By David Codrea
USA – -(Ammoland.com)- Practically everyone, including conservative and gun rights groups, reacted with understandable outrage to rocker and RKBA diehard Ted Nugent’s Facebook post of a graphic featuring Jewish anti-gun politicians with Israeli flags.
While quick to distance themselves from a celebrity they’d have happily claimed as an ally the day before his ill-conceived post, none of his detractors even attempted to contact him afterward to ask if accusations of anti-Semitism were true.
Wanting to understand what he was thinking and how he managed to make himself a media target for charges of anti-Semitism, Nicki Kenyon of The Zelman Partisans spoke with Nugent, and found her group was alone in asking him what happened. Additionally, Nugent took TZP up on an offer it made a week earlier and ended up joining the group.
The recently-formed organization is comprised of former members of Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership, who split off in disagreement following JPFO’s acquisition by the Second Amendment Foundation. Naming themselves in honor of JPFO’s founder, the late Aaron Zelman, TZP activists who knew and worked closely with Zelman consider themselves more in keeping with his fiercely uncompromising nature, and believe their approach to be truer to the legacy their friend, colleague and mentor would have wanted.
Perhaps there’s something to that, as JPFO, instead of reaching out to Nugent, merely issued a statement decrying his post. And while they are correct (in a Captain Obvious kind of way) that “Aaron Zelman, founder of Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership was far from anti-gun,” the statement ignores that Zelman reserved some of his harshest criticism for Jewish citizen disarmament proponents, and even coined the term “bagel brained Jews” to describe them.
In many ways, Aaron Zelman and Ted Nugent were alike, particularly in not worrying about who might be offended.
“Do Jewish leaders want us all to be victims?” Zelman asked in one powerful essay. He’s also the man who, in his trademark politically-incorrect, take-on-all-comers style, told the Anti-Defamation League to “burn in hell.”
People are going to have their opinions about Nugent and about what he posted on his Facebook page, and on his adamant refusal since then to back down. In a way, that works in his favor against those who will now claim he only spoke with Kenyon and TZP as a pandering move to try and ingratiate himself back into the good graces of those calling for his expulsion from the NRA Board. He just doesn’t appear to be the type of guy to back down or to bow to political correctness.
Was it ill-conceived? Considering how easy it is to trace back to true anti-Semites who have used the same graphic, it was certainly thoughtless, and Nugent admits as much.
Was it evidence of bigotry? Of course not.
And those tripping all over themselves to distance themselves from Nugent ought to know better. What are you guys afraid of, that Media Matters and The Huffington Post will say mean things about you? Like they won’t regardless of how much you try to appear “reasonable“?
My own takeaway from this? I’ve not involved myself that much in Nugent’s doings, aside from writing an article critical of his supporting Tom Tancredo, given some of that politician’s bipolar positions on guns. I’m hardly in the tank for the guy – I’m just looking at what makes sense to me.
On the other hand, I go back years with Nicki, and if there’s one person who will not mince words and is not afraid to rip into someone who deserves it – and colorfully – just ask her readers how timid and reserved they think she is. I’m pretty sure if she perceived Ted was BSing her, she wouldn’t be afraid to publicly field dress the guy, and maybe even not just metaphorically.
Go read her article (and take the poll) and make up your own mind.
About David Codrea:
David Codrea is the winner of multiple journalist awards for investigating / defending the RKBA and a long-time gun rights advocate who defiantly challenges the folly of citizen disarmament.
He blogs at “The War on Guns: Notes from the Resistance,” and also posts on Twitter: @dcodrea and Facebook.
Way to go Claire, tell it just like it is and not care what “air heads” think. A hypocrite is a hypocrite is a hypocrite no matter what their other labels may say.
Uncle Ted needs to take a trip to Israel and hobnob with the troops as well as meet President Netenyahu. It would lay this anti Semite issue to rest once and for all except for the nasty Wasserman Shultz types who have no regard for the truth. I’m proud to support Israel and IMI. They market some great gear.
My paltry submission: Mark A. – Good morning. I am not sure what directed you to your conclusion that TZP “has no Jewish leadship, purpose, or ethos.” Have you actually visited TZP’s website? Did you notice the mission statement? Leadship-wise, the President, Secretary/Treasurer, and the majority of the writers are Jewish, including Nicki. JPFO – upon Aaron’s demise, the president wasn’t Jewish. Most of of the writers were. Claire wasn’t Jewish then and, so far as I know, she still isn’t – yet she is the creative driving force behind this organization. Thus, Jewish representation in the original JPFO was… Read more »
And David … sorry I didn’t say so earlier, but thank you for the terrific article. Your comments about those who “reported” on Nugent without attempting to talk with him are right on — as is your take on Nicki. She would indeed “field dress” anybody she thought was BSing her. You and Nicki are two of a kind, but you’re a little less savage. 🙂
Didn’t say it earlier because I was too busy having hysterics over a mental image of how Aaron Zelman would have reacted at being accused of possessing insufficient gravitas.
Mr. Abramson,thanks for that clarification. Why, I’d been so convinced of the Jewish aspect of TZP that I was watching sunset times on Saturdays to avoid posting anything or sending alerts on the Sabbath. My bad.
So TZP has gentile members and workers like me. That wasn’t a problem when I worked for JPFO under Aaron. Why is it now?
Did you worry about gravitas when Aaron’s JPFO was producing comic books?
Dear Mark Abramson,
Appearances can be deceiving. So can names, to those who jump to conclusions. Speaking as the Treasurer of the organization; I am indeed Jewish. As is my wife, my four children, and four grandchidren. One daughter was married at 770 Eastern Parkway, and lives in Crown Heights! For a nominal fee I can arrange for you to examine my schmekel. Feh.