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| Kanye West |
How could a German company, especially one that had close ties to Adolf Hitler and the Nazi party, wait so long before cutting ties with a business partner that spews anti-Semitic hatred?
That’s a great question for adidas CEO Kasper Rorsted and supervisory board chairman Thomas Rabe.
They apparently adopted the “It’s not personal. It’s just business” management strategy used by Michael Corleone in “The Godfather.”
The duo waited nearly a month before cutting ties with rapper Kayne West (aka Ye) for his anti-Semitic tirades. Were they hoping the controversy would just go away?
Adidas on Oct. 25 terminated its relationship, effectively immediately, with West because it finally decided that it “does not tolerate antisemitism and any sort of hate speech."
West, who was at the Paris Fashion Show earlier this month wearing a “White Lives Matter" shirt, appeared on Fox News’ Tucker Carlson’s show on Oct. 6 and other programs making offensive remarks about the Jewish people. He also tweeted about “going death con 3 on Jewish people.”
Italian fashion brand Balenciaga and talent agency CAA severed ties with the rapper, while adidas decided to put the relationship with West under review.
That led to an Oct. 20 stinging rebuke from the ADL, which asked Rorsted and Rabe: “What more do you have to review?”
The ADL also expressed alarm that adidas planned to introduce the Yeezy Boost 350 line “in the run-up to the anniversary of the Pittsburgh synagogue massacre on Oct. 27, the most violent antisemitic attack in US history.”
Adidas says it will take a $250M 2022 profit hit by dropping its deal with West.
That’s chump change compared to the long-term reputational damage that adidas would have suffered had it maintained ties with the disgraced West.
Amateur time for the Congressional Progressive Caucus. The last thing Democrats need in the run-up to the midterm elections is the emergence of the “appeasement caucus” in its left-wing flank.
The CPC released a letter to Joe Biden on Oct. 24 that urged him to “pair the military and economic support for Ukraine” with a proactive diplomatic push aimed at war criminal Vladimir Putin.
That letter is music to Putin’s ears. He has been trying to undercut US support for Ukraine and split up the western alliance.
The letter said the US has the responsibility to “seriously explore all possible avenues, including direct engagement with Russia, to reduce harm and support Ukraine in achieving a peaceful settlement.”
The letter came as Russia is threatening to escalate the war, claiming that Ukraine plans to deploy a “dirty bomb."
After jaws dropped on Capitol Hill, Rep. Pramila Jayapal, chair of the CPC, backtracked.
She issued a statement on Oct. 24, to clarify the letter to Biden. “Let me be clear: we are united as Democrats in our unequivocal commitment to supporting Ukraine in their fight for their democracy and freedom in the face of the illegal and outrageous Russian invasion, and nothing in the letter advocates for a change in that support.”
Too little too late.
On Oct. 25, the very embarrassed CPC said, “never mind.” It withdrew the Biden letter, which was “drafted several months ago” and released without vetting
Jayapal also complained that the timing of the letter’s release is “being conflated by some as being equivalent to the recent statement by Republican leader McCarthy threatening an end to aid to Ukraine if Republicans take over."
You got that right, Pramila.
The CPC, which includes “squad members” Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rashida Tlaib, Mondaire Jones and Ayanna Pressley, proved that it is not ready for prime time.
Republican tough guys Josh Hawley and Tom Cotton want Biden to send the National Guard to Columbia University to put an end to student protests... Bernie blasts Bibi for insulting America's intelligence by equating criticism of Israel's government with antisemitism... German court convicts former financial PR exec who claims he wasn't aware that trading on tips is illegal. 
Southern governors claim they know what's best for their working class, and it's not pay raises... A Ukrainian human rights group played a key role in convincing House Speaker Mike Johnson to hold a vote to send arms to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan... Trump Media & Technology Group blames short-selling and not lousy outlook for its stock slump.
The techniques deployed by OJ Simpson's defense team in the 'trial of the century' served as a harbinger for those used by Donald Trump... People worry about the politicization of medical science just as much as they fret about another pandemic, according to Edelman Trust Barometer... Book bans aren't restricted to red states as deep blue Illinois, Connecticut and Maryland challenged at least 100 titles in 2023.
The NBA, which promotes legalized gambling 24/7, seems more than hypocritical for banning player for placing bets... Diocese of Brooklyn promises to issue press release the next time one of its priests is charged with sexual abuse... Truth Social aspires to be one of Donald Trump's iconic American brands, just like Trump University or Trump Steaks or Trump Ice Cubes.
Publicis Groupe CEO Arthur Sadoun puts competition on notice... Macy's throws in the towel as it appoints two directors nominated by its unwanted suitor... The Profile in Wimpery Award goes to the Ford Presidential Foundation for stiffing American hero and former Wyoming Congresswoman Liz Cheney.
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Oct. 26, 2022, by Joe Honick
The Appeasement Caucus or whoever they might be should be ashamed of itself and all who put a dime into their treasuries. Precisely what would they tell Biden to bring to the table with Putin and company that would not put big smiles and vodka toasts of victory on their Russian faces and oligarch investors?
Biden has gotten far too little credit for having galvanized NATO countries in support of a gutsy Ukraine while he has had to fight the right wing filth seeming to support the Putin war crimes that seem just fine with Tucker Carlson, Donald Trump and others.
What is even more chilling is the lack of more powerful response from usually reliable media to the growing array of ultra right wing healthily financed online media propaganda going to millions daily.