Billy Carter, the President’s brother, was sharply reprimanded in “an open letter” and an editorial published in The Southern Israelite for his apparent inability to distinguish “between ethnic humor and ethnic insult.” The latest embarrassment arising from Billy’s frequent habit of putting words before thought stemmed from his use of the term “bastardized Jew” at a local fund-raising dinner several weeks ago.
The occasion was a “roast”– a good-humored needling — honoring Phil Niekro, a sports figure of Polish descent. Carter reportedly said he didn’t know Niekro was a “Pollack” but thought he was a “bastardized Jew.” One account erroneously reported that he had used the words “Goddamned Jew.”
President Carter, when asked for a reaction made it clear that he does not comment on controversies surrounding his brother Billy, of which there have been many. Billy Carter himself has been unavailable for comment since the incident.
RAPPED BY ADL OFFICIAL
The “open letter,” signed by Stuart Lewengrub, director of the Southeastern Regional Office of the Anti-Defamation League of B’nai B’rith, observed: “Had this been a private affair, one that did not have an audience of 1200 people, plus press and television cameras and you were not the brother of the President of the United States, perhaps your remarks would have gone unnoticed. However, because you are a public personality and as such what you say in public carries greater weight, it seems to us that you bear a special responsibility in terms of what you say, even in jest.”
Lewengrub pointed out that “it is highly questionable whether terms such as ‘bastardized Jew’ and ‘Pollack’ are humorous, or appropriate” even in the context of a roast. “We trust,” he wrote, “that you personally bear no ill will toward the Jewish people or those of Polish descent, and that your future comments, be they serious or humorous, will reflect the kind of sensitivity to others that you would expect to be directed toward you, your family and your heritage.”
The editorial, signed by Vida Goldgar, managing editor of The Southern Israelite, stated: “It has become increasingly difficult to dismiss ‘First Brother’ Billy Carter as just a loud-mouthed publicity-seeking (but basically goodhearted) buffoon. His latest remarks at a ‘roast’ honoring one of the sports world’s truly fine personalities were ill-conceived, grossly insensitive and showed an utter disregard for any semblance of responsibility.”
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
