Post High Holidays, Obama and Clinton Woo Big Jewish Donors with Upcoming Funders

With the High Holidays over, the Clinton and Obama presidential campaigns are stepping up their competition for cash from the nation's elite and well-connected Jewish Democratic donor community.

In the 2008 White House race, all the major Democratic candidates are steadfast supporters of Israel. But donors for whom Israel is their threshold issue want to assess who has the strongest commitment. Both campaigns have Mideast advisers and circulate policy papers recapping their views and voting records in support of Israel.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, the top campaign advisers to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) appear at a conference in Washington for contributors and bundlers who have raised enough to get invited to the "Clinton Jewish Leadership Finance Council Inaugural Event."

Bundlers -- who tap into their networks to raise money -- must raise $100,000 to be named an event co-chair; steering committee members have a $40,000 bar, and a donor needs to raise $10,000 to attend. Clinton dines with her donors on Tuesday night on a day busy with meetings. The conference opens with Jonathan Mantz, Clinton's national finance director and Terry McAuliffe, Clinton's top fund-raiser, briefing donors at the Frederick Douglass Museum.

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[blutopie]

Kowtowing to these donors, our Neocon/AIPAC controlled "American" presidential candidates bow to the 'powers that be' - that of course being our 'present Neocon furhers'. Can anything be more disgusting? - oh yes, when Cheney goes, that's more disgusting

These Israeli/Necons are the terrorists who have us in Iraq and will have us up to our waists in blood and gore in Iran - imminently (the next 6mo).
"The Israeli Lobby and US Foreign Policy " by Mearsheimer and Walt is an essential primer to the 'why they hate us' that Israel and the Neocons don't want Americans to know about. It very clearly outlines the PRESENT manipulation of our foriegn policy for our coming war on Iran - read it before (or during) our war with Iran begins - talk about exciting and timely! Ha! It's a great read and provides the necessary background for informed American foreign policy debate, IMHO

These Neocons used our nation to further Israeli 'goals for democracy in the Arab world' which translates to 'creatively destroying the Arab world until it grovels before us and pays homage' - or at least a oil pipeline from Kurdistan to Haifa.

Our coming attack on Iran is an exponential blunder over our shennagins in Iraq - well, actually, it's only Phase II as described in the published Neocon handbook.

They aren't even done with us after they make us Iran

[LeoMarvin]

I oppose the Neoconservative agenda pretty much across the board, but there are so many factual inaccuracies and inflammatory distortions in your comment, I don't have time to correct them all, so I'll pick just one of my favorites: "These Israeli/Necons are the terrorists who have us in Iraq[...].­"

If you'll do some research, you'll discover that the Israeli government and most influential Israeli pundits opposed our invasion of Iraq. They feared and expected exactly what has come to pass. I know that's an inconvenient fly in your conspiratorial soup, but there it is. Deal with it or look for something a little more accurate on the menu.

[ssg13565]

Maybe I should have put the period of suspended
history at from 2000 years ago to 200 years ago.

[ssg13565]

For most Jews who know that history did not
stop 3000 years ago and suddenly restart 200
years ago, they also would like to see a middle
course steered.

If both sides could back-off from demonizing
each other, perhaps some rational discussion
could begin. I have no idea where such a
discussion would lead, but I have to believe it
would lead to something better than the status
quo.

I am finally beginning to see why the Arab
states were so against the creation of Israel.
It has more to do with meddling by Western
countries than it does hatred of the Jews.
I am not saying that wiping Israel away is
the just solution now. I am not saying that
I know what the just solution is.

It might be best to see if the Israelis and the
Muslim dominated states of the Middle East can
figure it out in some peaceful way.

[avergejoe]

In a related story -

CSMONITOR 1/26/07:The hidden cost of free congressional trips to Israel
Branded as 'educational,' these trips offer Israeli propagandists an opportunity to expose members of Congress to only their side of the s
By Jim Abourezk - former Democratic senator from South Dakota.

SIOUX FALL, S.D. - Democrats in Congress have moved quickly – and commendably – to strengthen ethics rules. But truly groundbreaking reform was prevented, in part, because of the efforts of the pro-Israel lobby to preserve one of its most critical functions: taking members of Congress on free "educational" trips to Israel.

The pro-Israel lobby does most of its work without publicity. But every member of Congress and every would-be candidate for Congress comes to quickly understand a basic lesson. Money needed to run for office can come with great ease from supporters of Israel, provided that the candidate makes certain promises, in writing, to vote favorably on issues considered important to Israel. What drives much of congressional support for Israel is fear – fear that the pro-Israel lobby will either withhold campaign contributions or give money to one's opponent.

In my own experience as a US senator in the 1970s, I saw how the lobby tries to humiliate or embarrass members who do not toe the line.

Pro-Israel groups worked vigorously to ensure that the new reforms would allow them to keep hosting members of Congress on trips to Israel.

One wonders what policies Congress might support toward Israel and the Palestinians absent the distorting influence of these Israel trips – or if more members toured Palestinian lands. America sent troops to Europe to prevent the killing of civilians in the former Yugoslavia. But when it comes to flagrant human rights violations committed by Israel, the US sends more money and shields Israel from criticism.

Congress regularly passes resolutions lauding Israel, even when its actions are deplorable, providing it political cover. Meanwhile, polls suggest most Americans want the Bush administration to steer a middle course in working for peace between Israelis and the Palestinians.

[olephart]

"What drives much of congressional support for Israel is fear; fear that the pro-Israel lobby will either withhold campaign contributions or give money to one's opponent."

Maybe the Media will expose this co-opting of our Representatives by agents of a Foreign Government. Perhaps those on Fox News, the self proclaimed patriotic network, will stand up for America in the face of this threat to our Democracy. Freedom of the Press is a Constitutional right that cannot be abridged; proposed by Jefferson, instituted by Franklin, fought for by Washington and written by Madison, our founding Fathers relied on this institution for the preservation of Democracy and Freedom! We stand protected by this Bulwark of Justice. Or on second thought, maybe we should move to Costa Rica.