May 4, 2011, - 11:13 pm

Hey, Someone Finally Has Some Balls: Showbiz Jew-Hater Denied Honorary Degree

By Debbie Schlussel

Kudos and Mazel Tov [Congrats!] to Jeffrey S. Wiesenfeld. The City University of New York trustee is the very definition of principle and courage, a man who hasn’t checked his testicles at the door in a country filled with so many eunuchs. And Tony Kushner, who normally lusts for men, doesn’t like it.


Jeffrey Wiesenfeld Has the Courage & Patriotism (& Balls) Tony Kushner Lacks

If you haven’t heard of Kushner, he’s the anti-Semitic, gay, socialist Jewish playwright and screenwriter who hates Israel . . . himself. He supports the boycott of and divestment from Israel and falsely accused Israel to “ethnic cleansing.” That’s his disgusting identity. And some people of principle and guts on the board of City University of New York–at trustee Wiesenfeld’s principled urging–showed they have some guts and told Kushner where to shove his Jew-hatred:

In a rare move, the trustees of the City University of New York have voted to shelve an honorary degree that one of its campuses, John Jay College, planned to award to Tony Kushner, the Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright of “Angels in America.” . . .

According to a podcast of the Monday meeting and accounts from two CUNY officials who attended it, one of the 12 trustees present, Jeffrey S. Wiesenfeld, objected to John Jay College’s submission of Mr. Kushner for an honorary degree. Mr. Wiesenfeld described viewpoints and comments, which he ascribed to Mr. Kushner, that he had found on the Web site of Norman Finkelstein, a political scientist and critic of Israel.

Mr. Wiesenfeld, an investment adviser and onetime aide to former Gov. George E. Pataki and former Senator Alfonse M. D’Amato, said that Mr. Kushner had tied the founding of Israel to a policy of ethnic cleansing, criticized the Israel Defense Forces and supported a boycott of Israel.

“I think it’s up to all of us to look at fairness and consider these things,” Mr. Wiesenfeld said. “Especially when the State of Israel, which is our sole democratic ally in the area, sits in the neighborhood which is almost universally dominated by administrations which are almost universally misogynist, antigay, anti-Christian.” . . .

The trustees then voted, 11 to 1, to table the Kushner degree.. .. since 1961, no other honorary degree nomination had been tabled after reaching the board.

More:

Kushner has been active with organizations that endorse the Boycott, Divestments and Sanctions (BDS) campaign against Israel.

He has written that Israel was “founded in a program that, if you really want to be blunt about it, was ethnic cleansing.” Kushner also has said that “it would have been better” had the State of Israel never been created.

This isn’t the first time that Jeffrey S. Wiesenfeld, a former FBI foreign counterintelligence agent, has stood up for what is right. He also spoke out against a racist former Black Panther who descended upon CUNY.

Now, Kushner is angry . . . because he wants it both ways. He wants to act like a kapo and then for people to forget his views, so he can be honored despite them. Not happenin’, in this case. So sad, too bad, Tony. The thing is, Kushner would be beheaded for two reasons–that he is gay and that he is Jewish–in every country in the Middle East, except the one he hates with a passion: Israel.

Aleikum Salaam, chump. Anyone up for a gay cruise in Egypt (which usually ends in a beheading)? On the other hand, Tony Kushner has always been a great candidate for Lunch in Tul Karem.




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35 Responses

He is an absurd man who has little or no connection to reality. In any state that seriously practiced Sharia, he would be on a platter. Only in the country that he loathes the most of all, Israel, would he be able to live above ground and openly.

Worry01 on May 4, 2011 at 11:21 pm

Thank G-d for people like Debbie and Jeffrey S. Wiesenfeld.

JeffE on May 4, 2011 at 11:28 pm

And that great hypocrite, Stephen Spielberg, knew what Kushner believes, yet hired him to script his movie “Munich”.

