Tonight Sheldon Adelson will begin a weekend of hosting presidential candidates at a Republican Jewish conference in Las Vegas. The event features of all people former president George W. Bush, who populated his administration with neoconservatives. Adelson conducts the famous “Adelson primary” inside the Republican Party; and Jewish money is becoming more and more of an explicit issue in American politics.
The Washington Post has an article by Matea Gold reporting claims by the head of the Republican Jewish Coalition [RJC] that the tensions between Obama and Netanyahu are sending a flood of money to Republicans:
“Our national fundraising has been exploding as a result of this,” [RJC director] Brooks said. “There are a lot of folks who are deeply troubled by the actions of this administration and the undermining of the relationship with Israel and with Prime Minister Netanyahu, and as a result, I think, they are engaged and energized in a way I have never seen before.”..
Many are attending the RJC’s spring leadership meeting in Las Vegas this week, where former President George W. Bush will be a featured speaker.
The three-day event at The Venetian is set to draw several 2016 presidential contenders and a record 700 attendees, up from 400 last year. All have given at least $1,000 to be part of the RJC’s tiered donor clubs, which go up to $50,000 at the chairman level.
The meeting, most of which is closed to the press, kicks off Thursday night with a private dinner at Adelson’s home for the RJC board and top donors.
Ronn Torossian, a p.r. expert, also claims in an article at this pro-Israel site, that Jewish money is flooding to Republicans, and that it is most important at the “outset” of the campaign, which is why so many presidentials will be coming to Vegas, and to New York too. These “mega-Jewish donors” want a centrist candidate on social issues.
[Candidates must not be too ideological when it comes to] securing support from the mega-Jewish donors who are not ideologically in-sync with the right of the GOP. While there are a number of 2016 candidates who will compete for particular segments of party support, the GOP – and mega-Jewish donors – if they wish to win, they must choose a candidate who can compete for the entire spectrum and give Republicans the best chance to defeat Hillary Clinton in the general election.
Torossian seeks to explain the influence of “mega Jewish donors.”
Numerous studies have noted that Jewish-Americans donate more to charity than people of other faiths, that is part of the reason Israel attracts over-sized importance in politics. While Israel affects the votes of very few swing voters, the pro-Israel community has an outsized impact when it comes to donating funds. Partially because of values and ideology, partially because of religion – and perhaps largely because of money Israel matters more.
Those attending the GOP kosher love-fest are sure to discuss the question of where Jewish votes – and money – will swing for the 2016 election cycle.
Politico and Haaretz are both reporting that Rubio is leading in the Adelson primary. And the Koch brothers are dismayed with Walker’s flip-flop on immigration. The gods are smiling at Rubio.
I do notice media articles referring to Jewish money and not just votes these days. They used to talk about it as if the candidates were after votes which was ridiculous because at less than 2%, that is very few votes. It’s less than the margin of error in polls! Only the Jewish vote in Florida has any real electoral significance.
“Numerous studies have noted that Jewish-Americans donate more to charity than people of other faiths, that is part of the reason Israel attracts over-sized importance in politics.”
And I thought there was some kind of difference between charitable contributions and money going to a politician’s campaign. How selfish I have been, not to see the politician’s need for “charity”.
Do they treat both types of expenditure the same way on their taxes?
MW needs to get on this fast:
#NoJusticeNoPeace @PalsJustice 1m1 minute ago
#AntiBDS Clause Added 2 US Secret #TPP Trade Agreement https://www.popularresistance.org/pro-israel-clause-added-to-trade-debate-unanimously/ … … v @PopResistance #NoTPP #NoFastTrack
On a Friday after sundown at the Venetian?