Political money and foreign interference have cast a pall of gloom on the US primaries this year, overshadowing the Republican party’s divisive efforts to elect a presidential nominee who would try and deny President Barack Obama a second term in the November election.
Money from all sources plays a big role in helping American politicians achieve their goals. So far, the amount of money raised for this purpose is record-setting. The Republicans have generated the most money in 2011, according to the New York Times — a total of $410.9 million (Dh1.50 billion) — and spent $290.5 million so far. The Democrats collected $366.1 million and spent $319.6 million.
This has prompted Obama to urge wealthy Democrats to start contributing to “an outside group”, known as Priorities USA Action, supporting his re-election bid, thus reversing his long-held position against these mistrusted organisations since he is reportedly confronting “a deep financial disadvantage on a vital front in the campaign”.
In other words, explained the Times, Obama’s campaign is now embracing “an aspect of the new super PAC [Political Action Committee] era that has brought particularly loud objections from groups seeking to diminish the influence of moneyed interests in Washington”.
In turn, a Washington Post investigation revealed last Tuesday that “33 members of Congress have directed more than $300 million in earmarks and other spending provisions to dozens of public projects that are next to or within about two miles of the lawmakers’ own property”.
Although the actions of these lawmakers are not considered illegal, the paper explained, the “lawmakers have acknowledged the public’s growing concern that they appeared to be using their positions to enrich themselves”.
In fact, the Obama campaign is returning $200 million donated by two American brothers of a Mexico Casino magnate, Juan Jose Rojas Cardona, who fled drug and fraud charges in the US. The brothers, who were seeking pardon for their brother so that he can return to the US, had apparently thought their donation would facilitate his return.
Gingrich strategy
But what has been the hot-button in this respect has been the eye-catching donation of $10 million to Republican presidential candidate, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, in the hope that he become the Republican nominee. His attraction is that he is a hardline supporter of Israel, who once again described the Palestinians as an “invented people”, a ludicrous phrase, to satisfy his donor’s dreams that Gingrich will defeat Obama in the upcoming election.
The donation came from Sheldon Adelson, an American Jew who is described as the eighth wealthiest American and the 16th wealthiest person in the world. His net worth is estimated at over $21 billion. He also owns the number one daily in Israel, Israel Ha Yom, which is distributed freely.
Adelson, whose wife is an Israeli, has stood by Gingrich’s remarks about the Palestinians being “invented” people, and when the Congressman’s fortunes seemed failing to knock out his challenger, Mitt Romney, he threw him last month a monied life-belt to the flip-flopping candidate allowing him to win handily in South Carolina.
The former speaker of the House is also on record telling an audience in Florida that he would move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to occupied Jerusalem should he be elected. Two former presidents, Clinton and Bush, as well as Obama ,who is seen by some right-wing American Jews as anti-Israeli, had all refused to do so.
“One of Adelson’s passions — and a reason for his desire to play such a big role in American politics — is obviously Israel,” according to The Forward, an American Jewish daily paper. “And his positions are unambiguously right-wing and hawkish to the extreme. When it comes to the Palestinians, there is no one to be trusted.”
However, Adelson was reported this week as promising Romney, at present the leading Republican front-runner, that he would be willing to support his candidacy should he — and not Gingrich — be nominated by the Republican party, a premature slap in the face of Gingrich, who still seems hopeful that his goal is not far-fetched.
It remains to be seen whether Gingrich would get another shot in the arm when Israeli President Shimon Peres and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu come to Washington to speak before the annual conference of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (Aipac), on March 4.
Although there has been no word yet about Obama attending the same conference — he did last year — the likelihood is more than certain, since American Jewish support for Republicans has jumped, rising from 20 per cent in 2008 to 29 per cent in 2011, according to the Pew Poll. Support from Democratic Jews fell by seven points to 72 per cent.
If Obama doesn’t show up at the conference, it will certainly generate headlines and high-sounding reactions in the Middle East.
George S. Hishmeh is a Washington-based columnist. He can be contacted at ghishmeh@gulfnews.com
