A contest for the soul of the DFL
The subhed in an article in the Star Tribune:
The fight over AIPAC has become a proxy for Democrats’ broader divide over Israel, even as its involvement in the contest between Rep. Angie Craig and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan is difficult to measure.
I don’t think it’s that hard to measure. One of the stations of the cross here — so to speak — is the support of Minneapolis mayor Jacob Frey for Angie Craig.
The mayor is a former board member of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota and the Dakotas. The JCRC is very AIPAC-adjacent. The mayor’s views on Israel are obvious. He’s up on the teevee making a pitch for Craig in news time ads.
The JCRC lobbied heavily, mostly through registered lobbyist Ethan Roberts, for Minnesota’s version of an anti-BDS law (boycott, divest, sanction).
Also, and odiously, the JCRC, especially in the person of Ethan Roberts again, meddled in Edina High School disciplinary proceedings over a protest on October 24, 2003 at the high school that was held to protest the nascent genocide of Palestinians by Israelis in the aftermath of the October 7th attack. We’ve seen that genocide bloom into full flower — and drag us into a new quagmire war in Iran. The kids were on to something.
Although many students participated in the protest rally, only two were suspended. They were Muslim Somali girls. In an email to the district, Ethan Roberts commended the school board for upholding the suspension.
Craig was the recipient of AIPAC and AIPAC-adjacent donations, in significant numbers, in her House races, which donations are available to her Senate campaign. There are also the large sums spent on advertising on her behalf on television.
It is obvious that Israel-aligned interests want Craig to win the Senate primary. The same thing is playing out in Michigan between Democratic primary contestants Haley Steven and Dr. Abdul El-Sayed.
Joe Biden, and Kamala Harris, too, were abandoned by, especially, young voters in 2004 over Palestine. Harris lost swing states and the election, many people believe, because of Palestine. Disaffectged Democrats just stayed home.
Craig is quiet about her AIPAC support, but never doubt it.
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