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By: Hal C Clarke
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) sparked intense criticism this week after she accused the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) of contributing to Democratic losses on Election Day. Her remarks, shared on X (formerly Twitter), were widely denounced for promoting antisemitic stereotypes and deflecting responsibility from her party’s own policies, according to the New York Post.
The controversy began when Bernie Sanders adviser Jeremy Slevin commented on corporate and industry lobbies’ influence over the Democratic Party. Ocasio-Cortez responded by singling out AIPAC, a bipartisan pro-Israel advocacy group, writing: “If people want to talk about members of Congress being overly influenced by a special interest group pushing a wildly unpopular agenda that pushes voters away from Democrats, then they should be discussing AIPAC.”
Critics quickly pounced on her comments. Conservative attorney Marina Medvin tweeted, “Maybe stop blaming Jews for your problems,” while NYC education council member Maud Maron accused AOC of ignoring other issues that have alienated voters, such as controversial education policies. Maron wrote, “Every former Democrat I know is more concerned about the wildly unpopular agenda of the Teachers’ Union … but go on with your Jew hating.”
The Post noted that AIPAC supports many Democratic candidates, making Ocasio-Cortez’s claims particularly ironic. Ethan Fine, a commentator on X, pointed out, “AIPAC has raised more money for Democrats than AOC has. She has a weird obsession with Jews… always talking about AIPAC and Jews controlling Congress.”
AOC’s assertion that support for Israel is unpopular doesn’t align with polling data. According to an October Harvard-Harris poll, 81% of Americans overall and 76% of Democrats support Israel over Hamas. The Post highlighted these figures to emphasize the disconnect between Ocasio-Cortez’s statement and public sentiment.
In response to the congresswoman’s claims, AIPAC countered on X with a “fact check” detailing their support for Democratic candidates. The group spent $53 million backing pro-Israel candidates from both parties during the 2024 election cycle and boasted a 98% success rate for their endorsees in the general elections.
AIPAC’s efforts were especially impactful in the primaries, where they helped unseat 24 politicians with anti-Israel stances, including progressive lawmakers Jamaal Bowman and Cori Bush, both members of the “Squad.” The group’s stated goals include strengthening U.S.-Israel relations, combating terrorism, promoting peace, opposing anti-Israel discrimination, and countering Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
The New York Post also noted that Ocasio-Cortez’s remarks fed into longstanding criticisms of her alleged bias against Jewish interests. “Most of the candidates supported by AIPAC are Democrats,” Jewish writer Joel Petlin commented. “But AOC doesn’t want you to know that important fact because it would obscure her Antisemitic theory.”
Ocasio-Cortez’s post has reignited debates over the Democratic Party’s direction and the role of advocacy groups like AIPAC. While some see her comments as a legitimate critique of lobbying in politics, others view them as divisive and counterproductive, especially given her party’s need to rebuild its base after recent losses.
The controversy highlights the tension within the Democratic Party, as leaders grapple with balancing progressive ideals and broader public appeal. The backlash to AOC’s comments serves as yet another example of how inflammatory rhetoric can overshadow substantive debate.
