How influential are AIPAC and other pro-Israel groups in the US?
Summary
TLDRIn this interview, Max Blumenthal discusses the influence of the American Pro-Israel Political Action Committee (AIPAC), one of the most powerful lobbies in the U.S., comparable to the NRA. He highlights AIPAC's strategy of targeting progressive candidates, particularly black legislators, through stealth campaigns, using Super PACs to funnel money under the guise of domestic issues. Blumenthal also touches on the broader implications of AIPAC's actions, the lack of regulation in U.S. elections, and the impact of recent events in Gaza on American public opinion, noting a growing sense of hopelessness among progressive voters.
Takeaways
- 🗨️ The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) is one of the most powerful lobbies in the United States, comparable to the National Rifle Association.
- 💰 AIPAC is known for using relatively small donations to ensure Israeli military actions, such as those in Palestine, are not hindered by U.S. policies.
- 🔍 AIPAC has been accused of using more insidious and desperate tactics recently, particularly targeting progressive politicians like Corey Bush and Jamal Bowman, who are black and have shown support for Palestinians.
- 🖋️ AIPAC is criticized for laundering their support behind a 'stealth pack' known as the United Democracy Project, using Super PACs with names unrelated to Israel to influence elections.
- 🕊️ The progressive base of the Democratic Party is reportedly turning away from the special relationship with Israel, which AIPAC is trying to counteract.
- 🤝 AIPAC has significant support from Christian Zionist groups in addition to Jewish support, leveraging this to present a united front.
- 🏛️ The U.S. is described as an oligarchy where money controls politics, with the Citizens United decision allowing unlimited Super PAC donations, impacting the regulation of elections.
- 📜 AIPAC avoids foreign lobby regulations by not being subjected to the Foreign Agents Registration Act, which would require them to disclose activities to the Department of Justice.
- 🚫 AIPAC's tactics are seen as increasing anti-Semitism by framing their actions as wealthy Jewish Zionists trying to control urban black populations.
- 🌍 The situation in Gaza has been in the spotlight, with over 300 days of conflict and suffering, which has led to a reaction from the U.S. public and political class.
- 📉 There is a sense of hopelessness among some Democratic Party supporters who feel their voices are not being heard, especially with the removal of politicians who advocate for Palestinian rights.
Q & A
What is the significance of APAC (American Political Action Committee) according to the transcript?
-APAC is described as one of the two most powerful lobbies in the United States, paralleling the influence of the National Rifle Association. It is particularly noted for its financial power and influence in supporting Israel's actions.
How does the transcript describe the current situation for APAC after October 7th?
-The transcript suggests that after October 7th, Israel is exposed on the world stage, facing international pressure, and that APAC is operating more insidiously and desperately due to the progressive base of the Democratic Party turning away from the special relationship with Israel.
Why is APAC targeting progressive politicians like Corey Bush and Jamal Bowman according to the transcript?
-APAC is targeting progressive politicians, especially those who are black, because they represent a base that traditionally supports Palestinians. APAC is concerned about this organic support and aims to remove such legislators, often using stealth tactics.
What is the 'United Democracy Project' mentioned in the transcript, and how is it related to APAC?
-The 'United Democracy Project' is a front behind which APAC operates, allowing them to funnel money through super PACs with names unrelated to Israel, thereby masking their support for pro-Israel candidates and attacks on candidates opposing Israel's actions.
How does the transcript discuss the role of misinformation in APAC's strategy?
-The transcript highlights that APAC uses misinformation to attack candidates, focusing on kitchen table issues or spreading disinformation about their political stances, making the races seem decided on domestic issues rather than Israel.
What is the current state of regulation for powerful lobby groups like APAC in the United States according to the transcript?
-The transcript implies that there is a lack of regulation for powerful lobby groups, especially with the Citizens United decision allowing unlimited Super PAC donations, effectively making elections unregulated and controlled by money.
Why does the transcript suggest that APAC is not subjected to the Foreign Registration Act?
-APAC claims to be just another Jewish organization in America, using this as a basis to avoid being regulated like other foreign lobbies under the Foreign Registration Act, which would require them to disclose their activities to the Justice Department.
How does the transcript describe the relationship between APAC and Christian groups?
-The transcript mentions that APAC works heavily with Christian Zionists and has connections with organizations like Christians United for Israel, indicating that its support base is not limited to Jewish groups.
What impact does the ongoing war in Gaza have on the perception of APAC's actions in the United States, as discussed in the transcript?
-The transcript suggests that the war in Gaza has led to a growing awareness and potential backlash against APAC's actions, particularly among the educated and activist base of the Democratic Party who are becoming disillusioned with the U.S. political response.
What is the potential consequence for the Democratic Party's base as described in the transcript?
