For decades, Harvard Law professor emeritus Alan Dershowitz has described himself as a liberal Democrat — but he says he's now an independent after becoming "disgusted" by the "anti-Jewish" display put on at the Democratic National Convention last month.
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"I am no longer a Democrat. I am an independent," Dershowitz said during an appearance on "Talkline with Zev Brenner," a few days after it wrapped up, the New York Post reported Saturday.
The retired professor did not reveal whom he will vote for on Election Day, saying he's reserving that decision until later and that he'll "decide who to vote for at the last minute based on the totality of the circumstances."
But he called the Democrats' event in Chicago the "worst convention in American history" because of the number of speakers who have publicly spoken out against Israel.
"They had more anti-Jewish, anti-Zionist people who were speaking, starting with [Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez] — a miserable, anti-Zionist bigot," Dershowitz said, adding that the speakers also included two of the "most anti-Jewish people in the Senate," Sens. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.
Then, to top things off, the Rev. Al Sharpton, "one of the worst antisemites in modern American history," took the stage, said Dershowitz, noting that "[he is] the guy who provoked a pogrom in Crown Heights."
By allowing such speakers at their convention, the Democratic Party gave their arguments "legitimacy," he said.
"What it says is that when AOC does call Israel a genocidal country and rails against it, she now has the imprimatur of the Democratic Party," he commented. "I was disgusted at the Democratic National Convention. Absolutely disgusted."
Dershowitz said his vote will be determined on how the candidates deal with Iran and its attacks on the United States.
"I want to encourage the current administration to support Israel, so I 'm not revealing my vote until maybe Nov. 1," he said.
Newsmax has attempted to reach out to Dershowitz.
Dershowitz has faced strong criticism from the left for defending former President Donald Trump against his legal battles, including his first impeachment trial, and said that he's been "gradually" drifting away from the Democratic Party.
The convention, though, cemented his decision.
"I cannot be associated with the party that features as its speakers, AOC, Sharpton, Liz Warren, and Bernie Sanders," he said. "That's not my party."
Dershowitz also spoke out about Democrat nominee Kamala Harris choosing Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate rather than Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, reported The Jerusalem Post.
"I understand that if his name [were] John Sheppard, not Josh Shapiro, he would have been the Democratic nominee," Dershowitz said, but added that he does not think Harris is antisemitic.
"I don't think that she didn't pick Shapiro just because he was Jewish, [or] just because she doesn't like Jews ... I think that she got a lot of pressure," he said. "We know she got a lot of pressure from the hard left of the Democratic Party, and she knew that if she nominated Josh Shapiro ... there would have been demonstrations."
Dershowitz said he is not a supporter of Shapiro, particularly, because of his negative comments against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
He also during the interview described President Joe Biden as a good friend, but criticized his "chutzpah" for claiming that anti-Israel protesters who are defending Hamas while burning American flags "may have good points."
Note: Trump's Ambassador to Israel reveals secret plan for peace in "One Jewish State," See Free Offer — Go Here Now
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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