Jewish Republicans and Jewish Democrats exchanged barbs about Mitt Romney’s decision to launch his presidential candidacy at the Henry Ford Museum. The National Jewish Democratic Council criticized the choice for Romney’s campaign launch Tuesday, recalling the automobile pioneer as a “notorious anti-Semite and xenophobe.” Ford recanted some of his anti-Semitic views in his later years. Romney’s choice “raises serious questions about either the sincerity of Romney’s words or his understanding of basic American history,” the NJDC said. The Republican Jewish Coalition called the NJDC attack “hypocritical.” “In 1999, the NJDC did not attack President Bill Clinton when he praised Henry Ford, and for them to go after Governor Romney now is the ultimate in partisan political double standards,” the RJC said. Clinton had praised Ford in a speech on micro-enterprise development. Romney, who was Massachusetts governor until last year, said he chose the museum for his launch because it represents innovation. He is originally from Michigan, and his father was governor of the state.
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