Rep. Moran Taken to Woodshed by Jewish Constituents

Rep. Jim Moran (D-VA.) had what might be characterized as a "come to Moses" meeting with a handful of Jewish constituents angered by his recent assertion that the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) pushed the United States into war in Iraq.

Rep. Jim Moran, who represents the portion of Northern Virginia that borders Washington, has once again angered Jewish groups with a remark about Israel's influence on U.S. foreign policy. (By Gerald Martineau -- The Washington Post)

Six members of AIPAC, five of whom are Moran's constituents, aired their grievances during a private meeting in the congressman's Capitol Hill office last Thursday. The essence of their message, as one participant summarized, was: "Cut it out, Jim."

The participant said the group explained to Moran -- a repeat offender in the eyes of the Jewish community -- that his comments were "false and seriously offensive" and told him they hoped he would "check his facts better before he talks" in the future.

That source and another participant who spoke about the meeting on the condition of anonymity said they're now waiting to see how Moran will respond and whether he will seek to mend fences with constituents he offended. Both used the expression, "The ball's in his court."

As to whether that means the group hopes to get an apology or a clarification from the congressman, one of the sources said, "I have no expectations on this." A third source familiar with the meeting said Moran neither apologized nor offered to retract his comments about the pro-Israel lobby.

The meeting was called in response to Moran's explosive comments in an interview with Tikkun magazine in which he said AIPAC "has pushed this war from the beginning...They are so well organized, and their members are extraordinarily powerful -- most of them are quite wealthy -- they have been able to exert power."

Moran's Jewish Democratic colleagues, led by influential Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.), denounced the Virginia lawmaker in an angry letter last week, saying, "The idea that the war in Iraq began because of the influence of Jewish Americans is factually incorrect and unfortunately fits the anti-Semitic stereotypes some have used historically against Jews."

House Democratic Leader Steny Hoyer called Moran's comments "inaccurate, wrong and unfortunate." And House Speaker Nancy Pelosi piled on, saying, "I disagree and reject Congressman Moran's characterization of AIPAC. AIPAC did not lead us into this disastrous war in Iraq. President Bush and Vice President Cheney did."

Then came the private face-to-face in Moran's office last week. The meeting was called by AIPAC member Jerome Chapman, an attorney with Arnold & Porter who has lobbied Moran for years on issues dear to AIPAC.

Chapman, who is also a constituent of Moran's, said, "It wasn't the first time he has made remarks in this vein. What I'm hoping is it's the last time." (He was alluding, of course, to Moran's other infamous comment, in 2003, when the congressman said, "If it were not for the strong support of the Jewish community for this war with Iraq, we would not be doing this.")

Chapman was relieved this week to see Moran voting with AIPAC on a bill to impose tough sanctions against Iran. He even sent a thank-you email to Moran's chief of staff saying, "Please let Jim know that I thank him for the vote."

The vote on Iran sanctions was one thing, an apology on his inexplicable belief that AIPAC lobbied for the war in Iraq may be quite another.

Moran spokesman Austin Durrer said, "The Congressman met with local AIPAC leaders for two hours last week and appreciated hearing their concerns. His opinion still differs from theirs but the lines of communication will remain open to discuss the underlying issues raised in the Tikkun article."

No comments have been posted to this entry.

The comments to this entry are closed.