The Republican Jewish Coalition, I noted yesterday, is blitzing Jewish papers in eight states with ads targeting competitive U.S. Senate races.
In the latest round, it’s calling on Rep. Joe Sestak (D-Pa.) and Missouri’s Robin Carnahan to give back J Street money because of its association with George Soros.
The RJC accuses Soros of being anti-Israel and blaming Israel for anti-Semitsm — two allegations that he has denied. (He has said that Jews and Israel should be conscious of how their actions may be used as a pretext for anti-Semitism, but also, that he does not believe that such actions justify anti-Semitism.) It’s a season for slinging, and the Democrats are playing too, with unfounded accusations that the GOP is taking money from foreigners.
(This is where I fantasize about going into hiding until Nov. 3.)
The bigger question about the RJC ad is its all-caps conclusion: JOE SESTAK SHOULD GIVE BACK HIS GEORGE SOROS/J STREET MONEY.
Sestak and Carnahan got their money from J Street’s Political Action Committee. Soros gave to the 501 (c) 4, not the PAC. So what money, exactly, should they return?
That is, how do the candidates make good on this challenge? And what do you tell the small donors who directed money through the PAC?
UPDATE: RJC director Matt Brooks called to clarify that the ads are emphasizing the overall association with Soros. The PAC may have a separate legal status, but its political association with J Street is clear. Fair point.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
