While Starmer isn't exactly inspiring I'll give him credit for rooting out much of the anti-Semitism that infested the party with the arrival of Corbyn.
Kennedy may be looney but it was perfectly reasonable to speculate about the Chinese or others working to develop infectious agents likely to target specific ethnic groups. It’s true that there is tremendous genetic heterogeneity within ethnic groups but it is also true that specific genetic polymorphisms are more prevalent in particular ethnic groups.
Designing bio weapons that target specific ethnicities may or may not be possible with today’s technology but if it’s not practical now, it soon will be.
You would have to be extremely naive to think that the Chinese, Americans and British are not surreptitiously working to perfect these techniques right now. Off the top of my head I can think of several strategies that biologists might adopt to develop ethnically targeted bio weapons. If this is a topic that interests you, Thomas, let me know and I would be happy to expound on this.
However crazy some of Kennedy’s ideas may be, it was slander to accuse him of anti-Semitism. His comments about COVID were based on a peer-reviewed article that he cited and released. That article may or may not be factually accurate, but there was nothing inappropriate about mentioning it.
It’s true, Kennedy is nuts. It’s also true that Biden is senile. Nuts or senile; pick your poison. Personally I’d take nuts over senile any day of the week.
As for the accusation of slander, his words speak for themselves. Inserting the Jews into his conspiracy theory is clear evidence of antisemitism. What other explanation is there?
In fact, the article Kennedy alluded to is not the only one to suggest that certain ethnic groups are more vulnerable to COVID then others. Here’s another,
Certain genetic traits that effect the structure of the ACE2 receptor (which provides the access point for the virus to enter cells) make some groups more vulnerable to severe COVID than others. The article Kennedy was referring to suggested the possibility that certain populations (African American and Ashkenazi Jewish) have genetic polymorphisms that provide a bit more protection against COVID then other ethnic groups benefit from.
Kennedy didn’t say that COVID was developed in cahoots with the Jews or was designed to diminish the risk that blacks or Jews would be less prone to the disease.
Genetically based bio weapons are the next big threat. There’s no doubt that China is working to develop these weapons. Mock Kennedy all you want, but the threat he’s mentioned is very real and could be imminent.
I’ll concede that as conspiracy theories go, speculating that the Chinese developed the virus as a targeted bioweapon isn’t batshit crazy. But in cahoots with the Jews? Really? The guy’s a lunatic.
And, you know, the difference between a senile president and a crazy one isn’t all that much. Neither one would be in touch with reality, right…?
Kennedy never said that COVID was developed in cahoots with the Jews. That was the way the Murdoch owned New York Post told the story but it was a lie. Here’s the journal article Kennedy was referring to. It may or may not be right, but to claim that it’s anti-Semitic is simply wrong.
Sorry, but you and Kennedy can’t have it both ways. If the Chinese bioengineered the virus to attack certain ethnic groups while excluding others, how do the Jews fit in? What the hell is he talking about?
The published literature suggests that genetic polymorphisms in the ACE2 receptor more prevalent in Ashkenazi Jews than other populations may make those Jews somewhat less subject to severe COVID than other populations. It is simply incorrect to suggest that Kennedy claimed the Chinese engineered the virus to deliberately exclude Ashkenazi Jews. It is also incorrect to say that Kennedy accused Jews of being involved in the creation of the virus.
Kennedy may have spoken carelessly but to claim that his recent comments suggest that he is anti-Semitic is simply absurd.
While Starmer isn't exactly inspiring I'll give him credit for rooting out much of the anti-Semitism that infested the party with the arrival of Corbyn.
Our Democratic Party—indeed, American progressivism writ large—needs similar disinfecting.
Kennedy may be looney but it was perfectly reasonable to speculate about the Chinese or others working to develop infectious agents likely to target specific ethnic groups. It’s true that there is tremendous genetic heterogeneity within ethnic groups but it is also true that specific genetic polymorphisms are more prevalent in particular ethnic groups.
Designing bio weapons that target specific ethnicities may or may not be possible with today’s technology but if it’s not practical now, it soon will be.
You would have to be extremely naive to think that the Chinese, Americans and British are not surreptitiously working to perfect these techniques right now. Off the top of my head I can think of several strategies that biologists might adopt to develop ethnically targeted bio weapons. If this is a topic that interests you, Thomas, let me know and I would be happy to expound on this.
However crazy some of Kennedy’s ideas may be, it was slander to accuse him of anti-Semitism. His comments about COVID were based on a peer-reviewed article that he cited and released. That article may or may not be factually accurate, but there was nothing inappropriate about mentioning it.
It’s true, Kennedy is nuts. It’s also true that Biden is senile. Nuts or senile; pick your poison. Personally I’d take nuts over senile any day of the week.
As for the accusation of slander, his words speak for themselves. Inserting the Jews into his conspiracy theory is clear evidence of antisemitism. What other explanation is there?
In fact, the article Kennedy alluded to is not the only one to suggest that certain ethnic groups are more vulnerable to COVID then others. Here’s another,
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32835700/
Certain genetic traits that effect the structure of the ACE2 receptor (which provides the access point for the virus to enter cells) make some groups more vulnerable to severe COVID than others. The article Kennedy was referring to suggested the possibility that certain populations (African American and Ashkenazi Jewish) have genetic polymorphisms that provide a bit more protection against COVID then other ethnic groups benefit from.
Kennedy didn’t say that COVID was developed in cahoots with the Jews or was designed to diminish the risk that blacks or Jews would be less prone to the disease.
Genetically based bio weapons are the next big threat. There’s no doubt that China is working to develop these weapons. Mock Kennedy all you want, but the threat he’s mentioned is very real and could be imminent.
I’ll concede that as conspiracy theories go, speculating that the Chinese developed the virus as a targeted bioweapon isn’t batshit crazy. But in cahoots with the Jews? Really? The guy’s a lunatic.
And, you know, the difference between a senile president and a crazy one isn’t all that much. Neither one would be in touch with reality, right…?
Kennedy never said that COVID was developed in cahoots with the Jews. That was the way the Murdoch owned New York Post told the story but it was a lie. Here’s the journal article Kennedy was referring to. It may or may not be right, but to claim that it’s anti-Semitic is simply wrong.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32664879/
Sorry, but you and Kennedy can’t have it both ways. If the Chinese bioengineered the virus to attack certain ethnic groups while excluding others, how do the Jews fit in? What the hell is he talking about?
The published literature suggests that genetic polymorphisms in the ACE2 receptor more prevalent in Ashkenazi Jews than other populations may make those Jews somewhat less subject to severe COVID than other populations. It is simply incorrect to suggest that Kennedy claimed the Chinese engineered the virus to deliberately exclude Ashkenazi Jews. It is also incorrect to say that Kennedy accused Jews of being involved in the creation of the virus.
Kennedy may have spoken carelessly but to claim that his recent comments suggest that he is anti-Semitic is simply absurd.
“Natcon snakepit” that was a funny phrase