Pro-Israel lobby looks for deal with Sununu

Washington Times ^ | 9/4/02 | Ralph Z. Hallow

[hchutch]

Leaders of the nation's most powerful pro-Israel lobby have been conducting behind-the-scenes negotiations with Rep. John H. Sununu, anticipating his victory over Sen. Robert C. Smith in the New Hampshire Republican primary Tuesday.

"American Israel Public Affairs Committee leaders believe Sununu is likely to defeat Smith" in the Senate primary and go on to face Democratic candidate Gov. Jeanne Shaheen in the November general election, the Washington representative of a major Jewish organization said yesterday.

[hchutch]

Looks like AIPAC's willing to talk with Sununu. And Sununu is willing to talk with them. It's not a bad situation, IMHO.

We get a guy who could probably replace Phil Gramm as our economics "go to" guy, and if he and AIPAC reach an accomodation, so much the better.

[hchutch]

FYI

[Coop]

Hmmm. This sounds like a change in approach. I remember reading something right after the McKinney defeat that AIPAC was turning its attention to knocking off Sununu. With Smith's recent surge, I kind of assumed they had waded into the fight. Perhaps not.

[Tuco-bad]

Sununu supports the Palestianian terrorists.

9/11 terrorists, Palestianian terrorists, one and the same.

[hchutch]

Why hasn't Robert Smith made a fuss about that?

Because he's gotten money from the head of the Sin Fein for animal rights terrorists - Ingrid Newkirk. She donated $45,000 for the legal defense of Rod Coronado, and some of her hires have rhetoric that is quite shocking.

IMHO, you pick your poison. AIPAC seems to be talking with Sununu, and the fact they are talking indicates that Sununu is NOT as bad as some here would paint him.

[GraniteStateConservative]

"I would not consider him as drinking the blood of Jewish children,

Sununu: Ummm... Thanks?

[GraniteStateConservative]

The UNH poll is due out today. All I've heard is that it is good news for Fernald against Hollingworth. I heard Mark speak last night on TV and he's got a very high voice. It struck me as odd. I'd love to see him win the nomination.

[hchutch]

If they can reach an accomodation, then it's a good thing, IMO. National Review Online reported that Sununu's favorite person in Washington is Phil Gramm, and if that is the case, I'd see that as a net gain for our side.

[Tuco-bad]

If they can reach an accomodation, then it's a good thing, IMO. National Review Online reported that Sununu's favorite person in Washington is Phil Gramm, and if that is the case, I'd see that as a net gain for our side.

Phil Gramm was the chief supporter of financial services deregulation in the Senate (repeal of Glass-Steagall).

You might ask yourself how much your investments are down because of that deregulation?

[hchutch]

And he also was the first to take on Hillarycare, IIRC.

Nobody's perfect, but I'll take a young Senator who can give me 30 years trying to emulate Phil Gramm over someone who is cozy with PETA.

[ozone1]

Mr. Amitay said he, along with many other Jewish leaders, do not regard Mr. Sununu as an enemy of the Jewish state.

This isn't a major issue in NH. Smith's PETA ties are.

[Tuco-bad]

Nobody's perfect, but I'll take a young Senator who can give me 30 years trying to emulate Phil Gramm over someone who is cozy with PETA.

Okay - I guess you didn't have any stock market investments.

[hchutch]

Oh, I have `em.

I've taken the hits, but long-term, I should be okay. Sorry, but I think if we had more like Phil Gramm, we probably would not have such an economic mess right now.

[Tuco-bad]

Sorry, but I think if we had more like Phil Gramm, we probably would not have such an economic mess right now.

Think Glass-Steagall (i.e., commercial banks would not have made loans to Enron, Worldcom, etc. knowing that they had questionable transactions)!

[muleboy]

Absolutely brilliant!

Now politically active Jews can work feverishly for Bob Smith without fear of Sununu raising it as an issue.

If Smith wins, they dump him and support Shaheen. If Sununu wins, they claim a plausibly deniable neutrality, then support Shaheen.

The folks at AIPAC know their Sun-Tzu very well. They played this one perfectly and Sununu doesn't even know what hit him.

[Selmo]

Hmmm. This sounds like a change in approach. I remember reading something right after the McKinney defeat that AIPAC was turning its attention to knocking off Sununu. With Smith's recent surge, I kind of assumed they had waded into the fight. Perhaps not.

You forgot an important variable: crusty New Englanders don't like outsiders interfering in their politics.

[traditionalist]

"I would not consider him as drinking the blood of Jewish children, but when two candidates are running against each other, you try to go with the one who has the better position," Mr. Amitay said

So these people base their voting decisions on which candidate is a bigger supporter of a foriegn state. My, what great American patriots.

[hchutch]

If a foreign state is an ally, as Israel has been, then quite frankly, it is a disgrace that such a thing becomes a political issue.