AIPAC Exposed | 5 Times AIPAC Got Caught Controlling American Politics
When Rep. Ilhan Omar suggested U.S. politicians are influenced by financial pressure from the American-Israel lobby, AIPAC, she was smeared by Democrats and Republicans as antisemitic.
The truth is she wasn’t being antisemitic. She was stating a fact.
Here’s 5 Times AIPAC Got Caught admitting how they control American politics with cash.
1. Leaked Memos
It’s important that even though AIPAC spends millions on lobbying congress it does not contribute directly to political campaign contributions. It’s would be illegal. But AIPAC does influence campaign contributions indirectly, like all powerful lobbies, through the organization and bundling of individual donations from AIPAC members, and dozens of Pro-Israel PACs, who often take cues from AIPAC, which we know from leaked documents sent to 60 Minutes and the Washington Post.
Reporter: It’s an AIPAC memo.
AIPAC Vice President: I don’t recognize it as an AIPAC memo.
AIPAC later confirmed the documents were real. They didn’t reveal anything illegal but clearly linked AIPAC with otherwise unaffiliated Pro-Israel PACs.
Because AIPAC is only indirectly involved in campaign contributions it’s hard to determine exactly how much money campaign money they are responsible for. But we know the amount is significant. Congressman Brian Baird explains,
Any member of Congress knows that AIPAC is associated indirectly with significant amounts of campaign spending if you’re with them, and significant amounts against you if you’re not with them.
Former AIPAC director, Steve Rosen, confirmed AIPAC’s powerful grasp on congress when he told The New Yorker, in 24 hours AIPAC could have the signatures of 70 senators on a table napkin.
2. “Got the Message”?
The clout of AIPAC here on capital hill is legendary…In recent years AIPAC and the Pro-Israel PACs have helped defeat among others: Congressman Paul Findley, Congressman Pete McClausky, Sen. Harrisson Schmiddt (NM), Sen. Walter Huddelson (KY), and Sen. Chuck Percy (IL).
Senator Percy: As chairman of the foreign relations committee I saw our foreign policy totally turned around…Who is running the foreign policy? Can Israel and the Prime Minister have more power than the entire senate of the United States or the President of the United States? And that to me — I simply said enough is enough.
When Senator Percy went against wishes of AIPAC, large sums of money from Pro-Israel PACs went to his challenger. One major contributor and council member of AIPAC (who would later be convicted for illegal campaign contributions) spent over a million dollars on anti-Percy ads. Percy lost his seat and then executive director of AIPAC made crystal clear who was responsible when he said:
“All the Jews, from coast to coast, gathered to oust Percy. And the American politicians — those who hold public positions now, and those who aspire — got the message.”
3. Caught on Tape
In 1992, then AIPAC President David Steiner, was caught on tape bragging that he “cut a deal” with the George H. W. Bush White House to give Israel $10 billion in loans, $3 billion in military aid, and “almost a billion dollars in other goodies that people don’t even know about.”
When Bush delayed giving Israel the $10 billion loan guarantees in an attempt to force Israel to enter a peace conference with the Palestinians, AIPAC fought back.
We’re up against a very strong and effective sometimes groups that go up the hill.
The President of the United States described himself as “one lonely little guy” compared to the power of the Israeli lobby.
Bush Sr: …I heard today there was something like 1000 lobbyists on the hill working the other side of the question and we’ve got one lonely little guy here doing it.
Although Bush was successful in getting Israel to enter a peace conference, Bush’s Jewish backing took a nosedive.
AIPAC’s President Steiner was recorded saying he helped raise millions of dollars for the candidate who would replace H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton.
Ever since Clinton defeated Bush Sr., no American President has every challenged the billions of dollars we give Israel in foreign aid each year despite Israel’s consistent violation of international law.
4. Hidden Cameras
“The Lobby USA” is an Al-Jazeera documentary reportedly suppressed by the Israeli government until eventually leaking online in 2018. The film follows a reporter with hidden cameras going undercover into Pro-Israel groups.
In one scene, Davis Ochs, whose organization works closely with AIPAC tells the undercover reporter about an AIPAC group fundraiser for Congressman Anthony Brown, where the group plans to essential pay the congressman to kill the Iran Deal.
So we want the Jewish community to go face to face in this small environment 50, 40, 30 people with we want to be sure that you’re going to be able to enforce the Iran deal. That way when they need something from him or her like the Iran deal, they can quickly mobilize and say look, we’ll give you $30,000. They actually impact.
5. The Whistleblower
I worked at AIPAC…I know how it operates.
M.J. Rosenberg worked at AIPAC for 6 years and spent 15 years on Capitol Hill, so if anybody knows about AIPAC’s influence on Washington, it’s him.
MJ: Yes, most of the Jews in congress care about Israel. Most Jews do. But that would likely lead them to support dovish positions. Not mindless hawkishness were it not for the lobby and the financial benefits of staying in its good graces. Honestly can anyone believe Elizabeth Warren believed the Gaza War was a good idea? Or any of the other big time progressive types who supported it, or at the very least refused to condemn it?
Reporter: Israel invaded Gaza today. We just want to get your thoughts on that. Just a quick question.
[Elizabeth Warren walks away]
MJ: These are people who always favor diplomacy over war. Why would they do that? Their position on this issue of war and peace is dictated by their determination to please AIPAC donors.
Of course it’s not just AIPAC. Everything that comes before congress is about the money. That is the issue congresswoman Omar and so many others are trying to address. Those who smear critics of AIPAC as antisemitic are trying to silence honest rational debate about American foreign policy in the Middle East.
AIPAC has managed to stifle that debate for decades now.
And enough is enough.
MJ: In yesterday’s Washington Post, Jennifer Reuben referred to me as antisemitic. Now they’re calling Jews who disagree with Israel antisemitic!
Back when I first started at AIPAC my boss warned me to never talk about AIPAC activities outside the lobby: “A lobby is a night flower. It thrives in the dark and shrivels up in the sunlight. I think that may be happening now thanks to all our efforts. If it does not only the United States but Israel, the Palestinians, and the world will be better off. This night flower needs crushing.
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