Gerry on May 4, 2011 at 11:29 pm

Since I live in New York, you know what DS and others, I’m glad Mr. Wiesenfeld did the right thing by denying Tony Kushner any type of honoray degree at John Jay College for Mr. Kushner’s blatant anti-semitism and jew hatred. And I’m also thankful that Jeff Wiesenfeld did the right thing a few years ago by speaking out and calling out Charles Baron (a former Black Panther), you folks, Charles Baron is a radical black racist and he embarrasses black people like me and give us all a bad reputation! BTW, Baron is also an America-hater, jew-hater, Israel-hater, a black racist, etc.

He also pro-Cuba, pro-Fidel Castro, in other words, Charles Baron is a communist, take a look at the link Debbie putted out in the article and you’ll see the outfit that Baron is wearing, it’s a outfit that diehard socialist wear, the man is a pathetic loser.

“A nation is defined by it’s borders, language & culture!”

Sean R. on May 4, 2011 at 11:35 pm

Tony Kushner has been awarded two Tonys, a Pulitzer, an Evening Standard Award, an OBIE, a New York Drama Critics Circle Award, a American Academy of Arts and Letters Award,
a Whiting Writers Fellowship, a Lila Wallace/Reader’s Digest Fellowship and a National Foundation of Jewish Culture, Cultural Achievement award. He was also nominated for an Oscar.

Jeff Wiensenfeld heckles people and practices character assassination when behind closed doors.

An honorary doctorate is given based on achievement and not politcal views. This is pure McCarthyism.

steve on May 5, 2011 at 7:22 am

    @Steve: I refuse to let your disgusting lie go unanswered. You may be unaware (or refuse to acknowledge) that truth is an absolute defense against a claim of defamation. Your foolish comment is the only “character assassination” here. The fact that Kushner was awarded honors from fools doesn’t mean that CUNY must continue in the vein of those who are morally bankrupt.

    Stuart Kaufman on May 5, 2011 at 8:59 am

    stevie sez:

    “an honorary doctorate is given based on achievement and not politcal [sic] views. This is pure McCarthyism.”

    Actually, McCarthy was right overall and mostly right regarding specific people. Leaving that aside, stevie’s comment is really dishonest. After all, stevie and his buddies fully accept that art is political. But, when they get into trouble because their politics is so loathsome, suddenly the stevies imply that art is independent of politics and that to assert otherwise is “McCarthyism.”

    Begone, leftist scoundrel, before someone drops a house on you.

    skzion on May 5, 2011 at 11:38 am

    Dear Steve,

    Hopnorary degrees are given for more than accomplishments. For example, Roman Polanski doesn’t deserve an honorary degree, either. He sodomizes little girls. And he is a helluva lot more acomplished artist than Kushner.

    Steve, an honorary degree is an HONOR, and the person awarded it reflects the values of the University. Kushner is a maggot.

    Occam's Tool on May 5, 2011 at 9:03 pm

    Akbar, by “occupied people” you of course mean the LEBANESE who are occupied by Syria, the proxy of Iran. Kushner is a vile slanderer who engages in blood libel against the Jewish State. I do not consider him Jewish. His Angels in America is a lousy play that rewrites history. He is a hack.

    AliceL. on May 7, 2011 at 8:26 pm

    I have news for you, Steve. “Angels in America” isn’t art and it isn’t drama. It’s total trash spewed from a depraved leftist mind. Yes, his rubbish dialogue, twisted “morality,” and deviate characters have been given the posh gloss of the superficial Broadway and HBO hucksters, but in the end, Kushner is all pomp and no circumstance.

    And don’t get me wrong. I don’t consider Kushner’s junk theatrics to be worthless because he’s gay. There are many excellent gay writers, e.g., Alan Ball. But let’s be honest: Kushner is no Alan Ball. It’s not even close. Ball has fully developed characters, interesting themes, rising conflict, and memorable ideas.

