Republican Jewish Coalition Official Spends Day Lying To Reporters About Obama

Suzanne Kurtz, communications director for the Republican Jewish Coalition, spent her afternoon knowingly misleading -- if not downright lying -- to reporters.

On Monday, the RJC blasted out a press release calling on Barack Obama to "disinvite" Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-NE) from his upcoming trip to Israel.

"If Barack Obama is getting advice from Chuck Hagel about Israel, then the American Jewish community has a lot to worry about," the organization's press release read, citing five examples of Hagel's "abysmal record on Israel."

The problem: Hagel isn't going to Israel with Obama. He and Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI) are flying with the Illinois Senator to Iraq and Afghanistan, but not to Israel or Europe. The RJC should have known this, as it was already public knowledge. The UK Telegraph (among other outlets) reported:

"The senators [including Hagel] will be part of a 'congressional delegation' to Afghanistan and Iraq likely to travel to the war zones as early as the end of this week. Afterwards, Mr Obama will break off for a separate trip on his campaign plane to Jordan, Israel, Germany, France and Britain."

And yet, throughout the afternoon, the RJC continued to propagate what was, at best, something they couldn't confirm and, at worst, a lie. Contacted by the Huffington Post at 2PM ET, Kurtz stumbled and nervously laughed away questions about whether or not she knew her organization's statement to be false. She would not answer whether the RJC would retract it, saying only, "if we retract it, it will be evident."

This, of course, was evasive. And four hours later -- with no retraction evident -- the Huffington Post contacted Kurtz once more. What followed was a foray into the surreal.

Why are you listing Hagel as a companion on Obama's Israel trip if the Telegraph and other news outlets say he won't be there?

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"I think what is really interesting is that Chuck Hagel seems to be the latest in the long line of advisers and associates that Sen. Obama surrounds himself with that really have anti-Israel statements and biases," said Kurtz.

Um... The question had nothing to do with Hagel's record.

"I think it is absolutely about Chuck Hagel's record and the votes."

Ok, let's try a different tact. Yes or no, did the RJC believe Obama was going to Israel with Chuck Hagel?

"I can tell you that it is very interesting that Sen. Obama continues to seek the counsel and companionship of those that have..."

That's not what I'm asking.

"We are going around in a circle you understand."

Yes, I do. Is it easy or difficult to have to repeat the same exact answer, no matter what?

"Is it tough to keep asking the same question again and again?"

Do you think it is the least bit misleading that your website says Obama is going to Israel with Hagel, even though he's not.

"I don't think it is misleading. I think if he is or isn't is a question to be directed to the Obama campaign."

The result: A senior aide to the Obama campaign said that Hagel would not be going with him to Israel.

And as of 7:30 PM ET, the press release remains on RJC's website.

Comments

[jood42]

Way to empower the anti-semites, you offensive freaking creeps. Get out of my religion.

To those who keep using "Jewish" as a synonym for "Zionist" to accompany your insults: STOP IT. Jewish is a religious designation, and Zionist is a political one. They are not synonymous, so please get it right.

[in4success]

neo-con is to america as zionism is to israel -- and they are the same players...

we know it's a select few of the powerful athiest jews and not the natural jewish community or the israelis.

however, the blowback is going to be furious. we altruistic jews, will once again, be changing our names and hiding in attics.

[prattvictory]

Zionism is a bigoted Jewish political movement. Zionism is an oppressive, imperialist political movement and uses the imagery of the Jewish Holocaust to legitimize itself. If you don't like how Zionism reflects on Judaism then you should speak out against it.

You merely make a distinction without challenging its legitimacy.

[dsbsh]

First, there are actually more Christian than Jewish "Zionists" in the U.S., so you've got a factual problem. Second, why is it ok to perpetuate a false generalization about Jews and Zionists under the pretext that it's up to "the Jews" to condemn Zionism? Isn't that just a wee bit convenient?

