AIPAC on a quest to oust progressives due to Gaza stance: WaPo
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Columnist Perry Bacon Jr. writes how AIPAC is taking a more aggressive approach to congressional funding, attempting to reduce the number currently in office.
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From left, Rep. Cori Bush, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rep. Rashida Tlaib, Rep. Barbara Lee, and other Democrats pose for a photo with a sign calling for a ceasefire in Gaza outside the Capitol in Washington, D.C. in November 2023. (AP)
Some of the best members of Congress may be removed this year, The Washington Post reported. They are facing massive spending campaigns as punishment for holding viewpoints that differ from those of the affluent and powerful, most notably their vehement opposition to the Israeli war on Gaza.
Perry Bacon Jr. details in the Post that these 18 members had repeatedly asked for a ceasefire when they realized the Israeli response in Gaza to events of October 7 would be "full-scale destruction of Gaza."
This group includes Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (New York), Jamaal Bowman, Ilhan Omar, Cori Bush, and Barbara Lee.
With Biden and most other leaders in both parties mainly backing "Israel", the members stood firm in their rejection, which is essentially why the highly pro-"Israel" AIPAC wants them removed from parliament. AIPAC has recruited more moderate Democrats to run against these progressives in primaries, and those rivals will allegedly get tens of millions of dollars.
Significant campaigns are underway against Bowman of New York, Omar of Minnesota, Bush, and Lee. Bacon believes these members have a genuine risk of losing since there will be no well-funded PAC on their side to save them.
In reality, challengers typically lose because incumbents can raise and spend far more on their campaigns. However, these progressive incumbents will most certainly have significantly less money for TV advertising and other campaign activity in their districts than their opponents (AIPAC and the real politicians they are running against).
Read more: AIPAC pushing lies that forced starvation in Gaza 'false'
He notes that although AIPAC's main motive is to oust them for their Gaza stance, the committee recognizes that most Democratic voters are not staunch supporters of "Israel" and the vast majority want a ceasefire in Gaza.
Bush's opponent, Wesley Bell, is slamming her for voting against the Biden-backed infrastructure plan enacted two and a half years ago. He is attempting to portray Bush as not just antagonistic to the President but also opposed to the widely shared goal of fixing America's roads and bridges.
Another issue for members like Bush and Lee is that they receive little or no support from Democratic Party leaders, strategists, and other establishment figures in their districts and throughout the country.
AIPAC running the show
Two years ago, AIPAC and numerous moderate Democratic groups spent extensively in Democratic primaries to prevent the election of more AOC-aligned lawmakers.
This year, AIPAC is taking a more aggressive approach, attempting not just to prevent new progressives from being elected to Congress but also to reduce the number currently in office.
Recently, a group of over 100 liberal Jewish activists said in a joint letter published last week that they "strongly oppose AIPAC’s attempts to dominate Democratic primary elections" as they urged candidates "to not accept AIPAC network funding."
Bacon believes that incumbent Democrats in extremely blue areas understand they have a choice: remain mute on how "Israel" treats Palestinians and risk few primary challenges or speak out and face well-funded, heated criticism from fellow Democrats.
Despite Biden's persistent defense of "Israel's" conduct and Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer's (D-N.Y.) suggestion that criticism is motivated by antisemitism, these lawmakers have stood firm.
Democratic voters, the media, and even Biden and Schumer are increasingly sounding like progressives months ago, criticizing "Israel" for failing to respect the lives of Palestinian civilians.
Bacon concludes by declaring that strong stances that prove to be correct should be praised, not penalized, adding that AIPAC is expected to unseat at least one of these lawmakers this year, if not more, rendering the situation in the country much worse than it already is.
AIPAC has US govt in 'chokehold': Ex-congressional staffer
According to Rodney Martin, a former US legislative staffer, the strong "American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC)" and other pro-"Israel" lobby groups in the United States have successfully choked the US government.
Martin, who is headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, made the statements in an exclusive interview for PressTV on Wednesday, while remarking on Washington's stance of sending weaponry to "Israel" in its murderous campaign against Gaza.
Martin detailed how the US "flooding" the occupation with weapons was far from new, noting that AIPAC and other Zionist groups have "successfully placed a chokehold on the United States’ government, primarily historically on the Congress."
He noted the growing dissent within the Democratic Party regarding the war on Gaza and called it a "very positive development."
Martin detailed that the Republican Party was “dominated by rabid, racist Zionists" and expressed his belief that Donald Trump may "put an end" to the current predicament in some way, noting that he has not been happy with the Israeli Prime Minister recently.
Martin called the coalition a new phenomenon since AIPAC has "dominated the US Congress on both sides of the political spectrum," adding that its "stranglehold" has been shaken off due to its aggression and "overreaction in Gaza," which they used as an excuse to ethnically cleanse the strip.
He noted, however, that until the coalition broadens and extends beyond a few outspoken Congress members, the occupation will continue to have a "blank check" and support from US politicians.
According to him, an even bigger positive development is the fact that the antisemitism excuse can no longer be used as used to be the case. Additionally, many Jewish groups in the US have joined in condemning Israeli actions in Gaza.
He reiterated that the movement would need "significant electoral success" in the Senate and House before any real change could be observed since Israeli lobbies “all work in unison in different facets."
