What AIPAC is doing here is they see a vulnerable member they don’t like on their issue and they go after them," said a House Democrat.
The lawmaker added: “Whatever you think of [AIPAC], they’re pretty intelligent. They’ve got some skin in this in the sense that if Bowman wins, that’s egg on their face. They’re very strategic.”
This is how moderates act when a progressive incumbent loses…
But if it’s a moderat incumbent, even as shitty as Manchin, the DNC protects them, and untill very recently opened threatened to blackball anyone that came close to a primary campaign against any incumbent.
Any “party unity” has always been one sided. “Moderates” prefer republicans to progress.
Technically Hakeem Jeffries endorsed Bowman and donated a couple thousand dollars, but he certainly didn’t make much noise about it. I think that was more for deniability after the fact, Jeffries himself is on the AIPAC payroll.
He’s carrying on a tradition for the House leader to endorse and support (with varying levels of “support”) all House incumbents. It’s not an indication of policy agreement or friendship, it’s just if you’re an incumbent, he supports you.
Which is… fine. It’s probably good that the House leader isn’t supporting primary opponents to people in his caucus. But of course some support will be a lot more substantial than others. Pelosi (when she was leader) went to the mat for Henry Cuellar in his previous close primary against a progressive, but would just give perfunctory endorsements to progressive incumbents. When most people know you endorse based simply on incumbency, it’s not really much of an endorsement.
Yep. Just compare how they defended Henry Cuellar against Jessica Cisneros vs how they left Jamaal Bowman hanging.
Honest question to anyone possibly paying more attention. Was there any act from the DNC to defend Bowman? I might’ve missed it but it wouldn’t surprise me to learn they felt differently about supporting one incumbent vs the other
This is how moderates act when a progressive incumbent loses…
But if it’s a moderat incumbent, even as shitty as Manchin, the DNC protects them, and untill very recently opened threatened to blackball anyone that came close to a primary campaign against any incumbent.
Any “party unity” has always been one sided. “Moderates” prefer republicans to progress.
Technically Hakeem Jeffries endorsed Bowman and donated a couple thousand dollars, but he certainly didn’t make much noise about it. I think that was more for deniability after the fact, Jeffries himself is on the AIPAC payroll.
Interesting and surprising. TBH I have seen some signs that dem leadership is starting to get sick of AIPAC, lets see if it lasts.
ETA: He also endorsed Summer Lee who did sucessfully beat AIPAC
https://theintercept.com/2024/01/17/hakeem-jeffries-aipac-summer-lee/
He’s carrying on a tradition for the House leader to endorse and support (with varying levels of “support”) all House incumbents. It’s not an indication of policy agreement or friendship, it’s just if you’re an incumbent, he supports you.
Which is… fine. It’s probably good that the House leader isn’t supporting primary opponents to people in his caucus. But of course some support will be a lot more substantial than others. Pelosi (when she was leader) went to the mat for Henry Cuellar in his previous close primary against a progressive, but would just give perfunctory endorsements to progressive incumbents. When most people know you endorse based simply on incumbency, it’s not really much of an endorsement.
You’re probably correct the more I look into this.
Yep. Just compare how they defended Henry Cuellar against Jessica Cisneros vs how they left Jamaal Bowman hanging.
Honest question to anyone possibly paying more attention. Was there any act from the DNC to defend Bowman? I might’ve missed it but it wouldn’t surprise me to learn they felt differently about supporting one incumbent vs the other