AOC blasts powerhouse pro-Israel group AIPAC as ‘racist and bigoted’
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Far-left Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ripped into the American Israel Public Affairs Committee late Tuesday, calling it a “racist and bigoted organization.”
The attack by the Bronx and Queens lawmaker came in response to AIPAC admonishing Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), AOC, and her allies in the so-called “Squad” for voting against a House resolution last week affirming US support for the Jewish state and condemning the Hamas terror group.
“AIPAC endorsed scores of Jan 6th insurrectionists. They are no friend to American democracy,” Ocasio-Cortez wrote on X. “They are one of the more racist and bigoted PACs in Congress as well, who disproportionately target members of color.
“They are an extremist organization that destabilizes US democracy.”
Massie was the sole Republican to vote against the measure last week, joining 15 Democrats who either voted “nay” or “present.”
Ocasio-Cortez has previously called for a ceasefire and decried the treatment of Palestinians as Israel works to snuff out the threat posed by Hamas in the Gaza Strip. She has also suggested Israel has committed war crimes in the conflict.
“More of the same tired lies & spin,” AIPAC responded Wednesday morning. “@AOC and the Squad summed up: People who disagree with us are racist. AIPAC stands with pro-Israel Democrats and Republicans of all races, genders, and backgrounds who support the US-Israel alliance. And we oppose those who don’t, like you.”
Ocasio-Cortez is not the only “Squad” member to unleash on AIPAC.
Back in August, Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) ripped the group as a “right-wing super PAC” funded by “dark money” — despite the fact that the group works with members of Congress from both parties.
“THIS IS URGENT,” an Omar campaign ad said. “A right-wing Super PAC funded by millions of dollars in Dark Money spending is working around the clock to unseat Ilhan from Congress in 2024.”
That same month, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) led a delegation of two dozen House Democrats on a trip to Israel sponsored by the American Israel Education Foundation, a non-profit charitable organization affiliated with AIPAC.
In 2019, Omar infamously posted “It’s all about the Benjamins baby” on social media in response to a post about then-House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) moving to punish her over her position on Israel.
She later apologized for her remarks, but still worked in a slam at AIPAC.
“Anti-Semitism is real and I am grateful for Jewish allies and colleagues who are educating me on the painful history of anti-Semitic tropes,” she said at the same time.
“At the same time, I reaffirm the problematic role of lobbyists in our politics, whether it be AIPAC, the NRA or the fossil fuel industry. It’s gone on too long and we must be willing to address it.”
That March, then-Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) addressed AIPAC’s annual conference and proclaimed, in an apparent blast at Omar and other House Democrats: “If you only care about antisemitism coming from your political opponents, you are not fully committed to fighting antisemitism.”
AIPAC has reportedly been working to recruit primary challengers against the “Squad” members, most of whom come from deep-blue districts.
Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) also slammed Ocasio-Cortez Wednesday over her attack on AIPAC.
“You know who else hates @AIPAC? Hamas. It shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone that people like AOC would attack the largest bipartisan pro-Israel group in the US as somehow a threat to our country,” he wrote. “The rise of antisemitism by the progressive left is the REAL threat to humanity.”
Founded in 1963, AIPAC claims to have more than 100,000 members and 17 regional offices in addition to its Washington, DC headquarters.
Since Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel triggered the Jewish state’s first declaration of war in 50 years, the left-wing of the Democratic Party has been bitterly divided over the Biden administration’s response — which has largely been one of support for Israel’s drive to eliminate the terror group.
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