Current Events > AIPAC The NRA of Dems and Funds Opponents of the Squad and Progressives

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https://actionnetwork.org/forms/reject-aipac/
https://www.npr.org/2024/04/05/1242536070/democrats-israel-palestine-primaries
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/progressive-groups-launch-reject-aipac-effort-democratic-divides/story?id=107983585

A coalition of nearly two-dozen progressive groups on Monday launched a seven-figure effort to defend progressive Democrats in Congress who have criticized both Israel's military offensive in Gaza and continued U.S. support for Israel -- marking a major new development in the intraparty battle over support for Israel in the Democratic Party.
The "Reject AIPAC" bloc, which includes Justice Democrats, Our Revolution, the Sunrise Movement and the IfNotNow Movement, plans to rally voters as part of a "electoral defense campaign" to support Democrats who have been criticized by the pro-Israel American Israel Public Affairs Committee.
Our Revolution, the political organization first launched by Sen. Bernie Sanders in 2016, separately joined the effort to encourage Democratic voters to choose "uncommitted" in the Michigan primary to pressure President Joe Biden to change his administration's policy toward Israel and Gaza.
The anti-AIPAC coalition will also organize demonstrations calling for a cease-fire in Gaza and for lawmakers to impose new conditions on U.S. military support for Israel as Israel targets Hamas fighters -- while encouraging lawmakers to sign a pledge to not take campaign contributions from AIPAC.
The latter group has deep ties in Washington, across both sides of the aisle, and regularly endorses both pro-Israel Republicans and Democrats every election cycle.
United Democracy Project, the organization's super PAC, has received millions of dollars from Democratic megadonors, such as Haim Saban, as well as Republicans donors including hedge fund billionaire Paul Singer and Home Depot founder Bernie Marcus, according to Open Secrets.
In a statement to ABC News, the anti-AIPAC coalition accused AIPAC of working to "silence growing dissent in Congress" over Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza, "even as Democratic voters overwhelmingly support a ceasefire and oppose sending more blank checks to the Israeli military."
Already, AIPAC has endorsed Missouri Democratic candidate Wesley Bell and New York Democratic candidate George Latimer, who have launched primary campaigns against progressive "Squad" member Reps. Cori Bush, of Missouri, and New York's Jamaal Bowman, who have been vocal in pushing back on Israel's campaign in Gaza.
The group spent tens of millions of dollars in Democratic primaries in the 2022 midterm elections and supported the successful campaign of Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Mich., when she faced fellow Democratic Rep. Andy Levin, a progressive who had voiced criticism of Israel.
AIPAC, and Democratic Majority for Israel, another pro-Israel super PAC, have been among the most prolific outside spending groups in recent election cycles.
United Democracy Project (UPD) has already raised $45 million so far this election cycle, more than $26 million of that pouring in after October, disclosure filings show. That's a big jump from what the group raised during the last election cycle, when they brought in just under $35 million throughout the two-year period.
The Democratic Majority for Israel (DMFI)'s super PAC reported raising a relatively smaller $3.5 million so far this cycle.

Both groups have devoted much of their resources to a House race in California's 47th District, with UPD spending more than $4.6 million unsuccessfully opposing Democratic California state Sen. Dave Min, who will be facing Republican counterpart Scott Baugh, and DMFI's political action committee spent more then $100,000 in the race opposing Min and supporting his Democratic primary rival.
AIPAC has been clear that it makes political decisions on one criteria: candidates' "position on strengthening the U.S.-Israel relationship," a spokesperson told ABC news. "We believe it is entirely consistent with progressive values to stand with the Jewish state.
"Our political action committee supports nearly half of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, Black Caucus and Hispanic Caucus. We are the largest PAC contributor to Democratic candidates," the spokesperson said.
According to a February poll from Quinnipiac University, 48% of registered voters slightly oppose sending more military aid to Israel, while 44% approve.
Roughly 53% of Democrats oppose sending more aid to Israel, while 38 approve of it. Among independents, 55% oppose more aid and 38 approve; roughly 63% of Republican responded supported more aid, and 32 percent opposed it, according to the poll.
More than 30,000 people have been killed in Gaza the last five months of the conflict between Israel and Hamas, which was sparked by Hamas' Oct. 7 terror attack, according to the Hamas-controlled health ministry.
Hundreds of thousands of Gazans in the territory are on the brink of famine, the U.N. has said.
Israeli officials insist the military takes steps to curb civilian casualties, despite the death toll, and they deny accusations that Israel isn't letting enough aid into Gaza, blaming U.N. and its partner agencies for creating logistical challenges -- which the organization disputes.

