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Three Views AIPAC and the Nuclear Agreement With Iran
ALEX WONG/GETTY IMAGES
not only that there is no organization that speaks for them, but that no organization even knows exactly who they are. Legislators believe that AIPAC is the Jewish voice because (again, until now) that is what they heard from their Jewish donors. Although only 4 to 6 percent of American Jews cast their votes based on Israel policy, and even though Jews have voted consistently Democratic since 1928 (about 70 percent voted for Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012), the donor class led by AIPAC has convinced politicians both that Jews are primarily interested in Israel and that their votes are in play, when, in reality, Jews are the most unwavering of Democrats, second only to African Americans. And much the same dynamic is at play when it comes to Iran. In fact, Senate Minority Whip Richard Durbin (D-IL) (l) speaks to the media, as Sen. Charles Schumer (c) and the one scientific poll of Jews on atSenate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) listen, Sept. 9, 2015, the day before the Senate failed to pass titudes toward the Iran deal showed a resolution of disapproval against the Iran nuclear accord. Schumer, who came out against the accord, 49 percent for it with 31 percent is up for re-election next year and plans to succeed Reid as leader of Senate Democrats despite his refusal against. So why don’t politicians know to back his own party’s president. this? In 2008, I met with then-Sen. Has AIPAC Destroyed Itself? airwaves with television spots; buying full- Barack Obama (I was working for a proBy M.J. Rosenberg page newspaper ads; arranging fly-ins of Israel organization at the time) and asked t is hard to exaggerate the damage in- AIPAC members to Washington; organiz- him if he would, if elected president, listen flicted on AIPAC by the congressional ing demonstrations at offices of AIPAC- to pro-peace Jewish voices on Israel or just defeat of its efforts to torpedo the Iran nu- friendly congressmen who were believed AIPAC. He said, “I can’t hear you.” Taking clear deal. It is not as if AIPAC won’t live to be wavering; and ensuring that prob- him literally, I spoke louder. to fight again, because it will, but this lematic legislators were officially warned He said that, no, what he meant was defeat has ruptured the status quo, possi- by precisely the right donor. Rank-and-file that, on Israel, he almost exclusively heard bly forever. AIPAC members were largely irrelevant to from the lobby. “Back home, I hear from The extent of its efforts to defeat the deal the process. Money did the talking, and my AIPAC friend, Rosenberg, every week. was unprecedented even for a lobby also the yelling and the cursing when nec- Is he your cousin? Anyway, your side known for its no-holds-barred wars against essary. As one congressional staffer put it needs to organize. You need to make your past White House initiatives it considered to me, “Taking money from AIPAC is like voice heard so I can’t ignore you.” unfriendly to Israel, going all the way back getting a loan from the mob. You better not That wish was answered by J Street, to the Ford administration. AIPAC, and its forget to pay it back. They walk into this which, with Obama’s help, has become the cutout Citizens For A Nuclear Free Iran, re- office like they own it.” anti-AIPAC. J Street doesn’t have the money portedly budgeted upwards of $20 million AIPAC is not a mass membership organi- AIPAC has and it probably never will. But, for a campaign that included flooding the zation. It claims 100,000 members, which during the battle over the Iran deal, it acted probably means it has fewer than that. But as a counterweight to AIPAC, playing a During a long career in Washington, M.J. no matter, it is, or was until now, viewed major role in destroying both the media Rosenberg worked as a Senate and House aide, as speaking for all six million American and Congress’ conception of a Jewish comat the State Department, at the American Jews. In fact, whenever it testifies on Capi- munity united behind Netanyahu. Israel Public Affairs Committee, at Israel tol Hill, it says it is speaking for the entire Those efforts played a role in AIPAC’s Policy Forum and at Media Matters For organized community. The truth, however, defeat, a process that really took off when America. Copyright © 2015 The Nation. Dis- is that 82 percent of American Jews belong Obama started inviting J Street to the tributed by Agence Global. to no Jewish organizations at all, meaning White House whenever he met with the
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THE WASHINGTON REPORT ON MIDDLE EAST AFFAIRS
OCTOBER 2015