Staff Reports
In a shocking and disrespectful move, former U.S. Rep. Mondaire Jones, who has been endorsed by the far-left firebrand Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, took a swipe at now-ousted House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Jones, who is currently running for a congressional seat in the New York swing district (NY-17), felt the need to insult McCarthy’s recent meeting with Orthodox Jewish leaders in the Hudson Valley. Jones called it “a waste of everyone’s time,” showing a complete disregard for the importance of religious leaders in our communities.
Dem Candidate Goes 'Antisemitic' to Own Kevin McCarthy
https://t.co/TdHV1M4jtm— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) October 4, 2023
It is absolutely outrageous that someone who wants to represent the Jewish community would stoop so low as to mock their religious observances. Jones claims to be seeking the support of Jewish constituents in his bid for the House seat, but his insulting comment has only served to undermine those efforts. It is clear that Jones is more interested in scoring political points with his far-left base than in actually serving the needs of his constituents.
Why does Mondaire Jones have a problem with Kevin McCarthy spending time with Jews? pic.twitter.com/3gvBOb1f7c
— Matthew Foldi (@MatthewFoldi) October 3, 2023
House @SpeakerMcCarthy toured Jewish communities in #Monsey and #NewSquare in #RocklandCounty along with Congressman Rep. @lawler4ny McCarthy and Lawler were also received by the Skverer Rebbe and Jewish community leaders: https://t.co/NcywXcGv0Z pic.twitter.com/AqNZlNFoSg
— PalmTreeOC (@oc_palm) March 6, 2023
A man who wants to represent these Jews in the United States Congress is insulting them instead of seeking their vote.
Congratulations to @MondaireJones on finding the most Antisemitic way to celebrate the defeat of #SpeakerMcCarthy https://t.co/v6fLoFRlBL
— Joel M. Petlin (@Joelmpetlin) October 3, 2023
Two members of Congress have taken a very clear stance against a former colleague for an arguably Antisemitic post. More members of Congress should do the same.
Kudos to @RepJoshG and @JaredEMoskowitz for calling out @MondaireJones. He owes the #NY17 Jewish community an apology. pic.twitter.com/cUC4r30AaS
— Joel M. Petlin (@Joelmpetlin) October 4, 2023
Jones added, “By contrast, I have delivered for all communities in Rockland and will continue that track record upon my return to Congress.” 2/2
— Jacob N. Kornbluh (@jacobkornbluh) October 4, 2023
Yesterday, I posted a tweet that was too open to misinterpretation. My point was to communicate that Kevin McCarthy, and by extension Mike Lawler, cannot possibly deliver for communities in Rockland because he’s no longer Speaker. Regrettably, I did not make this point clear…
— Mondaire Jones (@MondaireJones) October 4, 2023
Lawler fires back at Jones in stmt to me/@J_Insider: “Mondaire Jones tweeted the quiet part out loud. His comments are shocking but not surprising for a guy who pals around with anti-Semites like Pramila Jayapal, Jamaal Bowman, and the rest of the Squad.” https://t.co/N8QDOTmSww https://t.co/vWGCRqSAxr pic.twitter.com/wwQMhXvQm4
— Marc Rod (@marcrod97) October 4, 2023
In a sharply worded statement to JI, Liz Whitmer Gereghty (@LizforNY), a top primary rival to Jones, weighs in on his tweet: “If Mondaire Jones didn't realize that his tweet could be viewed as antisemitic and elicit vile comments in response, I would question his judgment.” https://t.co/5k3OvY1Ezd pic.twitter.com/o8RHA6pDo9
— Matthew Kassel (@matthewkassel) October 4, 2023
The backlash to Jones’s comment was swift and severe. Many rightfully criticized the former congressman for his blatant antisemitism. Joel M. Petlin, superintendent of the special-education Kiryas Joel Village Union Free School District, called out Jones for his disrespectful remark and congratulated him on finding the most antisemitic way to celebrate McCarthy’s defeat. U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer, a Democrat congressman representing a neighboring district, also condemned Jones’s comment, calling it deeply concerning.
While Jones attempted to do damage control by clarifying his statement, claiming he was criticizing McCarthy’s failure to deliver for the community, the damage had already been done. His initial comment made it clear that he has little respect or understanding for the significance of religious leaders and that he is more interested in playing partisan politics than in actually representing the diverse needs of his constituents.
It is deeply troubling that this type of rhetoric is becoming increasingly common among members of the far-left. They claim to champion inclusivity and diversity, but their actions often reveal a disregard for the beliefs and values of religious communities. In a time when antisemitism is on the rise, it is essential that we have leaders who will stand up for the Jewish community and condemn any form of discrimination or prejudice.
This incident is yet another example of why Mondaire Jones is not fit to serve in Congress. His association with the far-left Squad and his endorsement from Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez only further demonstrate his extreme political views. We need representatives who will work for the best interests of all Americans, not just those who align with their radical agenda. It is time for the voters of NY-17 to reject Jones’s divisive politics and choose a candidate who will truly serve their needs.
