'Truly shameful': Pro-Israel AIPAC slams Sanders after he says conference is platform for 'bigotry'

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

WASHINGTON – Sen. Bernie Sanders drew the ire of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee and its supporters after he announced he would not attend the lobbying group's annual conference because he said the organization gives a platform for "bigotry."

Sanders – who now leads the presidential pack in delegates after wins in Nevada and New Hampshire – has been an outspoken critic of Israel's treatment of Palestinians and derided Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a "racist" during a Democratic debate in December.

"The Israeli people have the right to live in peace and security. So do the Palestinian people," Sanders tweeted Sunday. "I remain concerned about the platform AIPAC provides for leaders who express bigotry and oppose basic Palestinian rights. For that reason I will not attend their conference.

"As president, I will support the rights of both Israelis and Palestinians and do everything possible to bring peace and security to the region," he added in a second tweet.

Link to tweet

?s=20

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/truly-shameful-pro-israel-aipac-slams-sanders-after-he-says-conference-is-platform-for-bigotry/ar-BB10khDE?li=BBnb7Kz

[polichick]

1. Really?! AIPAC or Bernie?

No contest.

[PatSeg]

2. Good for him!

[Cuthbert Allgood]

3. Wait? Are we now pretending that some at AIPAC don't have horrific views on Palestine?

Man. I thought we just all knew that.

[kysrsoze]

4. Ooh... is Bernie being a "disloyal Jew?"

Could AIPAC possibly be more hypocritical? Bernie’s stance is just fine.

[Moderateguy]

12. AIPAC is one of the biggest hypocrites

Any one saying event the slightest thing against Israel is either antisemitic or a bad-Jew

[MaryMagdaline]

5. Is Bernie running for President?

[HerbChestnut]

7. He is.

And like always, he's standing up for what he believes.

[Magoo48]

10. Yup! Once again, thanks for standing up Bernie.

[Me.]

6. He's Right

But why tweet this now? His views are well known so if he wasn't asked, not a smart move to.

[showblue22]

8. AIPAC NO. Liberty University YES.

https://www.nytimes.com/politics/first-draft/2015/09/14/bernie-sanders-makes-rare-appeal-to-evangelicals-at-liberty-university/

[NurseJackie]

13. Ah... that makes things clearer now.

Ugh.

[wellst0nev0ter]

17. So He's Wrong About AIPAC

Because he spoke at Liberty University.

Good to know.

[Nanjeanne]

9. Bernie is right and as a Jew I have never supported AIPAC.

[yardwork]

11. I don't have a problem with this particular tweet.

[still_one]

14. Regardless how one feels about AIPAC, Sanders is refusing to go because he says "it is a platform

for bigotry", however, I find it ironic that he had no problem speaking at Liberty University

Some are saying he is courageous for doing this. I beg to disagree. What would have been courageous is if he went to speak before them, and tell them why their agenda is wrong.

[oasis]

15. +1

[kcr]

16. Yep. He does seem rather selective in his courage.

[MaryMagdaline]

21. Agreed. Exactly like Liberty University

[Gothmog]

18. #NewYork @SienaResearch Poll Among Jewish Voters:

Link to tweet

[OliverQ]

19. I'm Jewish.

AIPAC is an arm of the Republican party.

[tritsofme]

23. This is simply a lie.

[rockfordfile]

20. I agree with Sanders

[tritsofme]

22. Sanders truly is shameful, I fear Corbynization of the party under his leadership is inevitable.

And a predictably similar path the wilderness that our friends across the pond now find themselves in.

[still_one]

24. In my view he is following the trump playbook to secure the nomination

[Gothmog]

25. 347 rabbis sign letter rejecting Bernie Sanders' 'outrageous comments'

Link to tweet

WASHINGTON – Following Sen. Bernie Sanders’s decision to skip the AIPAC Policy Conference in March, a group of 347 rabbis has signed an open letter to the Democratic front-runner, saying they support AIPAC’s role in advancing the US-Israel relationship and reject his “outrageous comments.”

Sanders claimed on Saturday that the organization gives a platform “for leaders who express bigotry.”

AIPAC responded in a statement, saying that the Vermont senator’s comments were “truly shameful” and were considered an “odious attack on this mainstream, bipartisan American political event.”

This was an unusual reaction from a group that avoids public disputes with political leaders.

“AIPAC’s mission is one that we and our congregants care deeply about,” the rabbis wrote in their letter. “Through AIPAC, we lobby Congress to support our democratic ally and strengthen the long-standing bipartisan support for a partnership that benefits both nations.

[Blue_Tires]

26. Going after AIPAC is

the first thing Sanders has done I actually agree with, ironically...

[grossproffit]

27. Yet, he had no problem speaking at the Islamic Convention of North America a few months ago.

Why was speaking at the ISNA okay but speaking at AIPAC not okay?

[Raftergirl]

28. I'm Jewish

and I disagree vehemently with AIPAC stances. But Bernie should have had the cajones to speak before them.

[Midnight Writer]

29. Bernie says he will go on Fox News. Fox is a major platform for bigotry.