    Kushner’s “work” does not ring true of anything and has already been forgotten as worthless drivel. This is why Kushner has to be such a political activist. He must “fill” the void of his own inadequacy as a writer with activist leftist politics. Real talents do no such thing. They are immersed in their work and if they have any political persuasions, they let their works do that talking for them. No-talents like Kushner need to justify their existence by engaging in depraved politics because they are incapable of producing any writing of merit.

    Ralph Adamo on May 23, 2011 at 10:43 pm

I realize this isn’t the focus of the column but I find it VERY insulting when the news media describes Norman Finkelstein as “Norman Finkelstein, a political scientist and critic of Israel.”

Norman Finkelstein isn’t a mere critic of Israel. He is an anti-Semite.

I don’t care if someone’s parents were Jewish. I don’t care if they keep kosher. I don’t care if their wife or kids are Jewish. I don’t care if they’re a decorated war hero of the Israeli Defense Forces. It doesn’t matter what “type” of Jews someone hates; Israeli Jews, liberal Jews, conservative Jews, secular Jews, Orthodox Jews, Reform Jews, etc. If someone hates Jews, they’re an anti-Semite. Above all, an anti-Semite’s claim to a Jewish identity does not matter. It’s not a license to hate other Jews.

Those who demonize Israel and support the BDS movements are anti-Semites. I can only say to our friends on this blog that you need only go to Israel for a day or two and you’ll see that this BDS movement isn’t going ANYWHERE economically. The BDS movement is focused on inciting hatred for Jews and effects the LOCAL Jewish population. It is the LOCAL Jewish population that does NOT have a government, army and police force chartered with the specific responsibility to defend Jews from harm.

One look at what’s going on in Europe should demonstrate this clearly. Norway and Sweden have been pushing this BDS policy for years. These countries are not safe for Jews. Yet all statistics show that Israeli exports to Norway and Sweden increase yearly.

The proponents of BDS know this. They know they are inciting hatred for Jews and our Christian friends who defend our rights as Americans and Israel’s right as a Jewish nation.

Norman Finkelstein knows this. He is an anti-Semite who’s employment quietly “ended” at more than University where he was employed. There is no reason for anyone in the news media to describe Norman Finkelstein as a mere “critic of Israel”. I question whether they should even describe him as a “political scientist” but that’s another matter.

There is NO Santa Claus on May 5, 2011 at 8:02 am

I am so proud to be Jeff’s friend (and his cousin). He is a true hero who is excoriated every day by yippy little ankle-biters who are not fit to share his air. A man is known by his enemies. Jeff is a giant!

Stuart Kaufman on May 5, 2011 at 8:45 am

    In your case (and your cousin’s), “a man is known by his enemas.”

    Occam's Tool on May 5, 2011 at 9:05 pm

    Stuart, I thought you were Kushner’s cousin. My mistake. I am very, very, very, very, very sorry. You are absolutely correct. Your cousin is a giant. I am very, very, very sorry. Debbie, please remove my enemas post. My mistake. My mistake.

    Occam's Tool on May 5, 2011 at 9:10 pm

A true American has no place in his/her heart for anti-Semitism.

Tanstaafl on May 5, 2011 at 9:01 am

If you go by the Old Testament (and not the Roman/Mithraic interpretations of the “New Testament”), then Tony Kushner is an atheist. He has forfeited his faith and any other rights to it.

All this from an agnostic. Amen.

The Reverend Jacques on May 5, 2011 at 10:33 am

What a bunch of putzes! Yah, muslims are inclusive at heart. Seems to me that religious minorities don’t do well where sharia pollutes.

IDF members will tell anyone who has a brain on which fact will impact, that Israel cannot lose a war. Why? The islamonazi enemy will wage Holocaust2. Those who seek to undermine Israel’s security are as guilty as the koranimals who wait in the wings, with the hope of manning the death camps. But the muslim notion of “final jihad” isn’t an exclusive reference to Israel; it is a global concept, and the Free World is the target of those blood-thirsty savages.

