Israel Matzav

Pollak to Schakowsky: Give back the J Street cash

With this past week's revelations about J Street taking funding from foreigners and from George Soros, Joel Pollak, the Republican candidate for Congress in Illinois 09, is urging his Democratic opponent Jan Schakowsky to return some $50,000 - $100,000 in contributions that Schakowsky received from Obama's blocking back (Hat Tip: Jennifer Rubin via Daniel Halper).

Thus far this election cycle, Schakowsky has received tens of thousands of dollars from J Street--close to $50,000, according to OpenSecrets.org, and perhaps twice as much in reality. J Street has made me their #1 target in the 2010 election, because I have taken on their leaders and their misguided policies--and also because I received the endorsement of Alan Dershowitz, whom J Street attacks, among other Jewish leaders.

The Obama administration, which is now backing away from J Street, has used the group to divide the Jewish community and to push Congress away from its traditional support for Israel. Though there are some who support J Street out of sincere--if often misinformed--conviction, many of those who hate Israel with a passion have delighted in J Street’s emergence as a Washington project under the administration’s protection.

I recently received a bizarre anti-Israel and anti-Jewish screed from an organization calling itself “Goals for Americans,” and run by a certain “Paul Flum” from Missouri. Evidently “Mr. Flum” has been sending his materials to as many political candidates as possible, with the note: “If you need any more evidence that Israel (with American help) is the Oppressor of the people of Gaza and Palestine and the civilized world--Here it is!”

The “evidence” is a pair of glossy, colorful propaganda pamphlets, one of which is an ode to Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH). The Kucinich pamphlet also features a plainly disgusting antisemitic cartoon which portrays a giant beast with several arms, tentacles, and horns that is meant to represent the global Jewish conspiracy to control humanity. Kucinich is lauded for supporting the Goldstone Report and hence fighting the “beast.”

In addition to celebrating Kucinich and Richard Goldstone, the pamphlet singles out J Street and its executive director, Jeremy Ben-Ami, for unique praise. On one page, Ben-Ami is depicted as “Saving the Jewish Heritage.” On the next, he is pictured beneath a figure waving a banner that reads “J Street,” shouting: “HEY! Stop This!” The figure, and Ben-Ami’s face, appear with the captions: “‘J Street to the Rescue!’ ‘Humanity May Win!’”

Illinois 09 is a heavily Jewish suburban Chicago district (where Mrs. Carl grew up), which includes large Orthodox communities in places like Skokie, Lincolnwood and West Rogers Park. It should not be particularly hospitable to a candidate sponsored by George Soros who is running against one of their own. But if you live in that district, please make sure to vote for Joel Pollak.

Read it all.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 3:34 PM