bobbyw24
10-17-2009, 07:22 AM
Israel advocacy group faxing lawmakers about J Street conference concerns
By Bridget Johnson - 10/16/09 03:53 PM ET
An Israel advocacy group has been faxing out letters since Friday morning to the 160 lawmakers reportedly committed to attending the honorary dinner for the J Street "Driving Change, Securing Peace" conference in Washington Oct. 25-28.
The statement from StandWithUs is prefaced by a cover letter to each lawmaker, noting the lamaker's reported attendance and expressing concern about J Street's positions. The group does not specifically ask the lawmakers to not attend the J Street conference, but includes an attached statement and offers to answer questions about issues concerned with J Street.
J Street sent out an e-mail to supporters blaming "neoconservatives and their Swift Boat tactics" for five members of Congress pulling out of the conference host committee. The J Street e-mail blamed The Weekly Standard for orchestrating a phone campaign to members' offices, using "thuggish smear tactics" to dissuade members' participation. The Weekly Standard also reported this afternoon that Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.) asked that her name be removed from the host committee list, saying that she didn't know her name was on the list to begin with.
http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/63523-israel-advocacy-group-faxing-lawmakers-about-j-street-conference-concerns
By Bridget Johnson - 10/16/09 03:53 PM ET
An Israel advocacy group has been faxing out letters since Friday morning to the 160 lawmakers reportedly committed to attending the honorary dinner for the J Street "Driving Change, Securing Peace" conference in Washington Oct. 25-28.
The statement from StandWithUs is prefaced by a cover letter to each lawmaker, noting the lamaker's reported attendance and expressing concern about J Street's positions. The group does not specifically ask the lawmakers to not attend the J Street conference, but includes an attached statement and offers to answer questions about issues concerned with J Street.
J Street sent out an e-mail to supporters blaming "neoconservatives and their Swift Boat tactics" for five members of Congress pulling out of the conference host committee. The J Street e-mail blamed The Weekly Standard for orchestrating a phone campaign to members' offices, using "thuggish smear tactics" to dissuade members' participation. The Weekly Standard also reported this afternoon that Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.) asked that her name be removed from the host committee list, saying that she didn't know her name was on the list to begin with.
http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/63523-israel-advocacy-group-faxing-lawmakers-about-j-street-conference-concerns