Lee Whitnum is a 48-year-old computer science teacher in Stamford, CT, who last night lost the Democratic primary in Connecticut's 4th District to establishment candidate Jim Himes, who now will take on Republican congressman Chris Shays. The race was interesting because Whitnum was an unabashed Israel-lobby-basher–in privileged SW Connecticut no less. Himes trounced Whitnum, 90 percent to 10. Still, it's worth noting that a political candidate sought to use the issue in a campaign.
Throughout the campaign, Whitnum has been a highly controversial
figure, drawing a last-minute rebuke from [Dannel] Malloy, the Stamford mayor,
for comments she made accusing Himes of pandering to pro-Israel
lobbying groups.
Malloy, speaking at a news conference Monday at Stamford
Government Center, charged Whitnum with being anti-Semitic. Whitnum
stood by her comments, saying that politicians' blind support for
Israel resembled the decision-making of members of Congress before they
voted to invade Iraq.
Whitnum's website is still up. Her positions include, "No Neocons," and includes a last-minute appeal to voters all about the Israel lobby and dual loyalty:
We can break the strangle-hold of AIPAC, the Israel Lobby, on our political
system. No more unnecessary wars for a special interest group. I, like many
Americans pledge alliance to one country only; we want our country back.
Please read the Israel link to the left and view the commercial below.
PLEASE understand what is at stake.
