WOW: Pro-Israel Lobby AIPAC Sitting Out Hagel Fight

[WilliamPitt]

Opponent of Chuck Hagel's nomination to be secretary of defense have been lining up for battle, citing concerns about the former senator’s position on Israel.

Notably absent from the cast of critics: the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, or AIPAC, Washington’s largest and most well funded pro-Israel lobby.

The powerful lobby, which doesn’t typically shy away from a fight, has decided to sit this one out, say several House and Senate staff members, as well as some pro-Israel activists in Washington.

“Staffers and members are trying to find out what AIPAC thinks of Hagel, and we are not getting anything,” one Senate Republican staff member said. Another Senate staff member said, “AIPAC will be sitting this one out.”

The rest: http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/01/07/pro-israel-lobby-aipac-sitting-out-hagel-fight.html



Was not expecting this. The "defend Israel" anti-Hagel argument just got de-nutted.

[Purveyor]

1. Perhaps they are thinking as I pondered in a post I just posted in GD. What do they actually

accomplish if they scuttle the President's nominee other than a pissed off President that will hold office for the next 4 years and not up for re-election.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022151836

[Ikonoklast]

2. They see it as a Lose/Lose proposition.

Attack Hagel, align themselves publicly with the Neocons getting rolled out to screech "Anti-Semite!!!", piss off everyone else not crazy on the Hill and Pennsylvania Avenue for the next four years...

"Hagel? Hmmm. Nope, doesn't ring a bell."

[RomneyLies]

3. They know a lose-lose scenario when they see one

The teabaggers are up in arms over Hagel and they need the teabaggers for pro-Israel support.

The administration runs the show and they need the administration for pro-Israel support.

their best course of action is to STFU.

[spanone]

4. kinda takes the wind out of those sails, eh? eat that mccain and graham

[Dawson Leery]

5. kick

[TwilightGardener]

6. Well, publicly, they state they are neutral.

Who knows what's happening privately and off the record.