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.

  • 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.