A Quack from Mr. Rausch Jude Wanniski March 13, 1997

Memo To: Mr. George Rausch
From: Jude Wanniski
Re: Louis Farrakhan

The following e-mail was sent me yesterday by a Mr. George Rausch, a man I don't know, about my attempts to bring about a rapprochement between Louis Farrakhan and the American Jewish community. My e-mail reply follows his message:

Mr. Rausch: Considering the prevalence of antisemitic remarks and references contained in Farrakhan's discourses, it is somewhat difficult to come to the conclusion that there is no anti-Jewish bias in the man. It has always been a truism that 'it if walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it must be a duck' and it is undoubtedly safe to say that Farrakhan is an anti-Semite.
There is a great deal to be said in favor of African-American self-reliance and promoting its virtues is most commendable. To the extent that Farrakhan limits his speeches to that topic, he is on the right track. When he digresses into displaying his many biases -- which he so frequently does, and with particular emphasis against Jews -- then unfortunately, he shows his true views and demonstrates that he is really not much more than another dangerous demagogue.

My colleagues both within and outside our Corporation are disappointed in Polyconomics for providing another platform for these totally unacceptable and un-American views and hope to make them widely known for their potential impact upon the value and reliability of Polyconomics' work product. We are seriously disappointed.

My Reply: I have no idea who you are, Mr. Rausch, but it does not bode well for our relationship that you have initiated it with an economic threat against my company. What kind of a man are you? My efforts to bring reconciliation between the black and Jewish community involve only peaceful diplomacy. I've done enough research to know that neither Farrakhan nor the Nation of Islam have ever been accused of the use offeree, either to desecrate a place of worship or to raise a hand in anger against anyone, Jewish or not. The only record he has made that is on the record is one of achievement, in inspiring the black community to repair itself, to obey God, to shun drugs and alcohol, to treat their wives and families with respect. Good does not come out of evil. How could I consider someone a fascist when his words and deeds do not involve the use offeree, but rely only upon verbal admonitions? Who do I consider in error in a dispute between two institutions, when one reaches out a hand offering a fresh start, as Farrakhan has, and the other rejects it, as the ADL has? What am I to think, as a fair-minded man, when I see the NOI going about its work in peace, and see the ADL engaged in a decade-long effort to destroy the Nation of Islam financially, as you now threaten me? Who is the fascist in this picture, Mr. Rausch. As a wise man once said, if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it must be a duck.