A regular reader offers an explanation for some of the touchingly unusual concerns about Mel Gibson's anti-Semitism.

My read on it is quite simple: it affords those well-entrenched, rabid haters of Israel the chance to demonstrate that although they may fan the flame of virulent hatred for the Jewish State, they cannot at all be considered anti-semitic because, because....look how outraged the are by that drunk anti-semitic celebrity bozo who got caught driving under the influence.

So here is a golden opportunity---proof positive---that one can shaft the Zionist Entity and repeat ad infinitum any and every hideous slander about it, while regaling in the glorious fiction that you aren't in the slightest an anti-semite, that in fact you actually are making all these criticisms because of your regard for Jews, for truth, justice, humanity, peace, love (what have you) ad nauseum.

No wonder they are playing it to the hilt, and milking this sordid episode for all it is worth.