Reply #41: Josh Block: J Street's 'worst nightmare' [View All]

[shira]

Let me begin by saying that having worked to elect more Democratic candidates, starting way back in 1984, than Ms. Spitalnick has probably ever met, she would do well to heed my political advice when it's offered. That is, if her sincere interest is getting Democrats elected, and not, as it appears to be, selfishly promoting a counterproductive agenda-driven and self-congratulatory group that effectively tarnishes Democrats with the taint of a tainted organization.

NEWSFLASH - dateline 1990s: It's no longer brave to say you are for a two-state solution. And everyone is pro-peace.

Since every mainstream group, elected official and pro-Israel American, myself included, strongly favors a two state solution and peace between Israel and her Arab neighbors - and Jstreet knows it - their silly 'response' is again an attempt to deceive and distract from their record of working hand-in-hand with groups and individuals hostile-to-Israel, ambivalent-to-Israel, and in some cases, out-and-out anti-Israel. Take Richard Goldstone, George Soros (see page 59) and Salam Al-Marayati - who spoke at their conference, but is best known for suggesting that Israel may have been behind 9/11 - just to name a few.

Democratic candidates should not give Republicans any opportunity to challenge their pro-Israel credentials, yet Jstreet does just that. The average, minuscule amount of support Jstreet claims to pass to their endorsees will again and again be offset by the grief and cost even the most pro-Israel candidates expose themselves to by associating with a group proven to be as duplicitous, deceitful and outright dishonest they have been exposed to be.

It is as simple as the difference between an asset and a liability.

If Jstreet believes they are helping pro-Israel Democrats get elected, then their understanding of the electorate is as bad as their other ideas, like opposing sanctions on Iran for two years in a coalition that included apologists for the Iranian regime like NIAC, or partnering with Churches for Middle East Peace - one of the major forces behind the Boycott, Divestment and Sanction (BDS) campaign that seeks to isolate, demonize and ultimately erase Israel. Maybe that's where Jstreet caught the fleas.

The more we learn about Jstreet, as the things they tried to hide and keep secret see the light of day, the more we should worry about candidates with competitive races getting anywhere near them. Virtually every reporter in the last three years who has spoken to Jstreet has been lied to. How many members of Congress have gotten the same treatment? These aren't questions that come from nowhere. They are the direct result of Jstreet's conduct and pattern of deception.

Jstreet made very clear that their #1 targeted race this cycle was the Senate contest in Pennsylvania. "There's no question that this race is a very important test of what kind of support J Street and its supporters can deliver," they said. Well, we all know how that turned out. In a race as close at that one, the Democratic candidate chose to repudiate his signature on a Jstreet initiative, and his ties to the group provided a major opening for his Republican opponent to contrast his support for Israel with the Democrats' ties to what was identified as "an anti-Israel organization," a description apparently accurate enough that when the ad making that statement was challenged by the Sestak campaign, it remained on the air.

That is why it bears repeating:

Being associated with a group that helped Richard Goldstone slander Israel on the Hill, that refuses to condemn his report that accuses the top leadership in Israel of PURPOSEFULLY targeted civilians in Gaza, that says there's no difference between Israel defending itself and Hamas terrorism, lies about their secret money from anti-Israel George Soros and half their budget coming from Hong Kong - not American Jews as they claimed - and lied again and again when confronted, even twisting the arm of a former Israeli MK to lie for them after she was recorded on tape exposing their ties to Goldstone, is HAZARDOUS to one's pro-Israel reputation.

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