Read my lips: SECULARISM IS DEAD IN THE MUSLIM TYRANNIES. The salient is: Western Civilization. And a muslim’s body is a weapon of war.

Vlad the Jihadi Impaler on May 5, 2011 at 11:18 am

I object to calling Kushner and Finkelstein Jews. A more appropriate term would be “erev rav,” meaning that they are not Jewish as their forebears never properly converted. Frankly, I’d not be surprised to find a non-Jewish mother somewhere in their history.

skzion on May 5, 2011 at 11:32 am

What I do not understand is why so many homosexuals hate Israel. It is the only country in the Middle East that accepts gays, whereas any openly gay person in the Islamic world is likely to be executed.

Kushner does not deserve any honorary awards, except from Hamas University. He is a little worm, feeding on the excrement of the Islamic world.

Jonathan E. Grant on May 5, 2011 at 11:57 am

    Jon, the same Muslim World would execute him because he is gay, he is Jewish, he is atheist and a Westerner.

    I really don’t understand the Left’s love affairs with extremists and revolutionaries.

    I tend to be a reactionary about right and wrong. If we don’t preserve that, we will lose.

    NormanF on May 5, 2011 at 11:54 pm

I will never understand how the most virulant anti-semites are almost always self-hating jews.

How can one hate your own family, ancestors, and people ???
How can he disgrace his family like that ??

I can never forget the spectacle of jewish rabbis smiling and joking in Tehran with their president who hates jews and wants to kill every jew in Israel.

I’m all for free speech, but shouldn’t they rightly be declared traitors and stripped of their Israeli citizenship and membership in the jewish faith ??

jimmyPx on May 5, 2011 at 12:01 pm

I am Jewish, and I believe in the tenets of our faith. But all I can say is, our ethnic group can sure produce some real meshuganahs. I wish that Mr. (Ms.?) Kushner would change his name to one that sounds more Gentile, and no longer tell anyone that he’s Jewish. Kushner’s a disgrace not only to the Jewish people, but to all of humanity. Furthermore, having supposed creative talent does not give one license to be a momser. Kudos to Mr. Wiesnfeld!!

Bob W. on May 5, 2011 at 1:39 pm

Since when does making comments critical of specific actions or policies of a particular country, mean that you’re a bigot??

You can’t still be proud to be an American and disagree with particular policies of the US?

You can’t be a proud Jew and disagree with particular actions of Israel?

Jeremy on May 5, 2011 at 2:43 pm

    I know that this is wasted on you, Jeremy, but there is a difference between disagreeing with a particular Israeli action and undermining the very existence of the State of Israel, while giving aid and comfort to those who would destroy her.
    I criticize Obama as a loyal American, Jane Fonda was treasonous to the point of deserving execution. If you don’t see the distinction, then you are an enemy of the truth.

    Stuart Kaufman on May 5, 2011 at 3:00 pm

    Jeremy, he’s not a critic. He believes Israel should be destroyed. Let’s put it this way: anybody who wants to kill Jews or make it harder for them to survive is an antisemite. Obviously, Jeremy, you took neither debate nor logic classes.

    Occam's Tool on May 5, 2011 at 9:08 pm

Israel is in a fight for her life. Those who criticize Israel these days are principally siding with her enemies.

For instance, the Arabs are demanding Israel surrender Samaria and Judea even before negotiations begin. Why should you cut off your right arm, just in the hope of keeping your left during negotiations?

You do not give away your negotiating position before you sit down and negotiate (not that Israel should surrender that which is hers…look what happened in Gaza and Southern Lebanon).

When you question Israel’s right to exist, you are an anti-Semite, Jewish or not.

Jonathan E. Grant on May 5, 2011 at 3:09 pm

    Jon, the religion doesn’t matter.

