[brraverishhh]

andak01-

With respect, the facts you've provided don't preclude the existence of a Zionist lobby for the following reasons. Admittedly, the title of the thread is a bit misleading. The point of this thread is that America is not hijacked by a zionist lobby. Of course there is a zionist lobby in America, as there are lobbies for just about every ethnic group and nationality in the US, but that American policy is hijacked by this lobby is a myth and propaganda.


- The lobby doesn't have to consist of all Jews. In fact, it doesn't. Bush and Condoleeza Rice for example are Zionists and they aren't in any way Jewish. There is no preclusion of working for the Zionist cause because of one's religion. There is a whole cotery of Evangelicals that describe themselves as Zionist. However, when those who have an axe to grind with Israel (and/or Jews) lament about the "zionist lobby controling America", they are generally NOT referring to Pat Robertson or the 700 club, but to Jewish (or predominately Jewish) groups like AIPAC and such. While these groups are certainly dedicated, they just don't have the clout (in number or money) to hijack American policy in favor of Israel. There are a slither of the lobbying piece of the pie.

- The lobby doesn't have to represent the views of all Jews, only the views of those who put the lobby together who may or may not be Jewish. There are cigarette and gambling lobbies for example which exist despite the fact that they promote unpopular views. Moreover, Jew or non-Jew, many would disagree about exactly what being Zionist means. People can hold vastly different views about politics and still be Zionist. The Zionist lobby doesn't have to and in fact cannot represent them all. This is true, however "zionist lobby" is often a code word used for "Jewish lobby". And, often times, the same culprits who use the code word "zionists lobby" consider anyone a zionist who believes Israel has the right to exist (even if on the land the size of a postage stamp).

- The lobby doesn't require many active members in order to exist. In fact, some Washington lobbies only have one or two lobbyists. Also true, which is why I showed how much of a budget, rather than how many members AIPAC has, for example.

Finally, admitting the existence of a Zionist lobby shouldn't make one an anti-semitic fiend. There are Arab lobbies and Irish lobbies and Indian lobbies and Chinese lobbies. The existence of such a lobby is neither good nor bad, it simply is and that valuation is very subjective and could change from one day to the next. Pretending that there is no lobby and taking all discussion of such a lobby off the table is misleading and ultimately unwise. No, but blowing the influence of the zionist lobby out of proportion to the point of claiming it is hijacking American policy, while ignoring the influence of the other lobbies (Arabs hold no influence with the oil?) smells pretty close to the classic anti-semitism of how "Jews control the world, blah blah blah".