Miller "the Job Killer" caricature
Miller "the Job Killer" caricature
Date: Monday, June 12, 2006 1:52 PM
<<<<< JOB DESTRUCTION NEWSLETTER No. 1499 -- 06/12/2006 >>>>>
Things have gotten nasty in the Virginia Democratic primary for Senator.
Harris Miller is trying to make political hay over a caricature made by the
James Webb campaign. Miller claims the caricature exploits Jewish
stereotypes by branding him "Miller, the Job Killer." Just to set the
record straight, Miller is a job killer. He has made a very good living by
lobbying for unlimited H-1B visas and unfettered offshoring.
Miller's cheap shots at Webb's campaign are nothing but transparent
obscuration of the real issues - like the fact that he is a highly paid
corporate lobbyist that has no qualms about selling out the American middle
class. Miller's pouting is rather pathetic:
"Frankly, it's despicable. One of things I was hoping we
would keep out of this campaign, because it has nothing
to do with this campaign, is my religion and my background."
Attack dogs wasted no time to attack the James Webb campaign.
Mark Feldstein, an associate professor of media and public affairs at
George Washington University, joined the fray:
"That doesn't look so good. There's no question to me that's
replete with anti-Semitic stereotypes," said "I'm not someone
who readily cries anti-Semitism, but I think it's hard to
look at this and not see a number of anti-Semitic stereotypes
plugged into this ad, from the hook nose to the 'antichrist'
to the money-grubbing character."
Bruce Newman, a professor of marketing at DePaul University and editor of
the Journal of Political Marketing, said it reminded him of 1930s German
propaganda, where the Jewish character was subtly made out to be the
thieving villain.
"It very much crosses the line," said Newman, who is Jewish.
"I'm speaking with my professional hat on now. It's a
modern-day caricature of the quote-unquote villain, the one
who's out to make life difficult and hurt people in the town.
I've seen literature from those days and this offends me
quite a bit."
So what caused all the brouhaha? Click on the fredericksburg.com link to
judge for yourself if the caricature of Harris Miller is accurate. I almost
can't tell the difference between the picture of Miller and the drawing.
It's so good I'm surprised Miller isn't going to frame it and put it in his
mansion:
http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2006/062006/06082006/197593
To see the complete flyer with the Harris Miller comic click on this link.
http://notlarrysabato.typepad.com/doh/files/miller_flyer_color.pdf
IT GETS WORSE!
Virginia is famous for its peanuts, but this guy is a nut of a different
kind. Shaun Kenney, who is chairman of the Spotsylvania Republican
Committee, took the smear to a new level by accusing James Webb of
"Jewbaiting". For some good laughs you have got to go to his website and
scroll down about half way until you see the drawings that go with the
title: "Is the Miller Comic anti-Semitic?"
http://www.shaunkenney.com/
It's odd to see Virginia Republicans siding with Harris Miller. Perhaps the
Republicans think Miller would be easier for Sen. Allen to beat in the
general election. They are probably right since both Miller and Allen are
job killers. If the election becomes a contest of the lesser of two evils
it would be difficult to imagine anybody losing to Harris "the Job Killer"
Miller.
There is a new caricature of Harris Miller online. You be the judge on
whether it is anti-Semitic.
http://www.raisingkaine.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=2959
This is my attempt at drawing Harris Miller, the Job Killer.
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Articles Used for this Newsletter
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http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2006/062006/06082006/197593
Webb flier on Miller adds fire to campaign
http://home.hamptonroads.com/stories/story.cfm?story=105847&ran=188946
Accusations of bias emerge in final debate of primary race
http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD%2FMGArticle%2FRTD_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1149188374603
Webb flier draws anger
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http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2006/062006/06082006/197593
Webb flier on Miller adds fire to campaign
June 8, 2006 12:50 am
Critics of a Democratic Senate contender Harris Miller caricature in a
flier from the campaign of party rival Jim Webb say the portrayal leaves an
anti-Semitic impression.
Click for larger photo and to order reprints
By EDIE GROSS
The flier put out by Jim Webb's campaign for U.S. Senate described his
opponent as a corporate lobbyist who made money by sending American jobs
overseas.
