11:53 AM PT -- Jon Ossoff came on ''TMZ Live'' Wednesday to further address Senator Perdue's anti-Semitic ad -- making one thing clear ... he wants the guy and his people to own up to it and apologize to the Jewish community.
Jon repeats what he said online, saying mocking a Jewish person's nose is one of the oldest, least original anti-Semitic tropes out there -- going on to call it such foolishness in a time where the country is already so divided and in need of healing ... not more hate.
As for Sen. Perdue's claim that he nor his campaign were aware of the alteration -- since they apparently used a third-party vendor to whip it up -- Ossoff says there's no excuse for not knowing about it, which he doesn't even believe is the case here with Perdue.
At the end of the day, Ossoff says Perdue's the guy running the campaign ... so he's gotta have the final say and be in the know. Playing dumb and claiming ignorance just won't work. JO says he demands a proper apology, as does the Georgia Jewish community.
Finally, Jon talks about where he thinks this bigotry is emanating from within the GOP -- and it all starts at the top, meaning President Trump. Watch ... he's compelling here in his critique, and he probably ain't too far off in the analysis either.
Georgia Senator David Perdue has pulled an ad that made his Jewish, Democratic opponent's nose look bigger -- claiming it was a flub and not an anti-Semitic trope.
The Facebook ad featured photos of both Jon Ossoff, who's running in Georgia to take Perdue's seat -- as well as Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (who's also Jewish) -- with the slogan, "Democrats Are Trying to Buy Georgia!"
In other words, a Jew with an artificially big nose is trying to buy an election. But, Perdue says no anti-Semitism here.
Ossoff responded, saying ... "Sitting U.S. Senator David Perdue's digital attack ad distorted my face to enlarge and extend my nose. I'm Jewish. This is the oldest, most obvious, least original anti-Semitic trope in history. Senator, literally no one believes your excuses."
For his part, Sen. Perdue said the ad was made through a third party, and that any distortion to Ossoff's appearance was an accident. They removed the ad this week.
His campaign added, "Anybody who implies that this was anything other than an inadvertent error is intentionally misrepresenting Senator Perdue's strong and consistent record of standing firmly against anti-Semitism and all forms of hate."
Originally Published -- 7:04 AM PT