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Republican presidential hopeful Thompson: Money-making part of Jewish tradition
By Shmuel Rosner, Haaretz Correspondent

WASHINGTON - Former Wisconsin governor and Republican presidential hopeful Tommy Thompson told Jewish activists Monday that making money is "part of the Jewish tradition," and something that he applauded.

Speaking to an audience at the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism in Washington D.C., Thompson said that, "I'm in the private sector and for the first time in my life I'm earning money. You know that's sort of part of the Jewish tradition and I do not find anything wrong with that."

Thompson later apologized for the comments that had caused a stir in the audience, saying that he had meant it as a compliment, and had only wanted to highlight the "accomplishments" of the Jewish religion.

"I just want to clarify something because I didn't [by] any means want to infer or imply anything about Jews and finances and things," he said.

"What I was referring to, ladies and gentlemen, is the accomplishments of the Jewish religion. You've been outstanding business people and I compliment you for that."

Thompson left public office in 2005, having served four terms as Wisconsin governor and later as President George W. Bush's Health and Human Services Secretary. He announced his candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination at the start of April.

"We are pleased that Governor Thompson made time in his schedule- like many other policy makers- to address the 2007 Consultation of Conscience," said Mark Pelavin, Associate Director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism.

The Consultation of Conscience is a three day conference bringing together the Reform Jewish Movement's top social justice advocates for meetings and briefings with top policy makers in Washington, D.C.

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Seuss said:

My best friend growing up was Jewish and explained it like this: It isn't that making money is a tradition, but rather, making money by taking advantage of the Gentiles is tradition. It is acceptable (in Jewish culture) for a Jewish business man to scam a Gentile, but it is highly frowned upon for a Jewish businessman to scam another Jewish person.

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zappaisgod said:

He isn't even a contender.

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Seuss said:

My best friend growing up was Jewish and explained it like this: It isn't that making money is a tradition, but rather, making money by taking advantage of the Gentiles is tradition. It is acceptable (in Jewish culture) for a Jewish business man to scam a Gentile, but it is highly frowned upon for a Jewish businessman to scam another Jewish person.

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With some important exceptions, stereotypes are in fact not inaccurate when assesses against objective benchmarks such as census figures or the reports of the stereotypes people themselves. People who believe that African-Americans are more likely to be on welfare than whites, that Jews have higher average incomes than WASPs, that business students are more conservative than students in the arts, and that women are more likely than men to want to lose weight, are not being irrational or bigoted. Those beliefs are correct.

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zappaisgod said:

Tommy Thompson has no shot and never did. He may have hope but nobody else thinks so. He's nobody.

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Hank, FTW said:

The fact that their religious scriptures actively put down gentiles in a way which compares us to animals, I have a pretty good idea.

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zappaisgod said:

What religion's scripture does not put down nonbelievers? Are you Christian? Muslim? Buddhist? They ALL think I am less than human.

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FrenchSocialist said:

Whether they put down non-believers largely irrelevant with respect to Hank's assertion.

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The fact that their religious scriptures actively put down gentiles in a way which compares us to animals, I have a pretty good idea.

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zappaisgod said:

FrenchSocialist said:

Whether they put down non-believers largely irrelevant with respect to Hank's assertion.

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From Hank's post

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The fact that their religious scriptures actively put down gentiles in a way which compares us to animals, I have a pretty good idea.

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That was the sum total of Hank's assertion that I responded to.

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