Randy Fine warns that antisemitism must be excised from Republican politics

U.S. Rep. Randy Fine says antisemitism serves as a “canary in the cold mine” when it comes to destructive hate.

“Jews have been around for 3,000 years. In fact, we’re the oldest civilization that has existed,” the Atlantic Coast Republican said, “and the antisemitism was around for most of that 3,000 years. What we have seen over that history is that every civilization that has hated Jews has not stopped at hating Jews.”

Fine, who won election to his seat in April, spoke at the Rescuing the American Dream summit, along with other allies of U.S. Sen. Rick Scott.

While calling the negotiated release of hostages from Hamas the greatest accomplishment to date of President Donald Trump’s second term, Fine also saw a need to root out hate within his own party.

“I serve with two antisemites in Congress. Of 220 Republicans, two of them are antisemitic,” Fine said.

Fine told Florida Politics he was referring to U.S. Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia and Thomas Massie of Kentucky.

But he said far more antisemitic members serve in the Democratic caucus, despite Jewish voters being a traditionally Democratic demographic.

“There was a time in the Democratic Party where there probably were only two antisemites, and they chose to poo-poo it and say, ‘it’s no big deal. These people are radicals. I don’t have to worry about it,’” Fine said.

“Now look where they are. Now, antisemitism is a key linchpin of the mainstream Democratic Party. I see it in my colleagues in Congress. They are either antisemites, or they’re afraid of the antisemites who might vote them out.”

Fine suggested that despite the longevity of Jewish civilization, Jews have been an easy group throughout history to scapegoat because of their minority status. But he said anyone who ignores the issue runs the risk of further problems for other groups. He said the true target of antisemitism is the freedom and capitalism that has thrived in Western civilization.

“If we don’t deal with it, if the Republican Party loses that, if we go down the same path as the Democrats, we will lose our entire nation,” he said.