If you pick up the July 25 edition of the New York Times, you can't miss it.  There above the fold on the front page is a three-column headline that reads: "Mogul's Latest Foray Courts Jews for the G.O.P."

The headline, along with a lengthy article by Jeff Zeleny, is presented as an expose of great wealth mobilized to push Jews into the Republican column in this election year. It's redolent with time-worn conspiracy charges aimed at Jews - use of money, in this instance from a "mogul," in a "foray" to reach for political power.

Webster's defines "foray" as a "raid for spoils" and, when used as a verb, also connoting "pillage." Definitely a pejorative.

Bottom line:  There's something not kosher going on in this year's presidential campaign, according to the article, and the Times is splashing it on the front page to warn its readers. Or to quote Zeleny, this heralds "intensified pursuit of Jewish voters."

But what exactly is going on? Well, it turns out that billionaire Sheldon Adelson, who owns casinos in this country and abroad, is joining other members of the Republican Jewish Coalition in pledging $6.5 million for an advertising campaign in Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania with a "Buyer's Remorse" theme. Staunch 2008 Obama supporters will tell viewers that Obama has disappointed them not just about his stance on Israel but with regard to a long list of liberal issues and they'll now vote for the GOP ticket.

Sounds fairly mainstream politicking to me. And the article doesn't even give a breakdown of how much Adelson himself is putting into the pot. But with a little demonizing, he makes for a nice target.

Adelson, a staunch supporter of Israel, has given millions to charities in this country and in Israel. In this year's presidential campaign, he initially contributed to Newt Gingrich's bid and now backs Mitt Romney. Why all the insinuations? More money, especially from deep-pocket donors, is expected to be lavished on both presidential contenders. Adelson will not be a solitary figure in this flood of political money.   

And why selectively turn him into some kind of sinister gray eminence - a "mogul" in a new "foray" to line up Jews for the GOP ticket?

Question:  Would the Times run a similar "expose" of billionaire George Soros' contributions to leftist causes?  And paint him as a "mogul" engaged in "forays" to advance his political agenda?

LEO RENNERT

Leo Rennert is a former White House correspondent and Washington bureau chief of McClatchy Newspapers