-The transcript indicates a sense of hopelessness within a section of the Democratic Party's base due to the lack of action against Israel's actions in Gaza and the removal of progressive voices through disinformation campaigns, possibly leading to lower participation in electoral politics.
How does the transcript discuss the upcoming Democratic National Convention and its significance?
-The transcript raises the question of whether the disillusioned base of the Democratic Party will show up at the Democratic National Convention, set to take place in Chicago, and whether they will make their voice heard or stay home due to their hopelessness.
Outlines
💼 Influence of the APAC Lobby in U.S. Politics
In this paragraph, Max Blumenthal discusses the significant influence of the American-Israeli Public Affairs Committee (APAC), one of the most powerful lobbies in the United States, comparable to the National Rifle Association. APAC's financial power is highlighted as it ensures Israel's ability to conduct military operations in Palestine. The conversation delves into APAC's tactics, which have become more insidious and desperate due to international pressure on Israel and a shift in the Democratic Party's progressive base. APAC targets progressive candidates, particularly black legislators, using stealth tactics to disguise their support for pro-Israel candidates behind seemingly unrelated super PACs. This strategy involves attacking candidates on domestic issues or through disinformation campaigns, effectively manipulating elections without the average voter realizing the underlying influence of Israel's interests.
🔍 APAC's Tactics and the Impact on U.S. Elections
This paragraph examines the lack of regulation over powerful lobby groups like APAC in the United States, which operates in an era where wealthy individuals and corporations have significant control over the political process, especially post the Citizens United decision. This Supreme Court ruling allows for unlimited Super PAC donations, leading to unchecked political influence by money. APAC's unique position is also highlighted as it avoids the regulations applied to foreign lobbies, such as the Foreign Agents Registration Act, by presenting itself as a Jewish organization. This strategy not only escapes scrutiny but also fuels anti-Semitic sentiments by framing the narrative as wealthy Jewish individuals controlling politics. The paragraph also touches on APAC's support from Christian Zionists and its impact on the perception of the organization, as well as the broader implications of its activities on the U.S. political landscape and the upcoming elections.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡APAC Lobby
💡Mass shootings
💡Progressive base
💡Black America
💡United Democracy Project
💡Misinformation
💡Oligarchy
💡Foreign registration act
💡Anti-Semitism
💡Christian Zionists
💡Democratic National Convention (DNC)
Highlights
Max Blumenthal discusses the power and influence of the APAC Lobby in the United States.
APAC is compared to the National Rifle Association in terms of influence and power.
APAC's financial support enables Israel to conduct operations in Palestine.
The lobby's tactics have become more insidious and desperate due to international pressure on Israel.
APAC targets progressive politicians, particularly black legislators, to counteract their support for Palestinians.
APAC uses stealth tactics to hide their support for pro-Israel candidates behind seemingly unrelated issues.
The United Democracy Project is used by APAC to funnel money through Super PACs unrelated to Israel.
APAC's actions are not regulated by the foreign registration act, unlike other foreign lobbies.
APAC presents itself as a Jewish organization to avoid scrutiny and regulation.
The lobby's actions may increase anti-Semitism by portraying wealthy Jewish Zionists controlling black communities.
APAC has support from Christian Zionists and works with organizations like Christians United for Israel.
Blumenthal reports on the situation in Gaza and the international response to Israel's actions.
There is a growing awareness and concern among the American public about the situation in Gaza.
Some members of the Democratic Party's base feel hopeless about the U.S. government's response to Gaza.
The Democratic National Convention may reveal the level of engagement from the party's base regarding these issues.
Blumenthal emphasizes the disconnect between the U.S. government's actions and the public's expectations regarding Israel.
