The Age... Again!

Senior Lecturer in the Department of Social Work at Monash University (and co-author of Jews & Australian Politics) Philip Mendes writes in The Australian Jewish News that "Whatever the final outcome, the 2010 election campaign confirmed beyond doubt that Australian Jews are very fortunate to live in a country where both major political parties are so favourably disposed to their key concerns."

He does, however, have a bone to pick: "The low light of this election was arguably the continuing obsession of The Age newspaper with Tim Mathieson's employment by Jewish communal figure Albert Dadon, and the associated inference that Jewish fundraisers have unduly influenced Prime Minister Julia Gillard's views regarding Israel. In reality there is no evidence that wealthy Jewish political donors act differently to other wealthy political donors. Many are almost certainly driven by business and ideological agendas, rather than by specifically Jewish motives. That is hardly a news story." (Jewish voters the winners, 27/8/10)

From which one may deduce the following:

1) If The Age investigates a potential or actual conflict of interest not involving a Jewish communal figure, it can safely be regarded as a legitimate journalistic investigation. If, however, it does involve a Jewish communal figure, it's definitely an obsession.
2) That Albert Dadon is (i) an Israel lobbyist (ii) creator of the Australia-Israel Leadership Forum and (iii) has form in ferrying Australian politicians to Israel and Israeli politicians to Australia is an entirely irrelevent consideration.
3) Given Israel's obvious charisma and sex-appeal, it would be churlish to suggest that money has anything to do with Gillard's hots for the place.
4) By ideological agenda it should be assumed that it is Labor's deep and abiding commitment to peace, justice, human rights and the environment that attracts Jewish political donors, certainly not - heaven forbid! - its cute habit of humping Israel's legs.