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.

  • 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.