Robert Reich, anybody in any district could be proud to have Donna Edwards as their congressional representative and she falls victim to this duplicitous bull shit. The greed culture is not going to be happy until they have it all, money, power and total control of the working class. Clueless frigging right wingers 'carrying water' for wealth they can't even imagine, beautiful!
AIPAC Works against progressives BECAUSE progressives are willing to admit the brutality of the Zionist cult that controls Israel and that will work to continue America's blind acceptance of their apartheid regime. What that support might do to undermine our democracy and stability is immaterial to them.
After everything you say about AIPAC boosting right-wing, corporate, candidates against progressives with popular positions on social policy, you neglect to follow up the deserved criticism with the fact that the Democrat leadership also support and assist the same candidates. Nancy Pelosi, Jim Clyburn, et al regularly go and campaign for the worst type of candidate. Perhaps most egregiously of all was there recent support, which went above and beyond especially in this moment of history which has seen the overturning of long fought for rights, such as the Freedom to choose in Roe v Wade, of the right-wing, conservative, Henry Cuellar. An avowed anti-choice, anti-union, anti-medicare-for-all, anti-taxing the rich and anti-corporate windfall tax, supposed āDemocratā. In the same week that the Dems send out begging/fund-raising emails to āhelp fight for codifying Freedom to Chooseā, they managed to get Cuellar over the line. A man who has and will vote AGAINST that same bill.
Being a Marylander, I saw the Edwards smear campaign ads on TV every evening for weeks and weeks. To be honest, I did not know who was funding those awful ads (and I am not a resident of the county she ran in.) Thank you for yet more enlightenment this morning.
Wouldnāt it be great if Citizens United weāre overturned someday?
Trump's and Jared Kushner's contempt for justice for Palestinians, their tampering with the traditional US embassy location, and their attempt to realign Israel's regional position through alliances with lawless dictatorships like Saudi Arabia were actions that may very well reflect consultation with AIPAC, which has long been a pernicious influence on American foreign policy, never advocating for meaningful diplomatic engagement with Israeli Palestinians, and suffocating any thoughtful criticism of Israel's embrace of apartheid policy toward Palestinians.
It might be helpful to add Jewish Voice for Peace to the organizations Professor Reich mentions as alternatives to AIPAC. It is an organization fully committed to justice and fruitful peace for both Israeli Palestinians and Israeli Jews; its advisory board includes Naomi Klein, the playwright Tony Kushner, and the distinguished historian, Howard Zinn, it is hospitable to the input of non-Jewish allies, and is deeply engaged with progressive candidates whose focus is working for better lives for the people of the United States, not just those of Israel.
AIPAC seems to want to starve progressive Jewish lobbies in the US, likely by suggesting all Dems are anti-Israel to the big donors. Personally I'm anti-Netanyahu and anti any apartheid, including in Israel. My husband is Jewish and an accomplished Yiddish speaker (www.yiddislives.net). I love the Jewish people and Israel, but have separated from her since the influx of Russian/Eastern Europe jews so used to oppresion gladly afflict the Palestinians who lived there before 1948 and were pushed out of their homes before & after the 1948 war that they were not part of, much like US Japanese heritage during WW2, except the ones that survived were released and returned. Extemists heralded the release of a Rabin's murderer with open arms, and sabotage work & block public roads on Saturday. I'll return when the Palestinians do, as will my purchase of anything produced. Maybe they will prosecute me for boycott. Research that folks and know the history of the land that God kept giving to everyone, apparently. Any God worshipped in that land must have trouble with the distraction from the blood and religious hatred.
Well, Robert, thank you very much for your revelations, which everyone needs to knowābut AIPAC has always been unprincipled. It just seems itās getting more underhanded. When it supported Israel openly, it supported Israelās crimes, its apartheid state, its ongoing genocide against Palestinians. It should never have been supported by anyone. Your advice to AIPACās supporters, therefore, is a bit odd. You sound too sympathetic to them. No one should be interested in supporting Israel as it is, and I think your advice to AIPAC supporters should be to cut that out and quit supporting Israelās crimes. J Street and IfNotNow are different. The latter is the more ethical of the two. On its website IfNotNow describes itself this way: āWe are a movement of American Jews organizing our community to end U.S. support for Israel's apartheid system and demand equality, justice, and a thriving future for all Palestinians and Israelis.ā That would mean that we shouldnāt be giving $3.8 billion of aid a year to Israel under present circumstances, period. The Jewish Voice for Peace is a strong opponent of Israeli apartheid and oppression of Palestinians.
I thought it was illegal to take money from a foreign nation. When did Israel become the 51st State? I am not and never have been anti-Semitic. But I object to ANY politician taking a dime from any foreign entity
If it ain't one goddam RepubliPAC it's another! Never heard of 'em. How much do they give to Manchin & Sinema. NaĆÆve me. I thought I was pushing the envelope by suggesting Democrats register as Republicans to help primary candidates ol' Tweety endorsed. Sheesh! Thanks for bringing this up, Dr Reich!
