The American Israel Public Affairs Committee, arguably the most influential pro-Israel lobbying group in the country, has long treated support for the Jewish state as an issue that rises above partisan politics.As a single-issue organization, AIPAC maintains it is party agnostic, especially when it comes to political spending. But in recent years, AIPAC’s relatively new political action committees have poured unprecedented sums into races seeming, to some outside observers, to support primarily Israel-friendly Republican candidates while targeting Democrats critical of Israel.Its recipient pool, however, is not exclusively Republican, nor are AIPAC’s targets strictly Democrats.
AIPAC says it works to elect pro-Israel voices from both sides of the political aisle and defeat any detractors of the U.S.-Israeli partnership. That dynamic was on display in Tuesday’s AIPAC-backed primary defeat of Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY), a staunch noninterventionist and frequent critic of U.S. foreign aid to Israel. AIPAC put almost $5 million behind ad buys slamming Massie for voting “again and again” against House resolutions to stand in solidarity with Israel.
MASSIE SAYS HE ‘MAY LOSE’ PRIMARY DUE TO RIVAL’S PRO-ISRAEL CASH ADVANTAGE
