Representative Thomas Massie (R-KY) referred to an AIPAC ad against him as “foreign interference” in a September 27 tweet.
The ad criticized Massie for being the lone Republican to vote against a bill allocating $1 billion to Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system. Massie tweeted, “How is THIS not foreign interference in our elections?”
How is THIS not foreign interference in our elections? pic.twitter.com/O5LSToIBUO
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) September 27, 2021
AIPAC responded to Massie by tweeting, “We are proud that we are engaged in the democratic process to strengthen the U.S.-Israel relationship. Our bipartisan efforts are reflective of American values and interests. We will not be deterred in any way by ill-informed and illegitimate attacks on this important work.”
We are proud that we are engaged in the democratic process to strengthen the U.S.-Israel relationship. Our bipartisan efforts are reflective of American values and interests. We will not be deterred in any way by ill-informed and illegitimate attacks on this important work. https://t.co/L2qeejkJBF
— AIPAC (@AIPAC) September 27, 2021
Representative Eric Swalwell (D-CA) tweeted to Massie that he’s glad that Massie finally cares about foreign election interference, but hated that Massie believes “all Jews live in Israel. The ‘A’ stands for….‘American.’”
Massie responded to Swalwell in a tweet that read, “The ‘foreign affairs’ expert weighs in…,” an apparent reference to allegations that Swalwell engaged in sexual relations with a spy for the Chinese government.
The “foreign affairs” expert weighs in… https://t.co/QtpNH9LseD
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) September 27, 2021
Writer Jackson Richman wrote in a subsequent piece for Mediaite that Massie’s tweet “echoes the anti-Semitic trope of Jews or the Jewish state interfering in or controlling elections or government.”
Journal columnist Blake Flayton, who is also the Co-Founder of New Zionist Congress, tweeted to Massie that “Jews who support Israel are not foreigners…”
Because Jews who support Israel are not foreigners, beta. https://t.co/TG29y8UkbI
— Blake Flayton (@blakeflayton) September 27, 2021
Journalist Glenn Greenwald tweeted, “Regardless of anything else, it’s completely obnoxious and manipulative to suggest that only anti-Semitism could explain opposition to funding Israel’s military. There’s nothing anti-Semitic about saying: let Israel fund their own military, not US taxpayers.” Massie retweeted Greenwald’s tweet.
Oh my. 😬
Regardless of anything else, it's completely obnoxious and manipulative to suggest that only anti-Semitism could explain opposition to funding Israel's military. There's nothing anti-Semitic about saying: let Israel fund their own military, not US taxpayers. https://t.co/MOS3TcQP12
— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) September 27, 2021
Massie’s office did not immediately respond to the Journal’s request for comment.
The Iron Dome funding bill passed the House of Representatives on September 24; 420 members of Congress voted in favor of the bill, nine voted against and two abstained.
