Thursday, March 11, 2010
Another good one. I love this meditation on the intersection of Jewish and Gentile power and how AIPAC fits in (and why J Street doesn't and never will): The Israel Lobby and Gentile Power
...A group like AIPAC enjoys power and recognition not because it controls or even represents the votes of Jews. AIPAC's power rests on gentile ideas and support; if a politician gets loudly and publicly labeled anti-Israel by AIPAC and its allies that politician will get hammered in the next election because so many American gentiles want their politicians to support the Jewish state. AIPAC works like the NRA; it is the publicly accepted voice on an issue about which the public has strong views.
Politicians don't fear the loss of National Rifle Association PAC money nearly as much as they fear the loss of millions of pro-gun votes at the next election. This, I think is why AIPAC is so powerful. To be convincingly labeled an anti-Israel politician is the kiss of death almost everywhere in the United States -- just as to be anti-gun is the kiss of death. American gentiles consider AIPAC and those affiliated with and endorsed by it to be reliable guardians of pro-Israel policy; politicians don't want to cross a force with this kind of hold on the public.
AIPAC has the power that it does because it has been in effect deputized by American pro-Israel gentiles to guard the frontiers of our Israel policy...
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry: Walter Russell Mead: The Israel Lobby and Gentile Power.
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It's a rabbit that Stephen Walt just can't help chasing. Walt is blogging about his favorite obsession: On "dual loyalty". Leave it to Walt to try to give intellectualized cover to the 'neo-Lindberghian' dual-loyalty accusation against Dennis Ross. He ... Read More
As good as AIPAC is for Israel, there is much to be desired. I attended an AIPAC house meeting in Andover two years ago; during the McCain-Obama presidential race. The AIPAC rep made it clear that AIPAC would not endorse a candidate even tho Obama was clearly - by his 20 year membership in the anti-Semitic and anti-Israel Trinity United Church of Christ - an anti-Semite who blames Israel for the problems in the Middle East. I was very disappointed with AIPAC.
I actually emailing because of your Y lecture on 4/21 and we will be there to hear about THE FATHERING STORM: IRAN, THE EST AND ANTISEMITISM.
I am VP programs for The Greater Washington Coalition of Jewish Life in Litchfield County, Ct. and as such find speakers and authors to speak to our membership.
Because our members are sophisticated, well read and knowledgeable, to capture their interests, we need to create programs that are either unavailable elsewhere or, at the very least, to present unique, exciting and distinctive topics/programs.
Was wondering if you could speak to our group next year.....this Fall 2010 or Spring 2011. We are a non-profit organization but can offer a small honorarium, a B&B and meals for your acceptance.
Thanking you in advance and look forward to your talk on April 21.
Lois Schein-Lewis