In 2020, Senator Bernie Sanders said AIPAC provides a platform for bigotry and said he will not attend their conference. In 2023 ,Feb 19th, on CBS Face the Nation, Sanders said that AIPAC, formerly bipartisan, had evolved towards attempting to "destroy" the American progressive movement.

AIPAC claimed that "a cease-fire now keeps these rapist monsters armed and in power in Gaza," and mentioned multiple members of Congress, including Ocasio-Cortez.
AOC: "it is appalling that AIPAC is targeting women members of Congress who have survived sexual assault with this horrific rhetoric. Each and every day, their role in U.S. politics becomes a greater scandal. They are the NRA of foreign policy. Of course they don't want a cease-fire."

"Biden, a former vice president and senator, has long been a top recipient of the pro-Israel lobby, receiving over $5.2 million in support over the last 34 years, the most of any Congressional recipient, according to OpenSecrets." Rueters

It is not enough to say no more weapon sales to Israel. The money from Pro-Israel groups are going to GOP and against progressive opponents.

AIPAC should be kicked out of the country

aipac is not the NRA of dems. They pay for just as many Republicans as Dems. In fact they've funded over 100k to like 1/3 of all politicians.

It really sucks that Fetterman has been reduced to being an AIPAC devotee. Some of his posts are just him being mad Palestinians might get to eat, genuinely a monstrous guy.

Zero_Destroyer posted...

It really sucks that Fetterman has been reduced to being an AIPAC devotee. Some of his posts are just him being mad Palestinians might get to eat, genuinely a monstrous guy.

Yeah it really sucks that the "Brain Transplant" conspiracy was real.

ClayGuida posted...

aipac is not the NRA of dems. They pay for just as many Republicans as Dems. In fact they've funded over 100k to like 1/3 of all politicians.

NRA of the dems I guess would be incorrect. I forget there was a time a handful of dems were cozy with the NRA before Columbine. The shift of NRA going to only gun nuts after it and was bi-partisan before. AIPAC is just following in its footsteps and the shift to GOP politicians will continue. Not enough dems have yet to drop endorsements for AIPAC yet as the progressive wing is small within the DNC.

"In March 2022, the PAC released its first endorsements of 130 candidates for the House of Representatives and the Senate. The list included 37 Congresspersons of the Sedition Caucus who had voted to overturn the 2020 election of Joe Biden"

Didn't every single primary challenge to the squad fail disastrously despite millions of dollars far more than any other non presidential race?

Tyranthraxus posted...

Didn't every single primary challenge to the squad fail disastrously despite millions of dollars far more than any other non presidential race?

They get 5 chances per decade to primary these people, they'll keep doing until they succeed or they screw up like Katie Porter.

Wonder if the usual suspects are gonna claim that this segment of the Democrats are secretly Republicans now?

Trumble posted...

Wonder if the usual suspects are gonna claim that this segment of the Democrats are secretly Republicans now?

You acting like Republicans haven't routinely ran as Dems to win seats? I mean Jeff Van Drew ran as a Dem then switched to becoming a hardcore advocate for Trump.

I don't think "NRA of Dems" is quite accurate because they heavily fund Dems as well, whereas the NRA funds very few Dems. At least in modern times.

At the very least, AIPAC should register as the foreign lobbying group that it is.

ClayGuida posted...

You acting like Republicans haven't routinely ran as Dems to win seats? I mean Jeff Van Drew ran as a Dem then switched to becoming a hardcore advocate for Trump.

Ah yes I'm sure all the members of multiple activist groups that have come together are all secretly Republicans. Jesus fucking Christ.

Trumble posted...

Ah yes I'm sure all the members of multiple activist groups that have come together are all secretly Republicans. Jesus fucking Christ.

Who said all? Oh you're just trolling? Don't mind me then.