GOP Presidential Candidate Tommy Thompson says Making Money is Part of the Jewish Tradition

From Haaretz:

Republican presidential hopeful Thompson: Making money part of Jewish tradition

By Shmuel Rosner, Haaretz Correspondent

WASHINGTON - Former Wisconsin governor and Republican presidential hopeful Tommy Thompson told Jewish activists Monday that making money is "part of the Jewish tradition," and something that he applauded. Speaking to an audience at the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism in Washington D.C., Thompson said that, "I'm in the private sector and for the first time in my life I'm earning money. You know that's sort of part of the Jewish tradition and I do not find anything wrong with that." Thompson later apologized for the comments that had caused a stir in the audience, saying that he had meant it as a compliment, and had only wanted to highlight the "accomplishments" of the Jewish religion. "I just want to clarify something because I didn't [by] any means want to infer or imply anything about Jews and finances and things," he said. "What I was referring to, ladies and gentlemen, is the accomplishments of the Jewish religion. You've been outstanding business people and I compliment you for that." Thompson left public office in 2005, having served four terms as Wisconsin governor and later as President George W. Bush's Health and Human Services Secretary. He announced his candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination at the start of April.

Comments

[Glen L. Gruel]

Tommy Thompson, One of the important elements of the War in Iraq is the US’s inability to fight a winning war. Why? Look at the restrictive “Rules of Engagement” that is the result of past conflicts: Korea where the goal was to prevent the North Koreans from crossing the 38th parallel; Vietnam where the goal was to stop the spread of Communism; Gulf War where the goal was to push the Iraqi out of Kuwait; and lastly the War on Terrorism, where the goal is to fight (a) fleeting band(s) of terrorists. The current “Rules of Engagement” are designed for purposes other than fighting a winning war. In Iraq, these rules should be addressed, examined and changed so that we can win. Not to do so is to continue to commit our troops to a “meat grinder” war.

You should see the criteria that a soldier or a commander needs to consider before he can shoot at the ‘enemy;’ when, where and under what conditions. It is amazing that this has not been addressed in public discussions by our political candidates.