But what caught Dan Smolen's attention was the cartoon that accompanied the
text: That of a man with a hook nose and money spilling from his pockets.
It was a caricature of Harris Miller, Webb's opponent in Tuesday's
Democratic primary who happens to be Jewish.
The image made Smolen, who is Jewish and Stafford County's Democratic
chairman, uncomfortable.
"I don't think whoever did the cartoon caricature meant this as an ethnic
slur," he said, "but the effect of it was very troubling."
Since seeing the image on the Internet last weekend, Smolen has talked with
officials from the Webb campaign, who have assured him that there was no
anti-Semitic intent and that the images will not be used again.
But the cartoon and some of the text are still being discussed on various
Web sites tracking the campaign.
Folks posting messages on not LarrySabato.typepad.com, a politically minded
blog where the image can be seen, have argued for days over whether the
flier is a bold political move or a bad decision.
Shaun Kenney, chairman of the Spotsylvania Republican Party, accused Webb
of "jewbaiting" on his blog, shaunkenney.com.
Webb spokeswoman Kristian Denny-Todd said the flier was printed for an
event in Southwest Virginia about two weeks ago. A campaign supporter
offered to draw the cartoon, which was not intended to offend anyone, she
said.
The cartoon features Webb as a sort of super-hero fighting to keep jobs in
America. The text on the flier refers to Miller, a former lobbyist for the
IT industry, as the "anti-Christ of outsourcing."
Webb didn't invent that label, Denny-Todd said. Instead, it comes from a
column written in January by a senior editor for InformationWeek, a
magazine for IT professionals.
"The bottom line was in response to the attacks we've endured by Harris
Miller, this was a supporter's way to counteract those that was a little
fresh, not just words on paper," she said. "It was never meant to target a
specific group."
Scholars of political literature had mixed reactions upon seeing the flier.
"That doesn't look so good. There's no question to me that's replete with
anti-Semitic stereotypes," said Mark Feldstein, an associate professor of
media and public affairs at George Washington University. "I'm not someone
who readily cries anti-Semitism, but I think it's hard to look at this and
not see a number of anti-Semitic stereotypes plugged into this ad, from the
hook nose to the 'antichrist' to the money-grubbing character."
Bruce Newman, a professor of marketing at DePaul University and editor of
the Journal of Political Marketing, said it reminded him of 1930s German
propaganda, where the Jewish character was subtly made out to be the
thieving villain.
"It very much crosses the line," said Newman, who is Jewish. "I'm speaking
with my professional hat on now. It's a modern-day caricature of the
quote-unquote villain, the one who's out to make life difficult and hurt
people in the town. I've seen literature from those days and this offends
me quite a bit."
University of Virginia political analyst Larry Sabato said the flier wasn't
really any worse than other campaign literature he'd seen in hotly
contested races.
"I think that's a real stretch to call that anti-Semitic, and I'm not
usually inclined to give candidates the benefit of the doubt," Sabato said.
A spokeswoman for Miller said her team originally thought the flier was a
prank not produced by the Webb campaign. They're bothered by it, Taylor
West said, but they're focused more on Tuesday's primary. The winner will
face Republican Sen. George Allen in November.
"There's a role in calling attention to differences, but this cartoon is so
outlandish. It ought to be an embarrassment to their campaign. It's so far
beyond what any Virginia candidate has had lobbed at them," she said.
"Despite the very personal attacks, we're going to focus on our message."
The Webb campaign insists the flier was not widely distributed but only
available for the one event.
Smolen said he felt better knowing that.
"I'm completely satisfied with the Webb campaign's recognition that this in
fact, had it gone out, could've been a damaging situation and that in the
future they're going to make sure this doesn't happen again," Smolen said.
"I don't think it was a deliberate smear."
To reach EDIE GROSS:540/374-5428
Email: egross@freelancestar.com
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http://home.hamptonroads.com/stories/story.cfm?story=105847&ran=188946
Accusations of bias emerge in final debate of primary race
By DALE EISMAN, The Virginian-Pilot
) June 10, 2006
Last updated: 12:45 AM
WASHINGTON - The two Democrats seeking their party's nomination for U.S.
