Greg Raths, a GOP congressional candidate in Orange County, issued an apology in a statement to the Journal for saying that Jews “control a lot of the politicians” in the United States.
The Washington Free Beacon reported that Raths made these comments during an Orange County Islamic Foundation candidate forum on May 20. Raths lamented that the Palestinians don’t have the same “clout” that the pro-Israel community does in Washington, D.C. “These politicians go where the money is, unfortunately,” the congressional candidate said. “The Jewish community is very well organized in the United States and they control a lot of politicians. That’s why the foreign aid is so large going to Israel.” Raths proceeded to brag that “the Jewish community has never given me one dime, so I’m not beholden to them at all.”
🚨 Scary antisemitic rant by GOP Congressional candidate @GregRaths who is challenging @YoungKimCA in Orange County:
"These politicians go where the money is, unfortunately… The Jewish community is very well organized in the U.S. and they control a lot of politicians." pic.twitter.com/aur1iBMXtw
— Sia Kordestani (@SiaKordestani) May 26, 2022
Jewish groups criticized Raths’ remarks as being antisemitic. Republican Jewish Coalition National Political Director Sam Markstein told the Free Beacon that Rath’s comments were “appalling” and similar to Representative Ilhan Omar’s “it’s all about the Benjamins” tweet in 2019. The Simon Wiesenthal Center also tweeted that Raths’ remarks were “antisemitic pandering.”
More #antisemitic pandering, this time from Republican @GregRaths speaking to Muslim group. SWC expects Republican leadership to publicly denounce using anti-Semitic screeds to raise $$$. https://t.co/RyfC4UYSro
— SimonWiesenthalCntr (@simonwiesenthal) May 26, 2022
Raths, who is also the former mayor of Mission Viejo, began his statement to the Journal by saying that he is “pro-Israel and always has been. I trained side by side with the Israeli AF and respect Israel tremendously. I served 3 combat tours in the Middle East; Desert Storm, Restore Hope, and Southern Watch flying the F/A-18 Hornet (75 combat sorties).” Raths is a retired Marine Corps colonel.
He then said that his comments at the forum were in response to a question asking “why the Israel lobby is so strong.” “I was referencing how politically engaged the American Jewish community is in Washington, D.C.,” Raths said. “My words came out wrong and I apologize if I offended the Jewish community. I was just saying that organization is very important to get the ears of politicians in Washington, D.C., many politicians may deny that, but it’s a fact (I spent 5 years in Washington during my military service).” Raths also sent the Journal his policy papers on Israel, which include expressing his opposition to the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement and the 2015 Iran nuclear deal and support for continuing military aid to Israel.
Here was the full statement he gave me. Also mentions how he trained alongside the Israeli air force during his military service and sent me his position papers on policies related to Israel. Among other things these papers express his opposition to BDS and the Iran deal pic.twitter.com/C52ZsikNHz
— Aaron Bandler (@bandlersbanter) May 26, 2022
Ron Demeter, a former journalist, tweeted that Rath’s explanation over his comments was “very silly” and “problematic.” “The ‘Israel Lobby’ strength doesn’t come from 2% of the U.S population (US Jews) advocating in DC,” he wrote. “It comes from broad popular support across the political spectrum. [Raths] is perpetuating harmful myths.”
This is a very silly statement (and he misspelled 'mosque') and problematic. The 'Israel Lobby' strength doesn't come from 2% of the U.S population (US Jews) advocating in DC. It comes from broad popular support across the political spectrum. He is perpetuating harmful myths.
— (((Ron Demeter))) (@RonMozaic) May 26, 2022
Raths also told The New York Post that he’s “totally not antisemitic” because his “brother is Jewish.” “I didn’t mean control as in ‘do as I say because we give you all this money. No they don’t control, maybe some do. That wasn’t what I was trying to say.”
Raths told @nypost that he’s “totally not antisemitic” because his “brother is Jewish.” “I didn’t mean control as in ‘do as I say because we give you all this money. No they don’t control, maybe some do. That wasn’t what I was trying to say.” https://t.co/WKKVINb9jf pic.twitter.com/lTOjtdYGzi
— Aaron Bandler (@bandlersbanter) May 27, 2022
Siamak Kordestani, West Coast Director of the European Leadership Network, noted in a tweet that in a 2020 race in a nearby congressional district, Raths had received 46.5% of the vote.
🚨🚨 In the neighboring district, Raths got 46.5% of the vote in the general in 2020. pic.twitter.com/IjKflkvXkI
— Sia Kordestani (@SiaKordestani) May 26, 2022
Raths is one of three candidates currently vying to unseat incumbent Representative Young Kim (R-CA) in the 40th congressional district. According to The Orange County Register, the district––which was recently subjected to redistricting––“covers eastern Orange County plus small portions of western San Bernardino and Riverside counties.” California’s primary is on June 7.
