Jewish Funds for Justice CEO responds to Glenn Beck's claims that putting the common good first “leads to death camps”

Written by Tom Allison & Dave Hughes

Published

Earlier today Glenn Beck attacked Jewish Funds for Justice CEO Simon Greer for his April 14 Washington Post op-ed, focusing particularly on Greer's statement that "[t]o put God first is to put humankind first, and to put humankind first is to put the common good first." Beck lashed out, saying: “This leads to death camps. A Jew, of all people, should know that. This is exactly the kind of talk that led to the death camps in Germany. Put humankind and the common good first.”

Greer responded this afternoon, highlighting Beck's history of “recklessly invoking Nazi Germany and the Holocaust in order to advance his political agenda” and writing that “Beck's reflexive hatred for government is rejected by Americans of all backgrounds.”

From Greer's May 28 statement:

This morning, on his nationally syndicated radio program, Tea Party hero Glenn Beck lambasted me for writing, in a Washington Post op-ed, that “to put God first is to put humankind first, and to put humankind first is to put the common good first.” Beck responded by claiming that “this is exactly the kind of talk that led to the death camps in Germany” and that I, “a Jew, of all people, should know that.”

Glenn Beck has a history recklessly invoking Nazi Germany and the Holocaust in order to advance his political agenda. But never before has Beck accused Jews - including survivors of the Holocaust and their children and grandchildren - of paving the way for fascism. Through his comments, Beck has demonstrated that he has no idea what leads to fascism. Jews and others, who were victims of the Holocaust, do not have the luxury of his ignorance.

Beck's reflexive hatred for government is rejected by Americans of all backgrounds, who have seen the powerful role government can play in providing us with greater freedom, security, and opportunity. I am proud of the work we do at Jewish Funds for Justice, where our belief that we are all made in the image of the divine compels us to petition private enterprise, charities, and yes, the government, to do their part to ensure our shared divinity.