Senate found little on which to disagree Friday, but their contest appeared
increasingly personal in its final hours as each accused the other of
appealing to racial or religious bias.
In a debate aired on WTOP Radio , businessman and former lobbyist Harris
Miller, who is Jewish, charged that a brochure distributed by the camp of
former Navy Secretary Jim Webb exploits Jewish stereotypes in branding him
"Miller, the Job Killer."
"Frankly, it's despicable," Miller said. "One of things I was hoping we
would keep out of this campaign, because it has nothing to do with this
campaign, is my religion and my background."
Webb, who apologized to anyone offended by the flier, said, "I would not
look at that in any way and say that it's anti-Semitic." He charged that
Miller has "played the race card" in their campaign by unfairly trying to
portray him as opposed to affirmative action programs benefiting blacks.
"In many ways, this is just politics as usual," Webb said. "I've been
called anti-female, I've been called anti-minority, and now I'm being
called anti-Semitic." He added, "Anyone who knows me knows I would never
engage in that sort of conduct."
On Tuesday, Virginia voters will choose the Democratic nominee to oppose
Republican Sen. George Allen. The primary is open to all registered voters.
The Webb fli er, which Webb acknowledged seeing before its distribution,
apparently was intended to rally support among union members. It includes a
caricature of Miller holding an oversize cigar and with greenbacks bulging
from a suit pocket, along with text repeating union charges that he was
"the anti-Christ of outsourcing" as a lobbyist for telecommunications
companies.
Miller said he does not believe that Webb is anti-Semitic and that he
appreciated Webb's apology. However, he told reporters that the caricature,
including a profile view of Miller that shows off an oversize , hooked
nose, "bore a great resemblance" to anti-Semitic propaganda he's seen in
other contexts .
A Webb aide said the fli er is no longer being distributed and that only "a
few thousand" copies were printed.
Webb said Miller has distorted his views about affirmative action, trying
to stop him from winning the votes of black people . Programs that give
extra aid to blacks to gain employment are appropriate, Webb said, because
they were the victims of generations of government-sanctioned
discrimination.
Webb said his concern is that those programs have been extended to other
groups, including women, to the point that white males are about the only
group that does not qualify for some sort of job aid.
"I've worked with the African American community all my life," Webb said,
recalling his six years of advocacy as a Marine lawyer for a fellow Marine
who was unjustly accused of murder. His client, a black man , committed
suicide halfway through the ordeal, but he stayed on the case to clear the
man's name, Webb said.
Apart from questions about race and religion, the candidates' sharpest
disagreement Friday was over the continuing U.S. involvement in Iraq.
Miller said the situation should be viewed "as a business problem" and the
Bush administration should give Iraq's new leaders precise timetables for
the training of Iraqi troops and police to assume security duties now
performed by the U.S. military.
If those deadlines aren't met and U.S. troops can't be withdrawn, Miller
said, he would approve a cutoff in appropriations for the occupation.
Webb countered that "you can't take a business approach" to war. Defense
Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and Robert McNamara, who held the job during the
Vietnam War, were both excellent businessmen "and they have gotten us into
the two most difficult wars to end that we have been in in a century," he
said.
Friday's hourlong exchange was the last scheduled debate between Miller and
Webb. Each promised to support whomever emerges victorious in Tuesday's
primary.
The session had a couple of jarring moments for Webb. A blown fuse darkened
the studio as he read his opening statement - he didn't miss a beat - and a
Miller commercial aired during one break.
"You owe me a free ad," Webb joked to moderator Mark Plotkin when the
debate resumed. Hillary Howard, the announcer, said the commercial was
aired by mistake.
Reach Dale Eisman at (703)913-9872 or icemandc@msn.com.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD%2FMGArticle%2FRTD_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1149188374603
Webb flier draws anger
BY TYLER WHITLEY AND PETER HARDIN
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITERS
Saturday, June 10, 2006
This is a comic strip featured in a campaign flier for James Webb, who is
running for the Democratic Senate nomination. His opponent Harris Miller,
who is Jewish, is depicted with a hooked nose and cash spilling from his
pockets.
