cross-posted from: https://sh.itjust.works/post/48345159

When he launched his campaign last week for a Massachusetts U.S. Senate seat, Representative Seth Moulton made sure that one of his first moves was to announce that he is returning campaign donations that he received from individuals affiliated with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, and would no longer accept campaign support from the group. Also last week, popular podcast hosts Jennifer Welch and Angie Sullivan pressed Senator Cory Booker to answer whether he considered Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a war criminal; The Ringer’s Van Lathan told Governor Gavin Newsom that Lathan would not support a 2028 candidate who took money from AIPAC, resulting in the governor literally squirming and using the word “interesting” repeatedly; radio host Charlamagne tha God asked Governor Josh Shapiro if AIPAC donations improperly influence U.S. decisions on Israeli-Palestinian issues; and MSNBC’s Eugene Daniels asked Kamala Harris if Israel’s actions over the last two years constitute genocide.

  • Oni_eyes@sh.itjust.works
    322·
    2 days ago

    I’ll be honest. I would take Aipac money. I can see how there could be an optics issue but as long as I still uphold that Bibi is a war criminal, Palestine should be a country, and the genocide is real/Israel needs to fix and gtfo of occupied areas.

    Pretty sure I wouldn’t get donations from Aipac to start but if they’re stupid enough to donate to me I don’t see why I shouldn’t spend their money and go about my business.

    • Evil_Shrubbery@thelemmy.club
      5·
      1 day ago

      Feels like you assume lobbyists are incompetent & that they don’t own you.

      What if they make up an important share of your CF, the loss of their monies would default you?

      It’s an extremely stupid system to exist, but it’s encoded in the legislation & practices.

      And this is without even acknowledging the morals of it all - I would automatically try to distance from ppl that take/have gotten money from such sources.

      • Oni_eyes@sh.itjust.works
        1·
        14 hours ago

        Nah, I just already have turned down large chunks of money and changed careers over my moral stance without compromising it. Pretty sure I could do the same, much as Irwin took money from whoever and then turned around and put it into conservation regardless.

    • Reyali@lemmy.world
      23·
      2 days ago

      I’d recommend reading the book Influence by Robert Cialdini. It talks about six mechanisms that are most effective in making people do things, one of which is reciprocity. Getting something from someone makes us significantly more likely to do something for them.

      You might believe you’re above these mechanisms of influence, and you may truly be mindful enough to avoid a lot of them, but these things work on our psyche at a deep level and it’s unlikely you’re immune to them.

      All of this to say that if you’re ever in a place to accept money or things from people you disagree with or don’t like, think reeeally hard about whether you’d be willing to eventually compromise on your values for that freebie. Because you might eventually find yourself doing that unconsciously.

      • BrianTheeBiscuiteer@lemmy.world
        5·
        2 days ago

        If you’re the kind of person that feels bad when a friend pays for your dinner then taking thousands of dollars in AIPAC money would influence that relationship in their favor, even if it’s you picking up the phone whenever they call.

    • orclev@lemmy.world
      111·
      2 days ago

      Pretty sure I wouldn’t get donations from Aipac to start but if they’re stupid enough to donate to me I don’t see why I shouldn’t spend their money and go about my business.

      The reason not to is because of the optics. People will always assume anyone you’re accepting money from you’ll show favoritism towards either consciously or unconsciously. That is generally how briberycampaign finance works these days. Large corporation, state, or billionaire “donates” to a politician, and in exchange they get to write whatever legislation they want or get the politician to vote for or against anything they want.