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miJEWtiae
By WJW Staff , Rockville, Md
akredo@washingtonjewishweek.com
Thursday, January 21, 2010
J Street announces first wave of endorsements
Adam Kredo
J Street's political action committee released its first wave of congressional endorsements this morning, backing 41 candidates who tout their "pro-Israel, pro-peace" view.
The group handed out $578,186 in the 2008 election cycle, and plans to double that amount in the coming cycle.
In a press release this morning, the group flexed its political muscle, boasting of its fundraising prowess: "The first group of JStreetPAC 2010 endorsees features candidates from 24 states and represents the breadth and depth of the PAC's support. Among those endorsed today are four committee chairmen, three subcommittee chairmen, five members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, five members of the House Appropriations Committee, and leading members of the Congressional Black and Hispanic Caucuses. The endorsees also include eight Jewish candidates and one of two Muslim members of Congress"
The press release and a full list of endorsees below:
WASHINGTON - JStreetPAC, the country's first and only pro-Israel, pro-peace political action committee, announced its first Congressional endorsements of the 2010 cycle, backing 41 candidates - matching in its first wave of endorsements the number it backed in the whole 2008 cycle.
These endorsements kick off a new election cycle for JStreetPAC, which distributed more money to candidates than any other pro-Israel federal political action committee in the 2008 cycle, according to FEC reports. Today's endorsements are only the first of many the PAC plans to make in 2010, as it looks to expand its political and financial impact. In total, JStreetPAC plans a 50% increase over last cycle in both endorsements and disbursements.
In 2008, JStreetPAC disbursed $578,186 to 41 candidates. Thirty-three of the PAC's endorsees went on to win their elections. In 2009, the PAC also helped tip the scales in now-Congressmen Bill Owens and Scott Murphy's hotly contested special elections and came to the aid of Reps. Donna Edwards and Steve Cohen with significant internet fundraisers.
"By providing tangible support for members of Congress and candidates who stand up for a pro-Israel, pro-peace American foreign policy, we've begun to open up the much-needed political space for an honest conversation on how we best serve the interests of Israel and the United States," said JStreetPAC Executive Director Jeremy Ben-Ami.
"These candidates understand that the United States must play an active role in bringing about a two-state solution and a comprehensive, regional peace," said Ben-Ami, "not only for the sake of Israel and Palestinians - but also for our own national interests."
The first group of JStreetPAC 2010 endorsees features candidates from 24 states and represents the breadth and depth of the PAC's support. Among those endorsed today are four committee chairmen, three subcommittee chairmen, five members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, five members of the House Appropriations Committee, and leading members of the Congressional Black and Hispanic Caucuses. The endorsees also include eight Jewish candidates and one of two Muslim members of Congress.
A complete list of endorsees, as well as reactions from a number of featured candidates, follows below.
"JStreetPAC's successes and the considerable growth we are anticipating in our second election cycle demonstrate the momentum being built behind pro-Israel candidates committed to diplomacy and to security through peace," said Ben-Ami. "This year, the PAC's work will continue to make it clear that the single most pro-Israel thing we can do is actively work to achieve peace between Israel and her neighbors."
Targeted endorsed candidates will be featured in email appeals to J Street's 140,000 supporters.
JStreetPAC launched in April 2008 as the first and only federal political action committee established to explicitly promote meaningful American leadership to end the Israeli-Palestinian and Israeli-Arab conflicts peacefully and diplomatically. The PAC provides political and financial support to candidates for federal office from Americans who believe an active American role in the Middle East will best advance U.S. interests in the region and promote real peace and security for Israel and its neighbors. The PAC is legally unconnected to J Street, a 501(c)(4) lobby and advocacy organization, and the J Street Education Fund, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization for education and outreach.
For more information, visit www.jstreet.org.
JStreetPAC 2010 CONGRESSIONAL ENDORSEES:
• Rep. Earl Blumenauer (OR-03)
• Rep. Charles Boustany (LA-07)
• Rep. Michael Capuano (MA-08)
• Rep. Lois Capps (CA-23)
• Rep. Russ Carnahan (MO-03)
• Rep. Steve Cohen (TN-09)
• Rep. Gerry Connolly (VA-11)
• Rep. Susan Davis (CA-53)
• Rep. William Delahunt (MA-10)
• Rep. Donna Edwards (MD-04)
• Rep. Keith Ellison (MN-05)
• Sen. Russ Feingold (WI)
• Rep. Bob Filner (CA-51)
• Rep. Barney Frank (MA-04)
• Rep. Charles Gonzalez (TX-20)
• Rep. Deborah Halvorson (IL-11)
• Rep. Jim Himes (CT-04)
• Rep. Maurice Hinchey (NY-22)
• Rep. Rush Holt (NJ-12)
• Rep. Jay Inslee (WA-01)
• Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy (OH-15)
• Rep. Hank Johnson (GA-04)
• Rep. Ron Kind (WI-03)
• Rep. Dan Maffei (NY-25)
• Rep. Betsy Markey (CO-04)
• Rep. Eric Massa (NY-29)
• Rep. Betty McCollum (MN-04)
• Rep. Jim McGovern (MA-03)
• Rep. George Miller (CA-07)
• Rep. Scott Murphy (NY-20)
• Rep. Bill Owens (NY-23)
• Rep. Tom Perriello (VA-05)
• Doug Pike (PA-06)
• Rep. Chellie Pingree (ME-01)
• Rep. Jared Polis (CO-02)
• Steve Pougnet (CA-45)
• Rep. David Price (NC-04)
• Rep. Charles Rangel (NY-15)
• Rep. Janice Schakowsky (IL-09)
• Rep. Peter Welch (VT-At Large)
• Rep. John Yarmuth (KY-03)
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