Partners in Shame

Only the Boston Jewish Community Relations Council could conceive an event honoring Stephen Lynch, Democratic Congressman representing a melange of rough and tumble blue collar voters along with upscale suburbanites. Aside from the obvious in-their-pocket J Street politicians like Keith Ellison, Donna Edwards and Maurice Hinchey, Lynch is probably the most squishy congressman on the terrorist threat to Israel.

Recently, Lynch has become so extreme on the subject of Gaza, that he has laid virtually all the blame on Israel for the (phony) "humanitarian" crisis culminating in the Gaza flotilla incident three weeks ago. As a preface to his skewed view of the Gaza situation , he - along with 2 other Massachusetts congressmen - was one of only 36 nay votes that refused to condemn the incredibly biased UN Goldstone Report.

On the subject of Israel defense funding, however, he scores relatively high marks. Anyone representing heavily Jewish Needham, would be unelectable were he to oppose defense aid to Israel. The only congressmen consistently voting against funding for Israel are the usual suspects: John Conyers (representing Dearbornistan, Michigan), Dennis Kucinich (who never saw an Islamic terrorist he couldn't "understand"), the ever bizarre Ron Paul, and California's Pete Stark (representing San Francisco's east bay - enough said?

And so, onto the bimah of Temple Beth Shalom in Needham strode Congressman Lynch sponsored by the JCRC of Greater Boston with its Director, Nancy Kaufman, seated prominently next to him. Lynch has also refused to add his signature to the Poe-Peters letter affirming Israel's right of self defense in the wake of the Gaza blockade incident. To date, 315 members of Congress have signed the letter.

Watch the video of Congressman Lynch press the Palestinian position, blaming the violence that ensued following the flotilla interdiction solely on the Israelis.

He then joins the international chorus by insisting on an "investigation." Of course, he does not demand an international commission to investigate the Turkish and IHH role in preparing their Shaheeds for martyrdom. The Q & A portion is audio only (apologies), but suffice it to say that, in spite of the sponsorship of J Street/JCRC, among others, there was significant pushback from the audience, to their credit.

Regarding the question about prosecuting U.S. citizens who participate in "humanitarian" missions to Gaza (aid - in virtually any form - to terrorist groups is a felony and was affirmed by a recent Supreme Court decision), Lynch chose not to reply.

To this point, in attendance was Jeff Klein, who, in his own words, has "left the Jewish race to join the humans". He urged Lynch to cease all aid to Israel and is currently spearheading a "Jewish" boat project from Boston to Gaza to break the blockade and make it possible to ship any and all goods into the Hamas weapons depot. Klein may be an extreme case, but the roots of betrayal intertwine at J Street and it would seem, now among Jews in leadership positions. Boston is now vying for number one with San Francisco as one of the worst examples of Jewish steadfastness and honesty.

[Crossposted from JStreetJive.]