Transcripts
well let's unpack all of this now with
Max Blumenthal in Washington DC he's an
author and the editor and chief of the
news website grayzone Max thank you so
much for joining us first off than for
having me just explain exactly how
powerful this APAC Lobby is and how long
they've been around because they seem to
have a lot of money to really be pushing
their
cause well APAC is one of the two most
powerful lobbies in the United States
not just the most powerful pro-israel
Lobby but Pro most powerful Lobby uh may
be on par with the National Rifle
Association which is associated with
mass shootings the plague of mass
shootings in the US APAC guarantees with
actually relatively small donations by
uh their standards that the Israelis
will be able to conduct uh mass
shootings across Palestine so there are
two things to understand about what APAC
is doing now uh something it's always
done but which is much more Insidious
and somewhat desperate than in the past
desperate because after October 7th
Israel stands Exposed on the world Stage
IT faces enormous International pressure
and because the progressive base of the
democratic party is turning away from
the special relationship so they're
targeting uh progressives like Corey
Bush and Jamal Bowman also particularly
because they're black they're very
threatened by by Black
America uh the organic support for
Palestinians that Black America has
always shown so they always want to take
out these kind of legisl leg legislators
in majority black districts but what
they do is they launder their attacks
and their support for the pro-israel
candidate behind a stealth pack as I
said they've always done this but now
this is the de facto strategy APAC
operates behind something called the
United democracy project they funnel
money through super packs that have
names that have nothing to do with
Israel and then they attack these
candidates like Corey Bush or Jamal
Bowman who was previously defeated not
on the basis of their opposition to
Israel's assault on Gaza but on kitchen
table issues or with disinformation
about how they opposed Joe Biden's
infrastructure bill so these races don't
actually seem to the average voter like
they're being decided on the basis of
Israel but they are
Max it seems that there seems to be a
lot of manipulation here and it would
make one Wonder should Lobby groups as
powerful as these should they be
regulated or are they regulated in the
United States as all at all because
misinformation especially in times of uh
the election coming up soon seems to be
rif across the
country well we're in an era where
billionaires own this country the US is
effectively an oligarchy and they have
untrammeled control over the political
process and campaigns thanks to the
citizens united decision by this by a
republican majority Supreme Court which
allows unlimited Super PAC donations uh
this was this means basically that our
elections are unregulated money controls
politics and then you have this the
added layer with APAC of them not being
subjected like other foreign lobbies to
the foreign registration act which would
require them to act as a foreign agent
and prevent them from using these
stealth packs that make it seem as
though these candidates are just uh
attacking one another on the basis of
domestic issues they would have to
disclose all of their activity who they
meet with to the justice department but
what APAC says is we're just another
Jewish organization in America we're
just Jewish and therefore and thereby uh
they increase anti semitism what a lot
of people are seeing and you'll see this
on social media with APAC pumping $8
million into Wesley Bell to defeat Corey
Bush or $15 million into George ladimer
is they are seeking to cont you have
basically the anti-semitic framework of
looking at this as wealthy Jewish
zionists seeking to control poor black
people in urban areas and that's the
danger that APAC presents Max but APAC
you say obviously has a lot of Jewish
support but I understand that it also
has U many Christian groups who are part
of it as well who are very supportive of
Israel yeah I mean a look at who apac's
spokesman is his name is Marshall Witman
and he emerged from the Christian right
organization of Pat Robertson the
leading one of the leading Christian
zionists and Evangel like televangelists
in America then he found his way into
the corporate wing of the democratic
party and now has a job at APAC APAC
Works heavily with Christian zionists
they helped set up the Christians United
for Israel organization of Pastor John
heggy so APAC isn't actually a Jewish
organization many if not most Jews who
are pulled disagree with apac's support
for for example a war on Iran or apac's
heavy support for Maga conservative
but they present themselves as a Jewish
group and thereby Escape any regulation
or scrutiny for what they in fact are
which is a foreign apartheid Lobby which
is willing to invest $8 million into a
one single Congressional race in order
to guarantee $4 billion a year and total
diplomatic support for
Israel Max let's just move on to uh the
the issue of the war in in Gaza this
continued war and you've spent time and
you've reported from both Israel and
Palestine and what's happened since
October 7th is that uh it's really shown
a spotlight in the worst possible way on
what's happening in Gaza what's been
happening there for decades do you think
this is making any difference in the
United States to ordinary Americans who
are now finding out what's been
happening there for such a long time and
them raising their voices
for the government to do more to protect
Palestinians and to hold Israel
accountable I think there's a there's an
element within the what would have been
the base of the democratic party that is
highly educated activist minded social
justice oriented that has seen what was
H what's been happening in Gaza for
almost 10 months now over 300 days of
just unbearable human suffering and has
has seen the way the US political class
has responded by not issuing a single
red line to Israel we saw the state
department spokesman today Matthew
Miller declare that Israel can
investigate itself when videotape has
emerged of Israeli soldiers raping
Palestinian male prisoners at the ston
Concentration Camp they see that day
after day and they're becoming hopeless
and they see no purpose in participating
in electoral politics just as they see
that the voices that they had within
Congress on this issue people like Cory
Bush are just being taken out with Super
Bowl style ad blitzes $8 million of
disinformation campaigns so there's a
sense of hopelessness within a section
of the democratic party's base and uh
we'll see if they show up at the
Democratic National Convention which is
going to take place next week in Chicago
in the shadow of the
riots that occurred in 1968 in that same
city against the Vietnam War will this
element show up and will they make their
voice heard or are they so hopeless that
they're just going to stay home
certainly will be interesting to see
what happens at the DNC Max Blumenthal
really appreciate your time and your
analysis thank you very much
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