From the No-Duh Department: The Anti-Defamation League is reporting a massive rise in anti-Semitic chatter online since the financial markets crashed.
“Hundreds of anti-Semitic posts regarding Lehman Brothers and other institutions affected by the subprime mortgage crisis have been submitted to discussion boards dealing with finance, with many more arriving by the minute,” the ADL wrote in a statement. “The messages rail against Jews in general, with some charging that Jews control the government and finance as part of a “Jew world order” and therefore are to blame for the economic turmoil.”
National Director Abe Foxman added: “We know from modern history that whenever there is a downturn in the global economy, there will be an upturn in the level of anti-Semitism and bigotry, and that is what we are seeing now. The age-old canards about Jews and money are always just beneath the surface. As we witnessed after 9/11, whenever there is trouble or uncertainty in the economy or world events, Jews become the scapegoats, and ugly anti-Semitic canards are given new life.”
Let’s see: The global financial markets tank. Jews control global finances. Therefore, Jews did it. It’s the easiest explanation. It’s also completely fallacious. But nevermind the facts. Those haven’t bothered these guys in the past.
A few choice examples from the ADL are after the jump:
