Two days after AIPAC dropped $14 million in it’s effort to defeat Rep. Jamaal Bowman in a New York Congressional race, the pro-Israel lobbying organization texted it’s followers: Their next target is member of the so-called “squad”, Missouri Rep. Cori Bush.
Following Jamal Bowman’s defeat AIPAC sent out a text stating, “On Tuesday night, the pro-Israel community helped ensure anti-Israel Rep. Jamaal Bowman won’t be returning to Congress next year. With your support, we can also help defeat Rep. Cori Bush, another member of the anti-Israel Squad.”
Rep. Bush’s calls for a cease-fire in Gaza seems to have spurred AIPAC to target her.
Bush authored a cease-fire resolution and called for the United States to stop funding Israeli crimes, describing it as“unconscionable for the United States government to continue enabling mass atrocities.” Along with the rest of the Squad, Bush has called for an end to Israel’s war on Gaza. Bush also boycotted Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech to Congress on last week.
Describing Cori Bush’s politics, Liza Featherstone of Jacobin writes:
“During Bush’s time in Congress, she has pursued a strong progressive agenda on renewable energy, climate resilience, public transit, environmental justice, veterans’ health, and women’s rights. Like her fellow Squad members, Bush has elevated left and working-class concerns in national political discourse and pushed the Democrats left, strengthening legislation like the Inflation Reduction Act.
Along with the rest of the Squad, Bush has stood against the war on Gaza. Bush boycotted Benjamin Netanyahu’s horrific speech to Congress on Wednesday; she authored a cease-fire resolution and called for the United States to stop funding Israeli crimes, deeming it “unconscionable for the United States government to continue enabling mass atrocities.” She has framed such calls not only in the context of empathy for a people under siege but also of American working-class well-being: ‘We should be prioritizing the needs of our communities. That means funding public housing, healthcare and education — not endless war.’”
Bush’s opponent, is Wesley Bell, who was polling 17 points behind Bush before AIPAC and other Pro-Israel groups dropped $2.5 in ads. Following this outside spending, the race has changed significantly with some polls showing Bush now trailing Mr. Bell.
Like Jamaal Bowman’s opponent, Bell has taken donations from Republicans like hedge-fund manager Daniel Loeb. Bell also served as campaign manger to a radical anti-abortion and gun rights Republican Mark J. Byrne.
Describing Mr. Bell history in politics, Featherstone writes,
“As prosecutor of St. Louis County, the site of Michael Brown’s 2014 murder, Bell opted not to prosecute Darren Wilson, the cop who killed Brown — a move that sparked mass demonstrations all over the country.
Bell hasn’t changed much since. A report on his tenure released last week by Prosecutor Watch, a coalition of St. Louis racial justice groups including Forward Through Ferguson and Action St. Louis, shows that the jail population has not been reduced during his tenure as prosecutor, and transparency from the DA’s office is still lacking. Even before assuming his current office, as municipal judge of Velda City, Bell was sued for presiding over a fixed cash bail system that was alleged to be abusive to impoverished defendants.”
Sen. Sanders has come out to support Rep. Bush, but it remains to be seen if Bernie’s endorsement and the progressive forces can hold off the big money of AIPAC and other right-wing forces in next month’s election.