As an apology to AIPAC, Congresswomen Ilhan Omar of Minnesota should offer to speak to the organization and bring solace to them.
AIPAC has had its own scandals. There is room for growth for all parties involved.
This generation of young Congresswomen and men have high ideals and sometimes don't make the connection between activism and lobbying. Congresswoman Ilhan Omar would be well served by composing a speech that includes the history of the Jewish people and the history and necessity of any Jewish organization to the survival of Judaism and their people.
Lobbying can be very corrupt. I complain all the time about the petroleum industry and it's incredible damages to the natural world and our environment including greenhouse gases. There is a good side to lobbying. There are issues that face this country, health issues are huge, and there are lobbyists in Washington, DC for major organizations promoting the better of the American landscape.
AIPAC is a strong organization and it provides comfort to an entire ethnicity of the USA. Every American is important, but, Anti-Semitism still lives among Americans. As long as Anti-Semitism lives in the USA there is a need for all the Jewish organizations that seek to close the gap between those that hate and those that want to end it.
Lobbyists can be effective in informing members of Congress. They can bring insight to bills that result in changes that benefit the country. The SNEAKY stuff that is based in corruption has to end as well. It falls into the category of ethics and sometimes the Rule of Law. The USA Congress should never legislate anything that is illegal and certainly not anything that is unconstitutional, but, that is why USA courts are the third aspect of a government that demands checks and balances.
Lobbying for the sake of fairness is not evil until there are grievances that have been created by Lobbyists. This is a problem in Congress for a long time. If I recall many Congress members spend less time legislating and more time on the telephone to raise monies for a campaign. Here again, there is a real need for campaign reform. The late Senator John McCain understood the need for campaign reform.
Campaign reform is what Congresswoman Ilhan Omar was actually frustrated with when she focused on AIPAC's donations to Congresspersons. Since the Supreme Court has seen it clear to allow enormous amounts of money to be spent on elections, I believe the real change will have to come from within the Congress itself in the way of RULES. There is no reason why the US Senate and US House can't restrict the monies accepted for elections. There is no reason why there can't be restrictions on TELEPHONE TIME seeking campaign donations. While some Congresspersons will laugh at ethic violations, they can be made part of a campaign to remove cheaters from the government.
But, Congresswoman Ilhan Omar has apoligized. That should suffice for a new member to Congress. I am sure she has reflected on her words and understands how it hurt some Americans. I am sure she will prove to be a wonderful person that will lead efforts toward peace in the MIddle East. Perhaps Speaker Pelosi can help direct her to peers interested in her goals as a Congresswomen.
I hope AIPAC will accept her apology and find a way to bring her to speak to the very people she injured with words. It would be best for her to place names and faces to her words. She obviously has not had experience with the organizations that promote the well being of the Jewish people. I would think AIPAC rejects the idea of making her a victim so much as a woman forgiven for her lack of insight.
