The Power of the Israel Lobby: Cori Bush Loses Primary
In the recent Missouri primary, the influence of the Israel lobby was once again on display as Democratic "Squad" Rep. Cori Bush lost a primary challenge to St. Louis County Prosecutor Wesley Bell. This is the second time in six weeks that a member of the Squad has been ousted, with pro-Israel groups investing heavily in their opponents.
In June, New York Rep. Jamaal Bowman lost the Democratic nomination to George Latimer, the Westchester County executive. The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) contributed a staggering $14 million to the race, making it the most expensive House primary contest in history.
A Costly Contest: The Bell-Bush Race
The Bell-Bush race was not far behind in terms of expense, ranking as the fourth most expensive such race in US history. The United Democracy Project, an AIPAC-affiliated group with an opaque name, spent nearly $9 million to ensure Bush's removal from Congress. The Democratic Majority for Israel also contributed almost $500,000. Their investment paid off: Bell won 51.2% of the vote to Bush's 45.6% with more than 95% of the votes counted.
Bush and Bowman have been vocal critics of the Israeli government's response to the Oct. 7 Hamas invasion of southern Israel. The campaign in Gaza has resulted in an estimated 39,000 deaths, with the majority believed to be civilians.
AIPAC's Statement and Influence
In a statement last week, AIPAC expressed its pride in supporting pro-Israel progressive Democrats like Wesley Bell. The group criticized Cori Bush for her hostility towards Israel since her election to Congress in 2021 and her efforts to undermine mainstream Democratic support for the U.S.-Israel relationship.
However, AIPAC's support is not limited to progressive Democrats. The group also supports conservative Republicans who align with the Israeli agenda. This was demonstrated when AIPAC spent $300,000 on ads targeting Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie, who has voted against several pro-Israel bills in recent months.
AIPAC's Social Media Victory Lap
Following Bush's loss, AIPAC took to social media to celebrate its victory and send a warning to any politician who might dare to criticize Israel or vote against its interests. Despite this, the group's campaign advertisements rarely mention Israel. This raises questions about the true importance of pro-Israel policies in winning votes.
Bush's Defeat and Future
Bush, who won her seat in 2020, had non-Israel-related vulnerabilities that may have contributed to her defeat. She voted against Biden's $1 trillion infrastructure bill because it didn't include progressive policies like free community college and universal family leave. She was also seen as a hypocrite for promoting "defund the police" policies while her campaign spent over $130,000 on private security.
Despite her loss, Bush has vowed not to disappear from the political scene. However, her future choices will undoubtedly be influenced by groups promoting the interests of Israel, a country located 6,400 miles from St. Louis.
Bottom Line
The recent primary results underscore the significant influence of the Israel lobby in American politics. The lobby's ability to oust two members of the Squad in a short span of time demonstrates its power and reach. However, this also raises questions about the role of foreign interests in shaping domestic policy. What do you think about the influence of the Israel lobby in American politics? Share your thoughts and this article with your friends. Don't forget to sign up for the Daily Briefing, which is delivered every day at 6pm.
The Power of the Israel Lobby: Cori Bush Loses Primary
In the recent Missouri primary, the influence of the Israel lobby was once again on display as Democratic "Squad" Rep. Cori Bush lost a primary challenge to St. Louis County Prosecutor Wesley Bell. This is the second time in six weeks that a member of the Squad has been ousted, with pro-Israel groups investing heavily in their opponents.
In June, New York Rep. Jamaal Bowman lost the Democratic nomination to George Latimer, the Westchester County executive. The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) contributed a staggering $14 million to the race, making it the most expensive House primary contest in history.
A Costly Contest: The Bell-Bush Race
The Bell-Bush race was not far behind in terms of expense, ranking as the fourth most expensive such race in US history. The United Democracy Project, an AIPAC-affiliated group with an opaque name, spent nearly $9 million to ensure Bush's removal from Congress. The Democratic Majority for Israel also contributed almost $500,000. Their investment paid off: Bell won 51.2% of the vote to Bush's 45.6% with more than 95% of the votes counted.
Bush and Bowman have been vocal critics of the Israeli government's response to the Oct. 7 Hamas invasion of southern Israel. The campaign in Gaza has resulted in an estimated 39,000 deaths, with the majority believed to be civilians.
AIPAC's Statement and Influence
In a statement last week, AIPAC expressed its pride in supporting pro-Israel progressive Democrats like Wesley Bell. The group criticized Cori Bush for her hostility towards Israel since her election to Congress in 2021 and her efforts to undermine mainstream Democratic support for the U.S.-Israel relationship.
However, AIPAC's support is not limited to progressive Democrats. The group also supports conservative Republicans who align with the Israeli agenda. This was demonstrated when AIPAC spent $300,000 on ads targeting Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie, who has voted against several pro-Israel bills in recent months.
AIPAC's Social Media Victory Lap
Following Bush's loss, AIPAC took to social media to celebrate its victory and send a warning to any politician who might dare to criticize Israel or vote against its interests. Despite this, the group's campaign advertisements rarely mention Israel. This raises questions about the true importance of pro-Israel policies in winning votes.
Bush's Defeat and Future
Bush, who won her seat in 2020, had non-Israel-related vulnerabilities that may have contributed to her defeat. She voted against Biden's $1 trillion infrastructure bill because it didn't include progressive policies like free community college and universal family leave. She was also seen as a hypocrite for promoting "defund the police" policies while her campaign spent over $130,000 on private security.
Despite her loss, Bush has vowed not to disappear from the political scene. However, her future choices will undoubtedly be influenced by groups promoting the interests of Israel, a country located 6,400 miles from St. Louis.
Bottom Line
The recent primary results underscore the significant influence of the Israel lobby in American politics. The lobby's ability to oust two members of the Squad in a short span of time demonstrates its power and reach. However, this also raises questions about the role of foreign interests in shaping domestic policy. What do you think about the influence of the Israel lobby in American politics? Share your thoughts and this article with your friends. Don't forget to sign up for the Daily Briefing, which is delivered every day at 6pm.