TOMORROW
YOUR CHOICE
OPEN PRIMARY:
Any registered voter in Virginia can cast a ballot Tuesday to pick the
Democratic Senate challenger.
A James Webb campaign flier that could be interpreted as anti-Semitic drew
the ire of his opponent, Harris Miller, in a radio debate yesterday.
Miller, who is Jewish, called the flier despicable.
Webb said it was not anti-Semitic, but if anyone was offended by it, "I
apologize."
He said Miller had played the race card by misrepresenting his views on
affirmative action.
The two candidates for the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate
appeared on Washington Post Radio in the last joint appearance of the
campaign. The primary is Tuesday.
Unlike an earlier debate, in which Miller and Webb clashed sharply and
where Webb called Miller "the anti-Christ of outsourcing" and at one point
told Miller to "shut your mouth," they generally were conciliatory
yesterday, agreeing more often than they disagreed. Each promised to
support the winner of the Senate primary.
The cartoonlike flier, titled "Miller the Job Killer," depicts Miller with
a hooked nose and cash spilling out of his pockets. He orders an assistant
to find ways to export jobs overseas.
Webb has been criticizing Miller for promoting the out-sourcing of jobs
while he was president of the Information Technology Association of
America, which represents computer hardware and software firms.
The flier was distributed at a labor union event in southwest Vir- ginia.
"Apparently, it was distributed only in certain parts of Virginia, as if
people there would fall for that imagery," Miller said.
"One of the things I hoped we would keep out of this campaign . . . is my
religion and my background," Miller added.
Miller did not bring up the subject during the debate; a questioner did.
Afterward, Miller said, "I'm not accusing [Webb] personally of being
anti-Semitic. I don't believe that for one second. Jim Webb is a good man."
The caricature has been "quite upsetting to me and my family, to most of my
friends, and to a lot of people across this country, frankly," Miller said.
Webb asked, "What would be my motive?"
"Harris hasn't apologized for distorting my views on affirmative action,
I'd kind of like to hear that," Webb added.
Saying he has had a long record of helping blacks, Webb said, "It is one of
my great regrets of this campaign that my views on those issues have been
distorted."
As an example of his work with the black community, Webb mentioned his
fight to secure a statue of a black soldier in Washington at a memorial to
Vietnam War veterans. He also discussed his volunteer legal work in a
six-year period on behalf of a young black Marine who was convicted of
murder in Vietnam.
"He killed himself halfway through, and I cleared his name for his family,"
Webb said.
Early in the contest, the Miller campaign brought up remarks in which Webb
called affirmative action state-sponsored racism. He said he always has
backed affirmative action because of government-backed actions, such as
slavery and segregation.
In the radio debate, Webb, who spoke out against war in Iraq five months
before the invasion, said it has made the world less safe.
He would not set a timetable for withdrawal but would hope it could begin
in 1= to 2 years. Webb is a former Defense Department official and
secretary of the Navy.
Miller, who is a businessman, said he would treat the withdrawal from Iraq
as a business problem.
Webb retorted that Robert S. McNamara and Donald H. Rumsfeld were
businessmen. McNamara was secretary of Defense during the Vietnam War.
Rumsfeld is the current secretary of Defense.
"You can't take a business approach to something that is so complex," said
Webb, a decorated Marine who fought in Vietnam.
Miller said he opposes repeal of the estate tax, a tax of up to 46 percent
on multi-million dollar estates.
"It puts a lot of money in the pockets of Paris Hilton's and Dick Cheney's
heirs," he said of the repeal.
Webb said the $2 million threshold for avoiding the tax is too low, because
it penalizes farmers and family businesses.
Miller, meanwhile confirmed that he has put another $250,000 into his
campaign, bringing his total to $975,000. A spokesman for Miller declined
to say whether he would contribute more.
Webb has invested $100,000 into his campaign.
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