    If one hates the Jewish and opposes the existence of the Jewish State, one is an anti-Semite.

    I don’t care for the suicidal policies of its elites; I think Moshe Feiglin apt characterized Israel as a great country that thinks like a rabbit.

    And he is right Jews have their own unique identity. The West would be happy to see the Jews die just so they keep the oil flowing. Israel is not a part of Edom.

    Its a lesson Israel’s biblical ancestors learned early on. For the Jewish State’s salvation will not be found in Europe or America but by thanking G-d for preserving the land against the stupidity of the Jews.

    He loves them anyway and they should appreciate Him and not countries that did not exist in the mind of man when at Sinai thousands of year ago, they became a nation.

    NormanF on May 6, 2011 at 12:00 am

Kushner has not undermined the existence of Israel. He’s repeatedly clarified that he believes in the state of Israel and supports its existence.

I understand your anger over Kushner’s views, but charges of anti-Semitism shouldn’t be flung around without having your facts straight. You do a disservice to the Jewish people when you do because you make it into a term you call people with whom you simply disagree. You lessen its meaning and seriousness.

Jeremy on May 5, 2011 at 4:46 pm

    Kushner has accused Israel of engaging in “ethnic cleansing,” a vile lie which is used to great effect by Israel’s enemies. Some of the worst enemies of the Jewish people in history have been fellow Jews. Kushner has appropriate company such as Noam Chomsky, Norman Finkelstein and other fellow travelers. Make whatever excuse you wish for these kapos and traitors. They are garbage.

    Stuart Kaufman on May 5, 2011 at 6:39 pm

    When and where. He’s a writer. He’s a liar. I doubt he’s that inarticulate. If he supports BDS, he opposes Israel’s existence, no matter what he may state.

    Occam's Tool on May 5, 2011 at 9:12 pm

“Kushner has not undermined the existence of Israel. He’s repeatedly clarified that he believes in the state of Israel and supports its existence.

I understand your anger over Kushner’s views, but charges of anti-Semitism shouldn’t be flung around without having your facts straight. You do a disservice to the Jewish people when you do because you make it into a term you call people with whom you simply disagree. You lessen its meaning and seriousness.”

Cheap words. How does he support Israel, by suggesting they stand down when they are attacked? By advocating that they try to make peace when they have no partner for peace? And in my view Spielberg is not a hypocrite, he and Kushner are like-minded fellow travelers.

Stephen Schochet on May 5, 2011 at 5:37 pm

Speilberg was the worthless cowardly maggot who couldn’t tell Mel Gibson to shove his worthless movie up his ass.

Occam's Tool on May 5, 2011 at 9:15 pm

And I thought that “Schindler’s List” was a good movie, until I realised, “This guy was a freaking Nazi, exploited the Jews’ plight, sent them to slave for him in his factories, abandoned their sorry asses in the middle of nowhere, and whatever he profited from his scam, he blew it on liquor and whores.”

That’s why I don’t watch too many movies anymore.

The Reverend Jacques on May 5, 2011 at 11:27 pm

Let me be clear: I hate anti-Semites whether they are Jewish, Christian, Muslim, whatever.

There should zero tolerance for anti-Semitism within the American Jewish Community.

Jews who work for a Second Holocaust should never be welcomed inside its gates.

The survival of the Jewish people and Israel depends on being able to distinguish between foe and friend.

Thus, the City University Of New York made the right call!

NormanF on May 5, 2011 at 11:49 pm

I thought this article was satire at first. Then, I scanned the comments and I realized that this site is an example of the insularity of the blog world where people just read “writers” who agree with them.

The article’s author – and so many commentators – sound like rabid fundamentalists. It’s unfortunate that so many American Jews appear to embrace such a position on Israel. What so many of you call “anti-semitism” is most often just perspective, albeit one that is sympathetic to occupied peoples.

akbar on May 6, 2011 at 9:59 am

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