When The Name AIPAC is the Liability
AIPAC just retired its endorsement and its PAC — not its money. Maryland's Fifth District is where you can watch why, and every lobbyist with a client who funds a super PAC should be taking notes.
By J. Barry O'Connell
On Wednesday, AIPAC — the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, the most disciplined political operation in Washington — told its members it is done endorsing candidates. Done making contributions through its political action committee. Done earmarking money for races. Jewish Insider's Marc Rod broke the letter, and the sentence that matters deserves to sit in front of every government-relations professional in Maryland: “Endorsements, direct PAC contributions, and earmarking will no longer be part of our approach so we can expand individual giving and utilize new tools to help our friends win.”
Read that the way a practitioner reads it. AIPAC is not leaving politics. AIPAC has concluded that its own name — attached to a candidate, printed on an endorsement, read aloud in a debate — now costs its friends more than the money helps them. The money is not going anywhere. The label is coming off.
