Meet the Liebermans: Wherever You Go, We’re Ready To Revoke Your Citizenship

J.J. Goldberg May 6, 2010

What we have here is the sort of coincidence — if coincidence it is — that I’m supposed to introduce with some witty throwaway line, something like “Coincidence? Or something more? You be the judge!” This one is just too weird, though. I’m speechless. So I’ll just report. You decide.

Here’s Senator Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut yesterday, discussing his legislative proposal to revoke the citizenship of Americans — presumably mostly Arabs and Muslims — who demonstrate disloyalty by joining foreign terrorist organizations.

Here’s then-Knesset Member (now foreign minister) Avigdor Lieberman of Israel last year, discussing his legislative proposal to revoke the citizenship of Israelis — presumably mostly Arabs and Muslims — who demonstrate disloyalty by refusing to sign a loyalty oath.

Fareed Zakaria, writing in Newsweek last year about the Israeli Lieberman’s plan for expatriation (as the American Lieberman calls it), commented: “No liberal democracy I know of since World War II has disenfranchised or expelled its own citizens.” Well, Fareed, meet the Liebermans. And watch where you use that L-word.

Addendum Post Facto: Perhaps we’re looking at some new variant. Let’s call it “Lieberal Democracy.”

J.J. Goldberg is editor emeritus of the Forward, where he served as editor in chief for seven years (2000-2007).

The views and opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect those of the Forward. Discover more perspectives in Opinion. To contact Opinion authors, email opinion@forward.com.

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