The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) has poured $14.5 million into advertisements attacking the pro-Palestine Representative Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) ahead of his election, which is scheduled for Tuesday. The Congressman has been vocal about his opposition to Israel, and the Zionist lobby has responded by spending $17,000 an hour on TV ads, mass mailings, and “clogging phone lines with caustic attacks” per The New York Times.
According to the Times, AIPAC spent more on this race than has ever been spent by any other interest group on a single House race. AIPAC is pursuing similar attacks against candidates that do not support more funding for their war against Gaza in primary elections across the US, including more than $400,000 against Rep. Thomas Massie’s (R) race in Kentucky, about $1.5 million against Rep. Cori Bush (D) in Missouri, and more than $1 million against Brandon Herrera (R) in Texas.
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Bowman released footage of him campaigning in the rain for the upcoming primary. As many X users pointed out, there was no reason for him to be standing in the rain as the volunteers he was talking to were standing under a tent.
We won’t continue the status quo.
Black and brown communities like Edenwald continue to be left behind. It’s time for us to fight back and ensure that our communities get the love and attention that they deserve.
pic.twitter.com/rUOKIzBNZO— Jamaal Bowman Ed.D. (@JamaalBowmanNY) June 24, 2024
Bowman and fellow New York lawmaker Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez were criticized for their “cringeworthy antics” by the New York Post and others.
We are not just fighting for Jamaal Bowman. We are fighting for American democracy.
The billionaire class cannot defeat us. pic.twitter.com/7nDcr72zDm
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) June 23, 2024
Bowman has been calling out AIPAC’s influence throughout the election, as can be seen in this clip from his debate on Spectrum News with his rival George Latimer.
Everyone in the United States should watch this clip of Jamaal Bowman calling out AIPAC pic.twitter.com/VRPkdx2mcA
— Fifty Shades of Whey (@davenewworld_2) June 20, 2024
“I’m an outspoken person of color. I’m an outspoken Black man. I fight against genocide in Gaza, and I fight for justice right here,” Bowman said during the debate. “And his supporters don’t want that because it challenges their power.”
“Assuming the outcome is as we expect it, the message is going to be that being pro-Israel is not just wise policy, it’s smart politics,” said Mark Mellman, a left-wing analyst whose group, Democratic Majority for Israel, spent $1 million against Bowman.
Shane Devine is a writer covering politics and business for VT and a regular guest on The Unusual Suspects. Follow Shane’s work here.
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