With Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban speaking at CPAC in Texas on Thursday, CNN ran a segment on Thursday morning’s Day of the New which took Orban’s recent controversial comments that “we do not want to become peoples of mixed race” and ran with them, heavily implying that Orban would unleash a second Holocaust on the world if Hungary’s economy slips into a recession.
CNN substitute host John Avlon introduced the topic by proclaiming the litany of sins Viktor Orban has committed, “whose government is accused of undermining women’s rights, LGBT rights, controlling the media, and much, much more.”
The segment was then started by Ben Wedeman, a CNN international senior correspondent.
Even those who criticize the Prime Minister admit that his policies in the last twelve years have contributed to improving the lives of Hungarians. However, Viktor Orban is reverting to rhetoric that evokes some of the most dark days of this country’s past, despite the fact that the economy has been struggling lately.
Calling Orban’s stop at Donald Trump’s golf course in Bedminster, New Jersey “a meeting of the minds,” Wedeman then brought up Orban’s “race-mixing” comments at a Hungarian cultural and political festival held in central Romania, where “The hard right, anti-immigrant Prime Minister recently set off alarm bells with his speech laced with sinister undertones.”
Camera cut to Wedeman, who was walking alongside a row metal shoes along the Danube River shore. Wedeman explained the shoes’ significance, “Viktor Orban’s talk about racial mixing, about racial purity, stir up dark, still-fresh memories. This pair of metal shoes is a memorial to the place where thousands of Jews were murdered by the Nazis in Hungary during World War II..”
Wedeman then paid a visit to the Dohany Street Synagogue, where the Synagogue’s Chief Rabbi described his congregation: “They are older people. They are Holocaust survivors in large numbers. They are concerned. This is what they heard before. And it didn’t end well.”
To be clear, Orban’s race-mixing comments caused one of his own advisers to quit in disgust, and suggest the speech had Nazi echoes. But to imply that Orban is prone to unleash a new Holocaust on Hungary’s Jewish population is, as they say, “without evidence.”
Hungary, behind Denmark and Sweden as second most secure country for Jews in Europe at the moment is rated second.
As for Orban’s own supposed anti-Semitism, Orban’s cardinal sin appears to be attacking leftist billionaire George Soros (which would make nearly every pro-Israel conservative an anti-Semite).
Wedeman concluded his hit piece with a serene view of the Danube river, and mused, “Evening and city residents savor the soft breezes off the Danube. This city is infused with history, and the past is never far away from its surface. With a potential recession on the horizon the prime minister may be looking to find scapegoats. Something this region of Europe has witnessed in the past..”
As the video concluded, Avlon proclaimed, “Ben Wedeman looking at the echos of history and a liberal democracy.”
As a way to shame immigrants, liberal cable channels have an unfortunate habit of finding “echoes” of Hitler or the Holocaust.
The Nazification of an international leader is insane. Sleep number Tums. You can find their contact information here.
Click “Expand” to see the relevant transcript.
CNN’s Day of the New
08/04/22
6:47.50 AM ETJOHN AVLON: Happening today, the Conservative Political Action Conference — or CPAC — kicks off in Texas. While Ted Cruz and Donald Trump will all be present, Ted Cruz and Steve Bannon will also speak, as will Ted Cruz and Ted Cruz. But Viktor Orban from Hungary, who is being accused of demeaning women’s rights and LGBT rights and controlling the media will be there.
CNN’s Ben Wedeman live from Budapest Ben?
BEN WEDEMAN: Yeah, John, despite all of that — uh, even the critics of the Prime Minister here concede that over the last 12 years some of his policies have managed to help improve the lot of many Hungarians. Viktor Orban’s rhetoric has returned to the worst days in Hungary’s history, even though the economy is on the verge of collapse.
[Cuts to video]
This could be described as a “meeting of like minds.” Viktor Orban (Hungarian Prime Minister) visits former President Donald Trump on Tuesday at his Bedminster Golf Club, New Jersey. This is while he travels to the Conservative Political Action Conference in Texas.
His speech with dark undertones set off alarm bells for the anti-immigrant, hard-right Prime Minister. “We Europeans, Orban said, “are willing to mix with one another, but we do not want to become peoples of mixed race.” He has since come out insisting he isn’t racist or anti-Semitic. But the damage has already been done.
Viktor Orban’s talks about racial mix, and about racial pure, stirred up deep, yet-fresh memories. This metal shoe commemorates the place where thousands of Jews were murdered by the Nazis in Hungary during World War II.
The time has come for the evening prayer at Budapest’s Dohany Street Synagogue. Rabbi Robert Frölich said Orban’s words hit too close to home.
CHIEF RABBI ROBERT FRÖLICH: You saw this small congregation here, who come here every evening, every morning — eh, to pray. These are elderly people. They are Holocaust survivors in large numbers. They are concerned. This is something they have heard before. It didn’t work out well.
WEDEMAN – Orban was often described as an autoritarian. He has been at the helm for twelve years and was again elected in April. Although his economic policies won him popularity, the rising inflation is beginning to affect that, according economist Zoltan Pougatsa.
ZOLTAN POGATSA – I believe Orban will remain popular in the long term, however, at this point I feel that more people have doubts about him.
WEDEMAN: In Budapest’s central market, opinions vary.
HUNGARIAN MAN: Viktor Orban is a hated man in Hungary.
WEDEMAN: Margareta Krienich (?) The butcher disagrees. Viktor Orban will do anything for his people, she claims. He is devoted to his family.
Evenings and residents of the city enjoy the cool breezes on the Danube. This city’s history flows throughout it, with the past not far away.
[End of video]
And — and with a possible recession on the horizon, the fear is the Prime Minister is looking for scapegoats, something this part of Europe has seen in the past. John?
AVLON. Ben Wedeman looks at liberal democracy and the echos of history. Many thanks.
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