[jood42]

++You merely make a distinction without challenging its legitimacy­.++

Damn straight. Because I wasn't posing my opinion of the legitimacy of Zionism, but rather asking that shrieking anti-Semites stop confusing the two in an attempt to legitimize bigotry under the guise of a political distinction.

My opinion of Zionism is irrelevant to the point I wished to make.

Also: I am not responsible for the opinions and actions of others, just as you aren't. Should I find out what religion you follow and then demand that you campaign to change the minds of some random group of people who campaign for some specific political purpose? Please.

[petecook5]

Maybe the "aipac/jewish community" talked about here should spend their time worrying about the country they live in, instead of Israel. And if they are going to put the needs of Israel ahead of the US, then they should relinquish their citizenship and move to that dumpt in the middle east.

[LondonGQ]

I agree 100% , pick one either US or Israel, I though encourage them to leave us alone. They have been nothing but trouble on this nation.

[Jeff1958]

What nation is that? England?

[mommamia526]

Pete, now there is an idea, huh? The jewish communiity, for your information, does not all belong to aipac. And zionists do not all adhere to US government ideologies, to the current Israeli government, or even to each other. The person mentioned, was not furthering jewish interests, but rather U.S. Republican interests. There are zionist who want to be free of U.S. interests, and would want to be, what they really are, Middle Easterners, and part of a Middle Eastern nation, cooperating with Arabs and muslims, and be free of US and Western dictates, globalization and imperialism. They have much more of a problem with that than they have with Islam and muslims. It is exactly a fact that those you think you refer to, are much more worried about Republicans than they are about democracy, more worried about the US. and its dominance than they are about anything else. Now, do not take this as reflecting MY objectives and worries or jewish objectives and worries. By the way, do you think that other religious, ethnic communities should also spend their time worrying about the country they live in and adhering to the laws and customs and interests of us? I can think of a few such communities, and they are NOT zionists, AIPAC, or even jewish. And history is that jews, from Palestine, from ME countries and from all over the world, fought together with Arabs against the British mandate, early fourties, right after WWII.

[Anciano]

Why doesn't McCain just make Lieberman his V.P. and get it over with now?
That way we can just move onto our next military triumph in support of "our only ally" in the Middle East.

[BhunduBoy]

AIPACs intended consequences.

[blackmouth]

I wonder how many other commandments the RJC has broken other than the one that tells us not to lie?

[cdnnewsjunky]

Reading this story, is like reading a skit out of Monty Python. It would be funny, if it weren't for the fact that the Republican agenda is so da*n dangerous to the human race.

[truthynesslover]

But its a money maker!!

[DMSmith]

For whom? And, at whose expense?

[liberalrebuttal]

Good looking out. This is pathetic. I'm so glad you caught them in a lie and that this is all documented.

[CharlottesvilleVA]

Just goes to show that Republican operatives have zero respect for truth or reality, regardless of their religious beliefs. This is nothing new. This is the Republican way. Been that way since Reagan was sworn in.

[hnealehcn]

Who is ruling and governing this country???­??????????­???

[Dadoodaman]

Call them out on it --

Write the Republican Jewish Coalition at: rjchq.org.org

[Mr772]

I did just that. It's disgraceful what republicans try to get away with. Lets have a party and bury the elephant.

[kay]

Poor Hagel. They're targeting him.

[Samnite]

Hey Suzanne Kurtz, the next time you open your mouth maybe you ought to remember you have pledged allegiance to the UNITED STATES of AMERICA and not Israel.

Stop trying to conflate the two. If your number one concern is Israel then move there; we don't need you here.

America first!

[westreal]

It's time to cut Israel's control over this country.

[supergranny]

Repubs and their junkyard dogs are all going down together to the bottom of the sea. Kurtz, just couldn't wait to get that anchor around her neck. The more they present disastrous consequences with zero facts, the faster they sink.

[janmarie]

Obama has already kissed AIPAC's arse etc. I'm very disappointed.

[Amennyc]

He has to our they won't select him as POTUS