Well, now we officially know where Mark Schauer stands on his Chief of Staff, Ken Brock's anti-Semitic comments about a former primary opponent.  Remember that Brock attempted to criticize David Nacht by calling him a liberal, Jewish trial lawyer.  

Now being liberal and a trial lawyer, those may very well be negative things that would hurt a candidate running against Mark Schauer.  But how on earth is being Jewish a bad thing?

It's not.  Except in the eyes of Ken Brock.  And, apparently, Mark Schauer himself.  In a statement in this morning's Battle Creek Enquirer Schauer is standing by his anti-Semite.

"I've known Ken Brock for more than 25 years and rely on him as an aide and friend. He admitted what he said was wrong and has apologized both publicly and personally. I join him in that apology," Schauer said.

"I've spoken with Ken about this. He will continue serving as my chief of staff, and we will move forward on addressing the many challenges that face this district and our state."

I'm curious.  What exactly is Schauer apologizing for?  Because if it's for an anti-Semitic swipe then an apology simply is not enough.

Schauer's running for Congress.  He's the sitting Minority Leader of the Michigan Senate.  He's not a dog catcher.  He's not a private citizen.  What he and his staff do and say very much matters.  

Anti-Semitism isn't a slap on the wrist offense, especially when it spills over into the public debate.  Especially when it is intentionally injected into that debate by an operative using his words to stir up fear and hatred.

If there's an apology then there's an admission of guilt.  And that demands action.  Ken Brock knowingly and intentionally poisoned the political debate in the 7th District but the damage of statements like his reverberate far further than a few counties.

All people, but especially a people with a history of victimization at the hands of hate mongers, a history of being targets, of being hated, reviled and ridiculed deserve far better from candidates for high office.  They deserve far better from human beings.

I don't usually expect much from Democrats in Lansing.  But I do expect human decency.  Mark Schauer should be ashamed of himself.