pbel
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- Feb 26, 2012
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John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt · The Israel Lobby: the Israel Lobby · LRB 23 March 2006ForeverYoung436, et al,
This is because most people don't understand that AIPAC (The American Israel Public Affairs Committee) is a Congressional Lobby Effort (a paid activity in which special interests are promoted in Congress with $30B of activity annually).
(COMMENT)
AIPAC is not even one of the top 10 or even 20 lobbies.
LOBBYING Top Spenders
- US Chamber of Commerce..............................$1,002,845,680
- General Electric ................................................$294,040,000
- American Medical Assn......................................$290,647,500
- American Hospital Assn.....................................$245,049,385
- Pharmaceutical Rsrch & Mfrs of America............$242,328,920
- National Assn of Realtors..................................$237,499,713
- AARP...............................................................$227,412,064
- Blue Cross/Blue Shield......................................$215,484,202
- Northrop Grumman...........................................$198,835,253
- Exxon Mobil.....................................................$190,292,742
- Boeing Co........................................................$179,592,310
- Verizon Communications..................................$179,455,933
- Edison Electric Institute...................................$178,096,789
- Business Roundtable.......................................$176,780,000
- Lockheed Martin..............................................$174,002,984
- AT&T Inc........................................................$160,449,336
- Southern Co....................................................$152,660,694
- National Cable & Telecommunications Assn......$151,210,000
- Altria Group....................................................$143,035,200
- National Assn of Broadcasters.........................$140,280,000
Top 20 PAC Contributors to Candidates, 2013-2014
CLIENT...............................................................Total:.........% to DEMs & % to Repub- Northrop Grumman........................................$1,199,250.........37%..............63%
- Operating Engineers Union............................$1,081,515..........78%..............22%
- Honeywell International.................................$1,063,120.........43%..............57%
- American Federation of Teachers......................$932,500.......100%................0%
- Every Republican is Crucial PAC........................$875,000...........0%.............100%
- AT&T Inc.........................................................$851,000.........35%...............65%
- Credit Union National Assn...............................$774,250.........48%...............52%
- National Beer Wholesalers Assn........................$759,500........45%...............55%
- Intl Brotherhood of Electrical Workers................$745,700.......99%.................1%
- American Crystal Sugar....................................$662,500........55%................45%
- Home Depot....................................................$603,500........22% ................78%
- Carpenters & Joiners Union..............................$603,000........63%.................37%
- Lockheed Martin..............................................$599,500........33%.................67%
- American Bankers Assn....................................$574,000........23%.................77%
- Raytheon Co...................................................$572,700.........39%.................61%
- Deloitte LLP....................................................$571,500.........35%.................64%
- American Fedn of St/Cnty/Munic Employees......$563,000........100%.................0%
- Boeing Co.......................................................$547,000...........31%...............69%
- General Electric...............................................$546,500..........41%...............59%
- Koch Industries...............................................$541,500............1%...............99%
A database search shows that as a lobby it had a very modest monetary impact. Yet, it is one of the most talked about influences.
I think that most people simply do not know how influence peddling works in Washington. While the top lobbies give hundreds of millions of dollars, AIPAC only give $3M tops. There is a big difference between buying a Member of Congress, and being effective in the influence of Congress.
Fact is stranger than fiction. See OpenSecrets.Org.
Most Respectfully,
R
Jewish Americans have set up an impressive array of organisations to influence American foreign policy, of which AIPAC is the most powerful and best known. In 1997, Fortune magazine asked members of Congress and their staffs to list the most powerful lobbies in Washington. AIPAC was ranked second behind the American Association of Retired People, but ahead of the AFL-CIO and the National Rifle Association. A National Journal study in March 2005 reached a similar conclusion, placing AIPAC in second place (tied with AARP) in the Washington muscle rankings.
