Importance of AIPAC Jewish Lobbyists in the US Presidential Election 2016

MASSAPEDIA NEWS - Hillary Clinton will be the only Democratic candidates who addressed AIPAC this year, because Bernie Sanders refused to attend.

A number of important names in US politics attended the annual policy conference American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), a body lobbying the interests of Israel in the United States this week. Among those present included Vice President Joe Biden, in the House of Representatives Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (Republican) and Chairman of the House of Representatives Paul Ryan.

Basically, anyone who holds power or want to wield power in the United States will attend the conference which was held in Washington this. No exception, for the presidential candidate, both Republican and Democrat.

Donald Trump, who has been famous for kampenyenya spontaneous and controversial, even for the first time speech using text in this conference.

The only US presidential candidate who did not attend the AIPAC conference is Bernie Sanders, of Jewish origins, citing conflicts with his campaign schedule in Utah.

AIPAC was established since 1963 and is currently led by Lilian Pinkus. Lobbyists organization consisting of politicians and Jewish leaders was formed to strengthen the relationship between the US and Israel, including in the manufacture of favorable government policies Tel Aviv.

Then, what is the importance of this body of the largest Israeli lobbyists in US politics?

According to Fortune report on Monday (21/3), AIPAC, as well as other Israeli lobbyists bodies in general, loosely connected with the Political Action Committee (PAC), an organization that provides contributors and donors funding to roll out the campaign to either support or oppose the nomination candidates, ballot initiatives and legislation.

This group has one of the most powerful lobbying effort in the US politics, with professional lobbyists who are able to lobby the US Congress officials to protect the interests of Israel. This organization has representatives across the United States to lobby members of Congress from their home districts.

Although AIPAC does not contribute directly to the US presidential candidacies, and not also provide funds to the PAC that supported the nomination of each candidate, AIPAC can use their influence to get a donor willing to donate funds for the nomination campaign.

In the 2016 campaign cycle alone, there were a total of US $ 7,168,396 contributed to federal campaigns of a number of pro-Israel individuals and various PACs, according to data from Open Secrets. While the 2012 campaign cycle, a total of US $ 15,102,201 was donated to the group.

When compared with the lobbyist Arab-American or Palestinian-American, AIPAC is a very large organization, whether in the form in which the flow of funds and the size of the organization and its influence. A number of other Jewish lobbyist organizations, such as J Street and Jewish Voice for Peace which appeared lately had little significance compared with AIPAC.

Thus, if an official Congress received a call from AIPAC lobbyists, he and his constituents do not think that they support relations with Israel. They just think they will get a voice with a favorable political lobbying. However, if Congress refuses officials of AIPAC lobby, they'll get a strong political enemies.

That is why attending the AIPAC conference is considered as important for the US presidential candidates. That's why Bernie Sanders absence at the conference reap great debate in the US.