Bronx Dems are anti-BDS?

To the editor:

Shocking but true. The local Benjamin Franklin Reform Democratic Club supports pro-BDS candidates!

Of course, this is not true.

But it is the logical conclusion when you start with lies. 

Fact: A full-page ad taken out by the right-wing PAC, Common Sense New Yorkers, in last week’s Riverdale Press printed state Sen. Gustavo Rivera’s statements and positions taken between 2014 and 2020 and construed them as for the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement.

Fact: The Ben Franklin Club supported and endorsed state Sen. Gustavo Rivera in 2014, 2016, 2018 and 2020.

Conclusion: The Benjamin Franklin Reform Democratic Club supports pro-BDS candidates.

Solid logic. But there is a problem: Gustavo’s positions on BDS and Israel could not have been that bad. Otherwise, the Ben Franklin Club would not have endorsed him so many times.

And according to City & State, it sounded like the Bronx Democrats encouraged Gustavo Rivera to run in other places in the Bronx. If Gustavo was so bad on BDS and Israel, why would the Bronx Democrats want to have anything to do with him?

So take that ad with a grain of salt because, if you believe it, then you have to surmise that the Ben Franklin Club supports pro-BDS/anti-Israel candidates, which, obviously, is absurd.

Joel Chaiken