GOP flier in Virginia depicts Jewish Democrat with pile of gold coins

• Author: RON KAMPEAS/JTA
• Published date: 01 October 2021
• Publication title: Jerusalem Post, The: Web Edition Articles (Israel)

"Dan Helmer has raised Virginia's cost of living to new heights," the mailer said. It was distributed this week by Helmer's Republican challenger, Howard Pyon.

Helmer, the incumbent in the House of Delegate's 40th District, which covers parts of Fairfax and Prince William counties, told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that the photoshopped scene was clearly antisemitic and that he had heard from Jewish families in the district who were outraged.

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"People are deeply upset by this," said Helmer, an incumbent freshman running for reelection. "They expect us to be talking about the issues, not to be using antisemitic tropes."

A spokesman for Pyon said the depiction in the recent mailer was not antisemitic and could apply to any politician accused of voting to hike taxes.

"It's showing the increases because of his votes," Pyon's spokesman said of the four piles of coins topped with a car for car taxes, a lamp for utilities, a gasoline pump, and a house. Helmer's being Jewish "was not on Harold's mind" when the candidate approved the mailer, the spokesman said.

Similar depictions of Jewish candidates reveling in cash in recent election cycles have drawn condemnations from Jewish groups. Most of the attacks have targeted Jewish Democrats, although in one instance, a Republican Jewish...