Why does the Democratic leadership support yet another way of subverting their constituents during the Primary? This has been going on for years and results in milk-toast or worse Democrats elected. It is one reason more people leave the party and feel forced to chose between two evils.. I used to be a life long Democrat. As a lame gesture of resistance I became Unaffiliated. I live in Colorado so I can opt back to Democrat just for the primaries. I have been active in the campaigns of many respected Democratic progressives, only to be undermined time and again by The Party.
What astounds me is that any group with such obvious ties to a foreign country can financially contribute to a US domestic election. FEC has strict rules on this point. But I do believe AIPAC's interest is still about Israel. Yes, it can be difficult sometimes to discern what is "Pro-Palestinian" and what is anti-Semitism. But no one can refute the inhumane treatment of the Palestinians by many (not all) of the Israelis. The Age of Easy Information (and MisInformation) has made many young people in the US aware of the plight of the Palestinians (n.b I have numerous dear Palestinian friends.) This is NOT anti-Semitism. And AIPAC most definitely pushed the envelope too far in it's efforts to defeat the BDS/Boycott Israeli Made Products when it convinced public officials to FORCE public employees to sign a pledge to NOT endorse or support the BDS movement. Think about that for a moment - AN American being FORCED to sign a pledge concerning the domestic interests of a foreign land to keep their taxpayer funded job! It IS the Progressives in the Democratic party that are COURAGEOUSLY standing up to Israel and who call out Israel's cruel treatment of Palestinians. Look what happened when Jimmy Carter published "Palestine, Peace Not Aparthied" - he was black balled. The suppression of any criticism of Israeli government policy is anti-democratic. My Dad was from the "north of Ireland" - so I'm well aware of the consequences of the British believing they can just "give away or award the sovereign land of another people" to those who they favor (see also: Kuwait.) I'm old enough to be amazed to see that NOW the Republican party is the pro-Israel party. But you are correct - I'll send a note to my congressional representatives to state my opposition to AIPACS outsized influence in the Democrat's primaries.
Robert Reich, anybody in any district could be proud to have Donna Edwards as their congressional representative and she falls victim to this duplicitous bull shit. The greed culture is not going to be happy until they have it all, money, power and total control of the working class. Clueless frigging right wingers 'carrying water' for wealth they can't even imagine, beautiful!
AIPAC Works against progressives BECAUSE progressives are willing to admit the brutality of the Zionist cult that controls Israel and that will work to continue America's blind acceptance of their apartheid regime. What that support might do to undermine our democracy and stability is immaterial to them.
Youāre right Mr. Reich, we must elect people who are willing to pass campaign finance reforms, itās the only way to stop this madness.
I will not knowingly support any entity or PAC that supports the Republican agenda as it is now.
After everything you say about AIPAC boosting right-wing, corporate, candidates against progressives with popular positions on social policy, you neglect to follow up the deserved criticism with the fact that the Democrat leadership also support and assist the same candidates. Nancy Pelosi, Jim Clyburn, et al regularly go and campaign for the worst type of candidate. Perhaps most egregiously of all was there recent support, which went above and beyond especially in this moment of history which has seen the overturning of long fought for rights, such as the Freedom to choose in Roe v Wade, of the right-wing, conservative, Henry Cuellar. An avowed anti-choice, anti-union, anti-medicare-for-all, anti-taxing the rich and anti-corporate windfall tax, supposed āDemocratā. In the same week that the Dems send out begging/fund-raising emails to āhelp fight for codifying Freedom to Chooseā, they managed to get Cuellar over the line. A man who has and will vote AGAINST that same bill.
Excellent piece, Mr. Reich.
Being a Marylander, I saw the Edwards smear campaign ads on TV every evening for weeks and weeks. To be honest, I did not know who was funding those awful ads (and I am not a resident of the county she ran in.) Thank you for yet more enlightenment this morning.
Wouldnāt it be great if Citizens United weāre overturned someday?
š»
Trump's and Jared Kushner's contempt for justice for Palestinians, their tampering with the traditional US embassy location, and their attempt to realign Israel's regional position through alliances with lawless dictatorships like Saudi Arabia were actions that may very well reflect consultation with AIPAC, which has long been a pernicious influence on American foreign policy, never advocating for meaningful diplomatic engagement with Israeli Palestinians, and suffocating any thoughtful criticism of Israel's embrace of apartheid policy toward Palestinians.
It might be helpful to add Jewish Voice for Peace to the organizations Professor Reich mentions as alternatives to AIPAC. It is an organization fully committed to justice and fruitful peace for both Israeli Palestinians and Israeli Jews; its advisory board includes Naomi Klein, the playwright Tony Kushner, and the distinguished historian, Howard Zinn, it is hospitable to the input of non-Jewish allies, and is deeply engaged with progressive candidates whose focus is working for better lives for the people of the United States, not just those of Israel.
thank you for sharing. Hurts my heart.
