The exective director of AIPAC is Washington’s sixth most powerful person, according to GQ magazine.
Howard Kohr tied with three other lobbyists – for retired Americans, gun owners and the pharmaceutical industry – on the list of 50 most powerful people in the capital. At 51, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee’s top professional was the youngest person named.
“In 2006, the four interest groups they command spoke for 40 million members and thirty-two drug companies, racked up $43 million in lobbying expenses, and threw their considerable weight around to keep a slew of unpopular laws on the books and uphold the status quo,” the men’s magazine said in making its selection, which says it based the list on conversations with “think tankers, congressional aides and political journalists.” Topping the list is Condoleezza Rice, the U.S. secretary of state.
Kohr and the other lobbyists are the first on the list not employed by the government. They are ahead of U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.), the front-running Democratic presidential candidate, at No. 8 and Tim Russert, who hosts the influential NBC talk show “Meet the Press,” at No. 14.
“Thanks to the influence their groups wield that’s both detectable (money given to campaigns) and subtle (the personal relationships built with committee members of both parties), don’t expect any big changes to our Israel or prescription-drug policies in coming years,” GQ wrote. AIPAC declined comment.
Among others on the list are hair stylists and restaurateurs.
