Ex-Congressman Goes Off Against Israel

Ex Ohio Congressman James Traficant was recently released from prison after serving an eight-year sentence for bribery and racketeering. His chances for a political comeback were always slim, but whatever shot he got he killed by going after the Israel lobby (which he blamed for targeting him) and strongly criticizing Israel in his first interview since release with Fox News' Greta Van Susteren:

The fmr. Congressman clearly goes overboard by claiming that Israel, not even the lobby or Jewish-America, but Israel itself apparently "control much of the media, they control much of the commerce of the country, and they control powerfully both bodies of the Congress."

The Israel lobby is powerful, but not that powerful. Lobbies do not dictate policy, but rather work in a context favorable to them to strengthen their policies. If the context changes, then no lobby will be able to stand for long against new establishment. In other words: the lobby is only as powerful as you allow it to be. Further, one cannot talk about the Israel lobby without noting that it is the (predominately Christian) officeholders whom enact its policies.

Further, the Israel lobby is powerful, but a pro-Israel bias is not often the cause for lobbying. There are many people in politics whom love Israel, lobby or no lobby.

Nonetheless, although he overstates his case the question of the Israel lobby, which does exercise a lot of influence and pressure, is something that needs to be debated more in American life. The fmr. Congressman may provoke that much-needed debate or his past record and over-the-top statements may be a windfall for the pro-Israel lobbyists to claim that "see, only kooks and conspiracy, anti-Semitic nuts believe in the Israel lobby criticism."