I wake up, shower, pee, and am ready to go back to bed.
More and more, it appears, USA politics is rich people fight among themselves using the rest of us as pawns.
not just a problem of "progressives" v "conservatives"
Both sides do it..
We need to find a way to stop it.
My heart is broken
I pray it is not too late.
AIPAC seems to want to starve progressive Jewish lobbies in the US, likely by suggesting all Dems are anti-Israel to the big donors. Personally I'm anti-Netanyahu and anti any apartheid, including in Israel. My husband is Jewish and an accomplished Yiddish speaker (www.yiddislives.net). I love the Jewish people and Israel, but have separated from her since the influx of Russian/Eastern Europe jews so used to oppresion gladly afflict the Palestinians who lived there before 1948 and were pushed out of their homes before & after the 1948 war that they were not part of, much like US Japanese heritage during WW2, except the ones that survived were released and returned. Extemists heralded the release of a Rabin's murderer with open arms, and sabotage work & block public roads on Saturday. I'll return when the Palestinians do, as will my purchase of anything produced. Maybe they will prosecute me for boycott. Research that folks and know the history of the land that God kept giving to everyone, apparently. Any God worshipped in that land must have trouble with the distraction from the blood and religious hatred.
So happy to see you on this . I
Stopped supporting AIPAC about five years ago when it became clear to me they it was a Republican shill.
Well, Robert, thank you very much for your revelations, which everyone needs to knowābut AIPAC has always been unprincipled. It just seems itās getting more underhanded. When it supported Israel openly, it supported Israelās crimes, its apartheid state, its ongoing genocide against Palestinians. It should never have been supported by anyone. Your advice to AIPACās supporters, therefore, is a bit odd. You sound too sympathetic to them. No one should be interested in supporting Israel as it is, and I think your advice to AIPAC supporters should be to cut that out and quit supporting Israelās crimes. J Street and IfNotNow are different. The latter is the more ethical of the two. On its website IfNotNow describes itself this way: āWe are a movement of American Jews organizing our community to end U.S. support for Israel's apartheid system and demand equality, justice, and a thriving future for all Palestinians and Israelis.ā That would mean that we shouldnāt be giving $3.8 billion of aid a year to Israel under present circumstances, period. The Jewish Voice for Peace is a strong opponent of Israeli apartheid and oppression of Palestinians.
I thought it was illegal to take money from a foreign nation. When did Israel become the 51st State? I am not and never have been anti-Semitic. But I object to ANY politician taking a dime from any foreign entity
consider supporting āJ Street,ā the pro-Israel nonprofit group?
What crap is that? Support Zionist Apartheid?
If it ain't one goddam RepubliPAC it's another! Never heard of 'em. How much do they give to Manchin & Sinema. NaĆÆve me. I thought I was pushing the envelope by suggesting Democrats register as Republicans to help primary candidates ol' Tweety endorsed. Sheesh! Thanks for bringing this up, Dr Reich!
Thank you for exposing this! It is horrible.
Why does the Democratic leadership support yet another way of subverting their constituents during the Primary? This has been going on for years and results in milk-toast or worse Democrats elected. It is one reason more people leave the party and feel forced to chose between two evils.. I used to be a life long Democrat. As a lame gesture of resistance I became Unaffiliated. I live in Colorado so I can opt back to Democrat just for the primaries. I have been active in the campaigns of many respected Democratic progressives, only to be undermined time and again by The Party.
What astounds me is that any group with such obvious ties to a foreign country can financially contribute to a US domestic election. FEC has strict rules on this point. But I do believe AIPAC's interest is still about Israel. Yes, it can be difficult sometimes to discern what is "Pro-Palestinian" and what is anti-Semitism. But no one can refute the inhumane treatment of the Palestinians by many (not all) of the Israelis. The Age of Easy Information (and MisInformation) has made many young people in the US aware of the plight of the Palestinians (n.b I have numerous dear Palestinian friends.) This is NOT anti-Semitism. And AIPAC most definitely pushed the envelope too far in it's efforts to defeat the BDS/Boycott Israeli Made Products when it convinced public officials to FORCE public employees to sign a pledge to NOT endorse or support the BDS movement. Think about that for a moment - AN American being FORCED to sign a pledge concerning the domestic interests of a foreign land to keep their taxpayer funded job! It IS the Progressives in the Democratic party that are COURAGEOUSLY standing up to Israel and who call out Israel's cruel treatment of Palestinians. Look what happened when Jimmy Carter published "Palestine, Peace Not Aparthied" - he was black balled. The suppression of any criticism of Israeli government policy is anti-democratic. My Dad was from the "north of Ireland" - so I'm well aware of the consequences of the British believing they can just "give away or award the sovereign land of another people" to those who they favor (see also: Kuwait.) I'm old enough to be amazed to see that NOW the Republican party is the pro-Israel party. But you are correct - I'll send a note to my congressional representatives to state my opposition to AIPACS outsized influence in the Democrat's primaries.