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Comment by anaisbetts | Hacker News Reader

Right-wing people have decided that George Soros is a proxy / representative for "globalism" (an anti-semitic dog-whistle). When people are angry at Soros, it is a dog-whistle for prejudice / hatred against Jewish people. It's not obvious that this is the case to people outside of right-wing groups, which is why it gets so much unexplained press.

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If you read the original New York Times article [1], part of this strategy was actually Facebook attempting to smear anti-Facebook demonstrators as being anti-Semitic when they clearly weren't. (So, they're accusing Facebook critics of anti-Semitism while simultaneously paying people to criticize Soros.) Facebook is playing all sides here with one goal: to suppress criticism and anti-Facebook demonstrations.

That said, it's disingenuous to insist all criticism of Soros is from anti-Semites. While many people on the right do believe lots of absurd conspiracy theories about Soros, I believe only a small percentage of those people are anti-Semites or intend any anti-Semitic undertones in their criticism. Mention of Soros is definitely an anti-Semitic dog whistle for alt-right/far-right people, but it's not for a lot of other people who are right-adjacent. The majority of conservatives who complain about Soros probably aren't anti-Semites; I bet you'd find massive overlap with support for Israel, for example.

It is certainly possible that some of the conspiracy theories originate from anti-Semitic sources, but as they trickle down to the general public, you'll see that most conservatives basically just consider Soros the left-wing version of the Koch brothers - a billionaire who's funding everything they dislike. Which isn't wrong, to an extent.

[1] https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/14/technology/facebook-data-...

I don't think it's productive to declare everything secretly racist, sexist, or whatever else. Soros and his Open Society Foundations are the most visible representation of globalism today. But this has nothing to do with him being Jewish and in fact his political views are not even in line with those of Israel which tends to hold a more Zionistic and consequently nationalistic view.

As an example of the disconnect there, consider the influx of individuals trying to claim refugee status in Israel and Israel's reactions [1], against what Israeli media openly declares "infiltrators". Israel's actions here have drawn the ire of groups directly supported by Soros' organizations. The point is that just because a Jewish man happens to be one of the most well known names associated with globalism hardly means that globalism is now suddenly a secret word for Jew. It doesn't even make any sense.

[1] - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illegal_immigration_from_Afric...

Or, you know, people can be genuinely against global centralization and not have anything to do with anti-semitism. In my view, the attempt at linking anti-globalist views to anti-semitism is just an ad hominem attack.

Is Soros supporting "global centralization?" Or is that more misinformation? Also that term is a bit vague for me, not sure I understand all the implications.

Maybe thats true of some alt-right factions (like the white nationalist types).

Typical republican conservatives tend to be the opposite of antisemitic. They are very pro Israel, for instance. They are the people who might applaud Trump for moving the US embassy to Jerusalem.

There's a twinge of antisemitism that creeps in on the fringes of the left too, also stemming from Israel (and its conflict with the Palestinians).

but jews DO make up a majority of the top 1%. it doesn't have to be hatred against jewish people. its just talking about the facts. sounds like textbook social justice.

I don't agree with it, but i see the hypocrisy in being able to talk about whites (who make up the majority of the top 10%), but not the jews (who make up a majority of the top 1%).

I'm in the camp that recognizes success, but seeks to be associated with it and emulate it rather than "dog-whistle" as you say (I work at a jewish company)

I'm simply explaining a cultural phenomenon (the name "George Soros" being a hidden proxy for "Jewish people" in hate circles), not ascribing that it is Right or A Good Thing For Society.

You may have worded that incorrectly. A majority of the 1% are most certainly not jews.

Wtf is a jewish company? Get your head on straight dude. This is the type of hatred where you misattribute your boss' success to their "otherness" which makes anti-semitism so elusive. Re-evaluate.

Sorry for responding late but my company gets all the Jewish holidays off and most of the leaders are Jewish. We even work half days on Friday in preparation for sabbath. There’s no hatred or “anti” anything. Quite the opposite.

Just to add, when you say "right wing" you really mean "half-insane Neonazi alt-righters." There are plenty of people who consider themselves "right wing" that don't buy into this nonsense.

I consider "right wing" to be the same term, but I also agree with you that there are plenty of people who have conservative views (fiscally or otherwise) who have nothing to do with this

Nah. With the exception of Trump support, I agree that the "alt-right" is not the as "the right" (hence the titular "alt"), but the Soros nonsense has been a right-wing staple long before the alt-right came along, they were saying the same things about him back in the Bush years.

Soros is not a proxy for 'the jews'. You are derailing the argument yelling racisim with no proof. Citation?

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