Israel Matzav

J Street claims victory in Hagel confirmation

The radical wolves in sheeps' clothing at J Street are claiming a victory in the confirmation of the anti-Semitic Chuck Hagel as Secretary of Defense.

In the week when the most influential Jewish-American group, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, held its annual conference in Washington, J Street has been touting its role in securing Hagel's nomination, which supporters say shows its growing clout.

J Street president Jeremy Ben-Ami said he called Hagel in December as soon as he heard rumors that President Barack Obama wanted the former Republican senator to be his secretary of defense.

It was weeks before the nomination became public, but it took only a day for the group to issue its first statement supporting Hagel, who would endure attacks from groups such as the hawkish Republican-linked Emergency Committee for Israel.

Hagel was heavily criticized for saying in a 2006 interview that "the Jewish lobby intimidates a lot of people" in Congress.

"I called and said, 'Do you realize you need a defense?'" Ben-Ami said.

"I just sensed right away that this was going to be very serious, and people are going to seize on one word, one phrase and they are going to take it and extrapolate it out and make it a blanket smear," Ben-Ami said.

What a load of crap. This is a far more accurate assessment. 

"I can easily picture that J Street is spinning (Hagel's confirmation) as a demonstration of their new influence because they've been desperately trying to convince people of their influence ever since they came on the block. But I'm very skeptical," said Joshua Muravchik, a fellow at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies and a well-known neo-conservative foreign policy commentator.

Hagel's confirmation, he said, was due more to Obama's clout after just being re-elected and the Israeli government's decision not to get involved.

And the fact that the Democrats have all the courage of a deer in the headlights when it comes to opposing anything Obama wants. Right Chuck Schumer? 

Labels: Barack Hussein Obama, Charles Schumer, Chuck Hagel, J Street

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 9:38 PM