Israel Matzav

Part Italian, part German and criticized for taking Jewish money... in New York?

Mike Grimm, a Republican candidate for the congressional seat currently occupied by Democrat Mike McMahon (pictured), representing parts of Brooklyn and Staten Island (New York) has come under criticism from McMahon for taking money from Jewish sources (Hat Tip: GWBROS).

Mike Grimm, a G.O.P challenger for Mike McMahon's Congressional seat, took in over $200,000 in his last filing.

But in an effort to show that Grimm lacks support among voters in the district, which covers Staten Island and parts of Brooklyn, the McMahon campaign compiled a list of Jewish donors to Grimm and provided it to The Politicker.

The file, labeled "Grimm Jewish Money Q2," for the second quarter fundraising period, shows a list of over 80 names, a half-dozen of which in fact do hail from Staten Island, and a handful of others that list Brooklyn as home.

"Where is Grimm's money coming from," said Jennifer Nelson, McMahon's campaign spokeman. "There is a lot of Jewish money, a lot of money from people in Florida and Manhattan, retirees."

As a point of comparison, the campaign also provided in-district and out-of-district fundraising totals from McMahon and Grimm's G.O.P primary opponent, Michael Allegretti. However, they did not provide an out-of-district campaign filing from Grimm, but only a file of Jewish donors to him.

Nelson said that the list was compiled by the campaign's finance director, Debra Solomon and that she did not know exactly how the finance team knew who was Jewish and who was not.

"She herself is Jewish so she knows a lot of people in that community," Nelson said.

Nelson stressed that the point of compiling the list was not to show that Grimm had a lot of Jewish support, but that he had little support in the district.

"I don't think ethnicity matters. When people look at who is funding his campaign it's not people who have a direct vested interest [in the district.]"

Allahpundit has some free advice for McMahon (via The Weekly Standard):

When making a charge like this in polite company, the proper terminology these days is “Zionist money.” Wink.

Allahpundit also notes that Sarah Palin endorsed Grimm a few days ago.

Politico reports that McMahon has apologized and has fired Nelson but not Solomon.

By the way, New York's 13th district has voted Republican in the last two Presidential elections. Looks like low-hanging fruit for Republicans to me.

Much more here.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 10:44 PM