I just got an email alert from the folks at J Street asking for help in the campaign of Jan Schakowsky against challenger Joel Pollack (R) a conservative who studied under and just got the endorsement from none other than long time Democrat and once progressive turned (R - Likudnik / Yisrael Beitanu) Alan Dershowitz.
Now prior to getting this email, I knew very little of this race - just that some guy was courting the Teabaggers and hard Rightists in the Israeli side of things. So I did some research and I in addition to agreeing with Rep. Schkawosky on I/P I agree with her on many other subjects.
Anyhow, here is some info. on this and how we can help Jan Schakowsky - a longtime ally of President Obama and strong advocate of Single Payer (The Public Option) Health Care...
First of here is: Pollacks comment about J Street and Dershowitz' endorsement
My opponent has taken the wrong approach. She supports J Street, which blames Israel first (diarists emphasis). She has raised money with Helen Thomas, despite knowing her anti-Israel views. She flew to Honduras to embrace Manuel Zelaya, after he blamed Israel for his ouster from office. Last month, she told an audience at a synagogue that Jerusalem is a settlement. Those are radical, not liberal, views. They are not the views of our district.
Now first let's get our facts straight here.. Here is Rep. Schakowsky on the unification of Jerusalem
Now, look at her last paragraph:
Madam Speaker, today I call on all of my colleagues to support H. Con. Res. 152, and I pledge to continue to work to maintain Jerusalem as Israel’s indivisible capitol and to promote the policy of the United States to support a peaceful, two-state solution to end the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. Thank you Madam Speaker."
That hardly sounds like she is calling Jerusalem a "settlement". It turns out she opposes illegal construction in Jerusalem as a barrier to peaceful negotiations. Something far different than the lie that "Jerusalem is a Settlment".
Ok now that we have cleared that up.....
What else does Rep. Schakowsky stand for .. well I suggest you visit Her Web Page or Her page on Wikipedia.. I think you will find many things that will lead you to support her in addition to her stand for a Two State Solution to the Conflict in the Middle East.
As J Street says:
Jan Schakowsky is an American success story. Her parents immigrated to the United States from Russia as children at the beginning of the 20th century. Their parents were looking to escape oppression and build a new life for their family in the land of freedom and opportunity. She's brought a passion for social justice and human rights to her public life that reflects the deeply-held values instilled in her at home.
She represents the best of her community, yet to some, none of that matters. They want to silence Jan's voice in Congress because she's also not afraid to speak out for a rational, sensible Middle East policy.
She cares deeply about Israel, votes consistently to support it - and most importantly recognizes that its future as a Jewish, democratic home depends on achieving a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
At Daily Kos we talk about supporting "Better Democrats" well - I look at Rep. Schakowsky as one of these types of Democrats. I will be sending money to help her and help J Street create a new, more just dynamic on the Capital Hill.
Let's join J Street in supporting a real progressive over a Tea-Party, Fox News Wannabe.