Like everyone else, I've heard about the hateful things said about George Soros. The anti-semitic slurs were appalling, but I only heard about them second-hand. I was disturbed, but in a detached, intellectual way.

This afternoon, on live radio, local talk show host for WSPD Denny Schaffer, make the most blatantly anti-semitic statement I've ever heard (no transcript or audio available, but this almost exactly what was said. Thoughts were strung together, with nothing separating them):

George Soros is an atheist.

His jewish family escaped Europe in the 1930 by masquerading as Christians.

George Soros is the Anti-Christ.

He said this at 3:30, during the afternoon drive on one of the most popular radio stations in Toledo. And he just made one of the most hate-filled statement imaginable. Even now, four hours later, I am revolted and nauseous beyond words.

I never studied much about the historical phenomenon of anti-semitism, but even I can recognize the familiar and centuries-old pattern: Jews are godless; they can move amongst us without detection; they are the implacable enemy of everything we stand for. Schaffer didn't even try to dress it up, or couch his racism in euphemisms. He just . . . said it.

I'm guessing that it won't surprise anyone that Schaffer works for Clear Channel, and I'm guessing that tomorrow afternoon this racist jackass's job will just as secure as it was before he said these things.

Lies, hate and racism: just points in a business plan for Clear Channel.

[Update 8/13 In a phone conversation with Denny Schaffer, he confirmed that the statements were made, though he did dispute my interpretation. He played the tape of his comments for and there are two substantive differences fro what I quoted above:

Mr. Schaffer said "George Soros could be the Anti-Christ" He feels that this version inoculates him against charges of anti-Semitism. I disagree, but make your own judgement.

I also missed a clause in one the quote I provided above. "George Soros is an atheist; he hates Christians".

I was threatened with a lawsuit if I misquote so much as a single word of Mr. Schaffer's statements. When threatened, I requested a transcript, to ensure accuracy, Mr. Schaffer refused. Since he felt that his inflection on the word "could" is important in judging his meaning, I suggested that he post the audio on the internet. Again he refused]
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