“Federal Election Commission records show Stein paid $100,000 in July to a consulting outfit that has worked with Republican campaigns, as well as Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s independent presidential bid. The firm, Accelevate, is operated by Trent Pool. The Intercept reported that he appeared to be part of the mob that breached the grounds of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6., 2021. The Journal hasn’t independently verified the reporting.”

  • TheFonz@lemmy.world
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    2 months ago

    Israel paid directly for two candidates and committed FARA violations? That’s a big claim buddy. Got any… Evidence?

    • Ensign_Crab@lemmy.world
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      2 months ago

      AIPAC paid to defeat Jamaal Bowman and Cori Bush. If you want to believe that AIPAC is actually independent of Israel, I can’t make you stop believing absurdities.

      • TheFonz@lemmy.world
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        2 months ago

        I know what AIPAC is. Your claim is that they have direct funding from the government of Israel. That’s illegal. You are allowed to set up a lobby group in the US that supports another country as long as the funds are obtained from within the US.

        I know this might come as a shock to you, but there are many jews living in the US that happen to support Israel. You are welcome to set up any lobby group you want. Go ahead and set one up for Lebanon. But FARA is very clear about the source of the funds.

        If youre not familiar with FARA take some time to acquaint your self? Or talk to a lawyer maybe? I don’t know.

        • Ensign_Crab@lemmy.world
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          2 months ago

          Your argument in favor of foreign interests interfering in US elections is essentially “well, it’s perfectly legal, and if you don’t like it, help another foreign interest interfere in US elections.”

          • TheFonz@lemmy.world
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            2 months ago

            Are you doing it on purpose? It seems you’re trying really hard. Like really hard.

            That’s not my argument. I think it’s clear to everyone else reading you’re doing it on purpose so I’m out. Cheers.

            • Ensign_Crab@lemmy.world
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              2 months ago

              That’s not my argument.

              Then what is? It’s fine to buy candidates as long as your PAC has the fig leaf of US funding when it operates on behalf of a foreign government? Because that’s what happened. Israel didn’t like the incumbents. AIPAC spent loads of money on their challengers.

              Back in 2022, we were told that when the party propped up the anti-choice, pro-nra, anti-labor Henry Cuellar against his progressive challenger Jessica Cisneros, it absolutely wasn’t because he was a centrist and she a progressive. It was that the party protects its incumbents in order to maintain the incumbency advantage and the proven track record for winning.

              But we just saw the party do absolutely fucking nothing at all to protect the progressive incumbents Jamaal Bowman and Cori Bush, while their opponents took boatloads of cash from AIPAC to sink them.

              As far as I’m concerned, the party supports Netanyahu’s ongoing genocide, and in exchange AIPAC spends heaps of money in opposition to progressive incumbents that party leadership refuses to protect.

              • TheFonz@lemmy.world
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                2 months ago

                I understand what you’re trying to say, but you’ve mixed in 3 different topics into a blender to build up a narrative. This is literally a gish gallop and it’s intentional.

                The only thing I pushed back was that AIPAC was taking money directly from Israel and circumventing FARA, which is a common conspiratorial talking point.

                Now in addition to addressing FARA, you want to talk about

                • incumbent advantage and popularity of these candidates

                • dems support for genocide,

                • the influence of lobbying in elections.

                • Ensign_Crab@lemmy.world
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                  2 months ago

                  The only thing I pushed back was that AIPAC was taking money directly from Israel and circumventing FARA, which is a common conspiratorial talking point.

                  Ok, let’s both take a step back here, I ask that you humor me for a moment. Could you please quote where I said that Israel directly funded AIPAC in contravention of FARA? I don’t recall making such an assertion, but you seem to be arguing as though I did.

                  Accusing me of being a conspiracy theorist for noticing that AIPAC spent loads of money to essentially buy candidates is low. Calling it a gish gallop when I expanded on it is lower still.

                  • TheFonz@lemmy.world
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                    2 months ago

                    Netanyahu. AIPAC bought two candidates right out in the open. The party welcomes foreign interference against progressives.

                    Isn’t the implication here that Israel - a foreign entity - is directing an american Lobby directly?

      • YeetPics@mander.xyz
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        2 months ago

        I can’t

        That’s really all you have to say. We know you can’t back up your claims with evidence already.