon, but which dictatorial and fascist regime is Max Blumenthal an ally of?

[u/BlackHumor → u/Ok_Editor_710]

The Assad regime and Putin's Russia, to name two.

[u/Ok_Editor_710 → u/BlackHumor]

So just cause you don't agree with his reporting on those two issues means he's a supporter of "fascist and dictatorial regimes", eh?

You're making accusations without evidence, literally a page from the Zionist playbook.

[u/BlackHumor → u/Ok_Editor_710]

Okay, if you want evidence, try the sources in this article.

[u/Ok_Editor_710 → u/BlackHumor]

Seen it before. All that junk on wikipedia are smears. There's actually no evidence that he's shilling for any of those Governments like Jake Tapper is shilling for Israel.

If Wikipedia is your trusted source you needn't even bother.

I have read numerous hit pieces on Max Blumenthal and all of them are just that, hit pieces.

If there were evidence of any of the stuff you guys allege about Blumenthal I wouldn't ask you to find it--know that rule about lawyers not asking questions they don't know the answer to.