Andy Levin, Pushed Out of Congress by AIPAC, Calls for Change in U.S.-Israel Policy

[Uncle Joe]

We speak with former Michigan Congressmember Andy Levin, a former synagogue president, who lost his 2022 Democratic primary in a race that saw millions spent by pro-Israel groups to unseat the progressive Jewish lawmaker. AIPAC, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, and other lobby groups have used the same playbook over the years to defeat members of Congress who do not toe the line, and Levin says the Democratic Party has to act to stop such "dark money" from deciding elections and push for a new policy on Israel-Palestine that brings peace. "We need to all get along there, and we need to work together here to make that happen," he says.

Democracy Now! is an independent global news hour that airs on over 1,500 TV and radio stations Monday through Friday. Watch our livestream at democracynow.org Mondays to Fridays 8-9 a.m. ET.

[Deep State Witch]

1. I'd Like To See Kamala Pick Him

For an administration position. Possibly Ambassador to Israel. That would certainly send a message to AIPAC!

[Uncle Joe]

2. I believe that's a brilliant idea!

[Deep State Witch]

3. Thanks!

I have occasional flashes of my former brilliance.

[Oopsie Daisy]

4. Actually... Levin lost to fellow incumbent Democrat Haley Stevens.

In the 2022 Democratic primary, Levin lost to fellow incumbent Democrat Haley Stevens. As a result of redistricting, Michigan lost a seat in the House of Representatives, resulting in Stevens' and Levin's districts being combined, though the resulting district contained more of Stevens' original voters.

He wasn't "pushed out of congress" ... he lost an election to the OTHER incumbent in the newly combined district. The voters in the new district were largely Stevens supporters and were naturally going to select her again.

I'm sure he was disappointed. But rather than accept his loss graciously, he wants to blame some AIPAC boogieman and make some deep dark conspiracy out of it. Had he not been Jewish himself, it's easy for me to imagine how the rest of the AIPAC haters ("Democracy Now!" included) would be gleefully engaging in the type of anti-Semitic dog-whistles and insults that one frequently hears when AIPAC is involved. (Cori, Nina, Jamaal... I'm looking at y'all. Oooh, that rhymes!)

Honestly, the whole thing is disappointing in how it was handled and how it's being portrayed and framed. This bitterness will not serve Democrats well and it only creates division that ultimately benefits the GOP.