DNC chair denies GOP-Israel quote

DNC chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz on Tuesday sharply denied saying that Israel’s ambassador to the United States had claimed Republicans are “dangerous” to Israel and accused The Washington Examiner of “deliberately” misquoting her. The Examiner’s Philip Klein reported on Tuesday that the Florida congresswoman told a training session of Jewish Democrats in Charlotte, “We know, and I’ve heard no less than Ambassador Michael Oren say this, that what the Republicans are doing is dangerous for Israel.” Wasserman Schultz pushed back against the report Tuesday evening, telling Fox News’s Shepard Smith she never said those words.

Just found this on KeyWiki about the connections of Wasserman Schultz to J Street:

In April 2011, the newly appointed chair of the Democratic National Committee, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) has sustained and controversial ties to the fringe anti-Israel lobby, JStreet.

In early 2009, Wasserman Schultz hosted an event on Capitol Hill with JStreet, a group then under fire for issuing a statement accusing Israel of collective punishment in Gaza and equating Israeli self-defensive measures with those of Hamas. JStreet's comments were so incendiary, they drew immediate condemnation from all corners of the Jewish community, including noted liberal Rabbi Eric Yoffie, who called the group "profoundly out of touch."

Yet Wasserman Schultz, only weeks later, showed her support for J Street (here and here), calling the controversial group an "organization that supports Israel and supports peace and is working to foster an advanced peace process," placing her at odds with even the most liberal of Jewish Democrats. She also compared the group to pro-Israel stalwart AIPAC, described JStreet's goals as "worthy as well," and later served as featured speaker for JStreet's first annual gala event in Washington, DC, despite many of her colleagues choosing to disavow the event.

"We are deeply troubled by incoming DNC Chairman Wasserman Shultz's embrace of groups, such as J Street, that undermine Israel's security," RJC Executive Director Matt Brooks said. "In blindly conferring legitimacy for fringe groups like J Street, she has raised serious questions about her own credibility and judgment."

Brooks added, "As the chairman of the DNC, Wasserman Schultz will be under increasing pressure to yield to the fringe left of the Democratic Party and further strengthen her ties to anti-Israel groups like JStreet and anti-Israel donors like George Soros."[5]

In view of the above associations with J Street, her comment to FoxNews yesterday about "taking her love for Israel to work every day" can only be seen as yet another lie.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.