J Street Pushes Back Against ‘Smear Tactics’ On National Conference

J Street Executive Director Jeremy Ben-Ami
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J Street, the “pro-Israel pro-peace” group which is holding its first national conference this month, has sent out an email blast in response to a Weekly Standard-pushed campaign to get members of Congress to drop off the conference’s honorary host committee.

So far, five members have asked that their names be removed — including Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Rep. Mike Ross (D-AR) — with some saying they don’t know how their names got on the list. Schumer, for his part, asked not to be included after initially allowing his name on the list, and that happened before the matter was public.

J Street today sent an email to members of its list who are represented by lawmakers on the host committee. It asks supporters to call lawmakers to voice their support for J Street.

“This is exactly how the neoconservative far-right of the pro-Israel community has – for decades – imposed strict boundaries of acceptable political conversation on Israel in this country,” the email reads. “Cross them and prepare to feel the full effect of their smear machine.”

Here’s the full text of the email:

Isaac —

Yesterday, in a classic “Swift Boat” move, the Weekly Standard magazine – dubbed the “neocon bible” by The Economist – launched an attack on our conference and the whole pro-Israel, pro-peace movement. [1]

They’re working the phones – calling the offices of every one of the 150-plus members of Congress on our Gala’s Honorary Host Committee to frighten them away from associating with J Street. The most infuriating part is that their thuggish smear tactics are having an impact — already 5 members of Congress have pulled off of our Host Committee.

This is exactly how the neoconservative far-right of the pro-Israel community has – for decades – imposed strict boundaries of acceptable political conversation on Israel in this country. Cross them and prepare to feel the full effect of their smear machine.

Enough. Not this time. Today, the mainstream majority goes on offense.

If you’re getting this email, you’ve got a Senator or Representative on our Honorary Host Committee. Will you call them right now to thank them for signing on to our Host Committee before the Weekly Standard guys get to them?

Click here to call your member(s) of Congress using our easy-to-use call-in tool. We’ll connect your phone directly for no hassle and no extra cost.

So what’s causing our political opponents to become so totally unhinged?

It’s the whole pro-Israel, pro-peace movement’s growing influence.

We’ve got an exciting conference planned that starts in just 9 days, and over 1,000 people are slated to attend.

The New York Times Magazine published a lengthy profile on us, showing that even top national media outlets are recognizing the change that’s coming to our issue. [2]

We’re showing Congress that political support exists from those of us that believe supporting Israel’s future as a Jewish, democratic homeland means supporting President Obama’s balanced approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Don’t let these neoconservatives and their Swift Boat tactics win the day. Call your representative today and make sure they hear from the mainstream majority.

Click here to call your member(s) of Congress right now. Our easy-to-use tool will connect your phone directly for no hassle and no extra cost.

Thanks so much for all you do.

– Isaac

Isaac Luria
Campaigns Director
J Street
October 16, 2009

[1] “The Neocon Bible, The Weekly Standard.” The Economist, September 2005.

[2] “The New Israel Lobby,” by James Traub. The New York Times Magazine, September 9, 2009.

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