IMHO, one of the great victories for the progressive netroots campaign for not just "more" Democrats, but "better" Democrats was the success of Donna Edwards in knocking off Al Wynn for a Congressional seat in the Maryland suburbs of Washington, D.C. I remember quite a few calls here at Daily Kos for support for her campaign, and I also remember her personally thanking our community via video for our support. Since her victory, Donna Edwards has by all accounts remained true to her campaign promises to serve as a progressive voice in Congress and within the Democratic Party.
Not everyone it seems, however, is happy with Donna Edwards' performance . . .
Politico reports that "Jewish leaders" in the Washington area are considering supporting a primary challenge against Edwards because of her alleged lack of support for Israel, as evidenced by her "present" vote on last January's Congressional resolution in support of Israel's war on Gaza. Edwards argued at the time that Congress should instead support the United Nations' call for a cease-fire.
There are already signs that the Jewish community is preparing to back a primary challenge to Edwards. Last month, Maryland Del. Herman Taylor attended the American Israel Public Affairs Committee policy conference in Washington — in no small part, he said, to gauge support for a run against Edwards.
“I have a lot of friends in the Jewish community,” Taylor told POLITICO. “There seems to be a lot of people not completely thrilled with her lack of support for Israel.”
“I do think there are people who would like to back a pro-Israel candidate against Donna Edwards,” said Larry Fishbein, the president and publisher of the Washington Jewish Week newspaper. “She is certainly opening the door to another candidate who would be more receptive to the Jewish vote.”
http://www.politico.com/...
Al Wynn was apparently a much more reliable "friend" to Israel, for which he was awarded $24,500 from the pro-Israel lobby in his campaign against Edwards, according to records compiled by the Center for Responsive Politics.
The article goes on to note that this is not the first time that a "progressive-minded" black politician has been targeted for elimination by pro-Israel forces: Reps. Earl Hilliard and Cynthia McKinney were both unseated in similar fashion.
This is the kind of politics that results in ridiculously one-sided debates in Congress such as the 390-5 vote in support of the Gaza War last January. Anyone who dares to step out of line ever so slightly from the pro-war, expansionist, militarist policy of the United States towards Israel-Palestine is liable to have their head chopped off by a well-funded campaign against them by pro-Israel lobbying groups.
I think targeting Donna Edwards, however, may be an overstretch. She's not just popular with her black constituents in Maryland; she's a progressive "netroots hero" to Democrats all across the country.
I sincerely hope that Rep. Edwards sticks to her principles in advocating for diplomacy and peace in Israel-Palestine instead of aggression and war. And I hope that we in the progressive netroots will continue to support her if she comes under attack for doing so.