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Roberts disavows fundraising e-mail

The congressional hopeful’s message implied Mike Turner is anti-Semitic.

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By Lynn Hulsey, Staff Writer 12:22 AM Thursday, October 28, 2010

DAYTON — Democratic congressional candidate Joe Roberts apologized for a fundraising e-mail sent by his campaign implying that U.S. Rep. Mike Turner, R-Centerville, is an anti-Semite.

“It was not written the way I would have liked it to be written,” said Roberts, who is running against Turner in the 3rd Congressional District. “What I would have said is I am a Jewish candidate running for office and I would like the support of the Jewish community.”

Roberts said the e-mail should not have been sent.

“This attack from his opponent is completely out of line and is unworthy of a response,” said Adam Murka, spokesman for the Turner campaign.

The e-mail was sent in September to about 150 people in the local Jewish community. According to a copy reprinted in the Dayton Jewish Observer’s November edition, the letter said, “My opponent Mike Turner, likes to claim he is a friend of the Jewish people, but the facts tell a different story.”

The e-mail criticizes Turner for participating in a November 2009 rally against health care reform where some people attending the rally held signs comparing health care reform to the Holocaust. Roberts’ e-mail says after the rally an apology was demanded by the Anti-Defamation League but none was issued.

The e-mail then urges people to “elect a Congressman who will not tolerate the defamation of our people” and asks for donations.

Nina Sundell, regional director of the Anti-Defamation League - Ohio office, said Turner was present at the rally but was not asked for an apology. She said the national league office did express concerns to the Republican leaders who were on stage at the rally and a number of them did express regret for not speaking out against the use of Holocaust imagery by health care reform opponents.

She said the non-profit group cannot weigh in on campaigns so she would not comment directly on Roberts’ e-mail.

Larry Skolnick, executive vice president for the Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton, said the federation and “its Jewish Community Relations Council urge candidates to refrain from appealing to voters along religious or ethnic lines.”

“For one candidate to infer that another candidate is ‘no friend of the Jews’ or is an anti-Semite is a very serious accusation, and in this case one leveled without any basis,” Skolnick said.

Roberts said he does not believe Turner is an anti-Semite.

Roberts also said he was unaware of the text of the e-mail until someone called to complain. He said the staffer who sent the e-mail was reprimanded and Roberts said he apologized to a few of the people who got the e-mail.

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