Is Madoff being Jewish fair game for the media?


There have been a few stories about whether the Jewish community in the U.S. will have its reputation hurt by the fact that Bernie Madoff is Jewish. Today the top story at Reuters is about that subject. The media is letting the issue spread.

The news service writes "For American Jews, the Bernard Madoff scandal has not just caused deep financial pain. It also has been deeply personal."

The subject should be out of bounds. If Madoff's actions have done anything to damage the media or public views of Jews, let it stay "personal" to use the word that Reuters did. Writing about the matter only further raises an an aspect that is irrelevant and makes Madoff's religion the focus of growing coverage.

If Madoff were a Baptist the subject of religion would almost certainly not be a big part of the news coverage about his Ponzi scheme. The same would hold true if he were Catholic or Unitarian.

The media should stick to stories about the swindle. How did it happen? Who got hurt? Who will be brought to justice? What any of those has to do with Madoff being Jewish points at drawing a conclusion that it not there to be drawn.

Douglas A. McIntyre is an editor at 24/7 Wall St.

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