AIPAC to deploy hundreds of lobbyists to push for Syria action

[n2doc]

Pro-Israel lobby says 250 activists will meet with their senators and representatives in Washington in a bid to win support Congressional support for military action in Syria.
By Reuters

The influential pro-Israel American Israel Public Affairs Committee will deploy hundreds of activists next week to win support in Congress for military action in Syria, amid an intense White House effort to convince wavering U.S. lawmakers to vote for limited strikes.

"We plan a major lobbying effort with about 250 activists in Washington to meet with their senators and representatives," an AIPAC source said on Saturday.

Congressional aides said they expected the meetings and calls on Tuesday, as President Barack Obama and officials from his administration make their case for missile strikes over the apparent use of chemical weapons by Syrian President Bashar Assad's government.

The vote on action in Syria is a significant political test for Obama and a major push by AIPAC, considered one of the most powerful lobbying groups in Washington, could provide a boost.

more

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-and-defense/1.545661

[arcane1]

1. Calling themselves "activists" yet they get one-on-one meetings with members of congress

Do anti-war activists get that kind of access?

[Eleanors38]

22. Yeah, that struck me too. I've never been paid and feted with standing roast.

[Moses2SandyKoufax]

2. If they get their wish,

can we "deploy" them to Syria next?

[AnotherMcIntosh]

3. Why don't they fight their own Middle-East wars?

[Politicalboi]

4. This should be against the law

How can we let lobbyist buy votes, when it's really called bribery. Lobbyist are legal but hookers aren't. What is the difference. At least the one with the hooker risks his own money and life. The lobbyist risk everyone's money, and everyone else's lives, but they get the red carpet treatment while the hookers get the gray bar treatment. Could it be that most lobbyist are men, and most hookers are women? NAH!

Lobbyist =

Hookers =

[Dustlawyer]

12. And yet, Lobbyist pay for lots of Hookers!

[PADemD]

5. Then we need to make more calls on Monday. nt

[calimary]

9. May I offer the TOLL FREE Capitol Hill switchboard numbers in my sig line, below?

I'm gonna use 'em on Monday.

[LittleBlue]

6. This organization should be banned

It is clearly lobbying on behalf of a foreign government no matter their claims to the contrary

[bvar22]

7. Looks like we are about to find out who REALLY owns Congress.

The American People,
OR somebody else.

Note to Congress:
We are watching,
and many of us are already PISSED to the MAX.

[G_j]

14. +1000

[Enthusiast]

19. "We are watching, and many of us are already PISSED to the MAX."

Yeah, I was damn pissed off before they started these war drums.

[FarCenter]

8. Would we unilaterally, preemptively strike Iran if we won't unilaterally, preemptively strike Syria?

Neither is in the interest of the United States.

But it is all about Israel with these folks.

[Duval]

10. Why am I not surprised? :( n/t

[Aerows]

11. I am against an attack on Syria

because we still are uncertain who actually did the chemical weapons attack. There are Jordanian, Israeli and US operatives in the country, and Turkey already caught a bunch of "rebels" with crude chemical weapons.

The fact that no one discusses the chemical weapons depot the "moderate rebels (that execute people after torturing them)" disturbs me, and makes me have no motivation of getting involved in what is a horribly, horribly ugly fight between two horribly, horribly sets of people, or maybe about 10 different horribly, horribly sets of people.

It's like choosing between herpes and syphilis. I don't want either of them, for heaven's sake.

[kelliekat44]

13. Once again money will trump the voice of the people. So sad that Obama is the next President to

disrespect democracy and the will of the people.

[SwankyXomb]

15. If Israel wants Syria bombed so badly

they can stop hiding behind us and do it themselves.

[Generic Other]

16. 250 AIPAC lobbyists can not be allowed

to thwart the will of the electorate. We are done fighting other people's wars.

[CoffeeCat]

17. Oh great, The Sopranos descend on DC!

Who do these people think they are? Get the frick out of our country, stop bullying our representatives, and fight your own damn battles.

We are sick of bankrolling your crazy!

Our elected representatives in DC represent "We The People"-- American citizens. Not you and you warmongering, delusional crap.

Get the f out!!!

And please, everyone! Call your Congress members every day. Do not fail to do this! Let them know we don't want any part if this and that there will be hell to pay if they bow to the AIPAC MAFIA and ignore their constituents. Call!!

[JRLeft]

18. Israel has planes, ships, and guns. How do I know this because my tax dollars paid for them.

SMH

[jsr]

20. If they want to start a war, let them do it with their own money and blood.

We need to quit being servants and mercenaries for foreigners.

[Harmony Blue]

21. They can try

but they will fail. Our country does not want war!

[Douglas Carpenter]

23. if it does pass - this will be the reason - there is no doubt of overwhelming opposition

it is frequently debated just how powerful the pro-Israeli lobby really is. Off course fake accusations of anti-Semtism are frequently directly against those who point out the power of this movement established to advance the agenda of a foreign power. And to be honest - they are almost limitless in power when it comes to being able to get Congress to to resist pressure on Israel to accept a peace agreement with the Palestinians and to halt and dismantle the settlements on Palestinian land - AIPAC's two main issues of concern. But when it comes to other issues - it is appears quite debatable how powerful they are. If they do get this resolution passed - I guess that will answer the question.