Netanyahu backers hint at consequences for Democrats who boycott speech

[shaayecanaan]

Team Barack started strong, but Team Bibi is showing it knows how to finish, as supporters of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pick up steam against those urging a boycott of his speech next week before Congress.

About 20 House and Senate Democrats announced early on that they would not attend the March 3 speech, which is being cast as a rebuke to President Obama, but since then only a handful have joined them as pro-Netanyahu advocates counter by hinting at political consequences for the no-shows.

Christians United for Israel, for example, sent out an action alert a few weeks ago urging its members to contact their representatives in support of the Netanyahu speech. The result was a blast of more than 30,000 emails asking lawmakers not to let “partisan politics and petty excuses keep you from fulfilling the most basic of responsibilities of your office.”

“Our goal was to sort of stop the bleeding and push back,” said CUFI executive director David Brog. “Since that went out, there’s not been much of an increase or an increase at all in the numbers not attending. We hope we were part of the pushback that made folks think twice about this very blatant display of partisanship.”

But only 23 of the House’s 188 Democrats, two of the Senate’s 44 Democrats and one independent have said they will skip the March 3 speech, according to an online “whip list” maintained by The Hill.

“Here’s the difference: Obama doesn’t have to run for re-election again. A lot of these guys do,” Mr. Brog said. “So if they’re doubling down with the White House on what is increasingly proving to be a naive approach to this evil, they could pay with their jobs.”

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/feb/23/benjamin-netanyahu-backers-hint-at-consequences-fo/

[hollysmom]

1. They wouldn't be backing them anyway - no difference

[Xipe Totec]

2. Kiss my shiny metal ass. nt

[chillfactor]

3. chicken liver congress persons...especially Democrats...

they all make me sick

[Wellstone ruled]

4. Oh Boy,Right Wing Propaganda Machine at it's

finist.

[C_U_L8R]

5. You dare threaten us

Eat me.

[PumpkinAle]

6. You say "this very blatant display of partisanship"

I say way to go Dems with backbones.

p.s. CUFI............ the Rapture ain't ever going to happen.

[shaayecanaan]

9. He doesnt believe in the Rapture...

Mr Brog is Jewish, as are the other two day-to-day leaders of "Christians United for Israel". Other pro-Israel Christian organisations refer to them as more of a political lobby than a religious organisation, and essentially as AIPAC's "gentile arm", which seems more or less accurate.

http://www.charismanews.com/opinion/standing-with-israel/47005-where-your-israel-donation-really-goes

Hagee also gets Jewish advice from CUFI’s own executive director. Brog is the powerhouse behind the Christian organization, yet he’s also a conservative (non-Messianic) Jew. He brought two other Jews on board: Shari Dollinger from Atlanta as one of his coordinators and Ari Morgenstern as communications director. Morgenstern ensures CUFI’s messaging is consistent with what Brog wants—which is to convey that evangelical Christians support Israel, yet (to his Jewish supporters) are also “safe” because CUFI will never proselytize.

Brog, who was chief of staff to liberal Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania for seven years, is said to run CUFI like a political campaign. He has talking points, stays focused and rallies his constituency. He’s well liked by those who work with him and known for being a brilliant strategist. But one by one, the higher-profile Christian leaders who helped Hagee start CUFI are dropping off as the organization becomes more focused on political lobbying.

It’s no secret that one of the most powerful lobbying groups in Washington, D.C., the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), has long wanted a “Gentile arm,” and some believe they now have it in CUFI. Jewish leaders and philanthropists love to attend CUFI’s events to see the genuine enthusiasm and love expressed for Israel. Though there’s still rousing Christian music and prayer at these events, there’s most certainly no proselytizing. As a result, many wealthy Jews have pumped tens of thousands of dollars into CUFI.

Like Hagee, Brog has learned how to straddle the line between the evangelical and Jewish communities, and it shows in CUFI’s growth. The organization boasts of having more than 1 million “members,” though insiders know such membership consists of nothing but CUFI having your email address. There’s nothing to pay, nothing to sign. And even if you drop out, you’re still counted as a member. Given this, insiders say the number of actual donors is closer to 30,000 to 50,000.

CUFI does have a rank and file membership (although vastly less than the one million people it alleges) and so isn't entirely an astroturf outfit. However, most of its active supporters are not traditional Christians but "messianic Jews" - people who practise a syncretic mix of Judaism and Christianity. "Messianic Judaism" (essentially Jews for Jesus) is an extremely hot-button issue for Jews generally, so CUFI basically concentrates on lobbying and tries to keep the religious stuff as vague as possible.

[Egnever]

7. Went from 20 to 25

I am not sure they are accomplishing their goals

[spanone]

8. i wipe ass with the washington times.

[FSogol]

16. You can't because it is digital only these days.

Too many people wiped their ass with the print copy, IIRC.

[spanone]

17. no wonder i was having trouble....dig tp

[FSogol]

18. Digital TP saves paper because you can use both sides.

[Cha]

10. You're linking ******* rw washington times.. Who gives a shite about their goPropaganda?

[shaayecanaan]

11. You, evidently (nt)

[Cha]

14. No, I don't.. I didn't read their shit.. just that's it's the rwing moonie times.

[shaayecanaan]

15. You must have read some of their shit

because I put it in the OP. Maybe you'd better dunk your head in Lysol to erase all memory of reading that which is verboten.

I read pretty much anything, from Al Akbar to Asia Times to the Guardian, NYTimes, El Monde, Fox, etc. I don't accept any of them uncritically. I would advise you to do the same.

[gratuitous]

12. I noticed it was the Moonie Times, too

Big talk from pipsqueak David Brog (if that is his real name, never heard of him or his alleged organization). Put me in the category of "not shaking in my boots."

[HappyMe]

13. Look out! The Moonies are coming!