It’s just a little piece by uber-neocon and Israel Firster Jeffrey Goldberg about sharing a moment with blogger Spencer Ackerman. These two don’t agree on much but, on Israel, they are one.
The little joke here is the two mocking the very idea that the Lobby exists or, perhaps, the idea that some of us think we can somehow control it. So funny, belly laughs all around.
Why is this important? It is important because the social element insiderness demonstrated here tends to keep would-be critics of Israeli policies (like Ackerman) in line — that and the fear that the lobby will block their careers. That is, of course, a legitimate fear. AIPAC has voluminous files and if, say, Spencer Ackerman, starts speaking out of turn, it won’t be good for his career, to put it mildly.
Career protection is the big reason pundits and commentators tend to avoid the lobby issue like the plague. (Note how Netanyahu’s attack on Obama was not news on MSNBC).
But don’t overlook the social element. Remember Judge Goldstone and his report on the Gaza war. He actually retracted it because his pals started dissing him.
So who will tell the truth about this issue? Tom Friedman does. He openly despises the lobby but no one can touch him and all his Pulitzers (I still give him credit. He is the most famous “dissident” and that can’t be fun all the time.) Joe Klein is big and can get away with it. Nick Kristof is good. Bill Moyers, a few others. The jury is out on Peter Beinart (the AIPAC crowd may get him in the end).
In any case, note the little Ackerman/Goldberg exchange. Multiply it by a few thousand and you might have some idea how the lobby works.
But remember, if you talk about it, you are a conspiracy nut or (if you are Jewish) a self-hating Jew or (if you are not Jewish) an ANTI-SEMITE. So be careful. This stuff is NSFW. Or NSF (keeping your) W.
Reblogged this on MJ Rosenberg.
Does the “J” stand for Julius?