Freedom Forum - the United States Congress

In an upset this week, a challenger backed by pro-Israel money helped beat a five-term U.S. representative, knocking another anti-Israel voice out of Congress.

This time the state was Georgia and the loser was outspoken Democratic Rep. Cynthia McKinney.

The winner was Denise Majette, a retired state judge who received hundreds of thousands of dollars from Jewish supporters around the country.

Tuesday’s race was the second time this summer that Jewish support and Middle East politics influenced the outcome of a primary between two African Americans in a Southern state.

The McKinney race follows a triumph for Jewish involvement in an Alabama congressional race in June.

Jews from around the country opened their pocketbooks for attorney Artur Davis, who defeated Rep. Earl Hilliard in the Democratic primary runoff for Alabama’s 7th district. Activists considered Hilliard’s voting record in Congress anti-Israel.

The Jewish community’s willingness to contribute to Majette’s and Davis’ campaigns underscores continuing Jewish concern that pro-Israel legislators get elected or stay in office when voters go to the polls Nov. 5.

Jewish activists often have targeted members of Congress they find to be anti-Israel, and have had some success in the past. In 1982, Paul Findley, an anti-Israel congressman from Illinois, was voted out of office after the Jewish community opposed his re-election.

But the Jewish community has been particularly motivated this year because of worry over an Israel under siege and an uptick in international anti-Semitism. [duh, doesn't anyone see why after reading this article?]

The ex-congressman believes that his re-election—even while sitting in a federal prison—would send a message loud and strong that citizens are fed up with government misdeeds and all-around disdain for the hard-working productive people of middle America.

“People fear the government and no one should fear the government,” said Traficant. “And when you start fearing your government, you end up hating your government. America is building a hell of a problem and it has got to be changed.” ...

About the role the FBI and the Justice Department played in his prosecution, Traficant commented succinctly: “They pressured people to lie like you can’t believe. There’s no physical evidence. Not one bit of corroboration. Not one fingerprint. Nothing.” ...

I wasn’t allowed to bring any evidence. The judge didn’t allow me to bring nine witnesses before the jury. But she made them testify before her, with the jury out of the room.

The judge didn’t allow me to introduce 10 tapes that provided evidence of my innocence. She kept those tapes away from the jury. She tied my hands behind my back. But to tell you the truth, I damned near beat her and the prosecutors without that evidence.

They had to get rid of me. [One witness] Richard Detore described how the federal prosecutors brought up Janet Reno to him [and pointed out how Traficant had criticized her].

I’m the only one that went after Janet Reno. The Republicans wanted free trade with China and the Democrats didn’t want Clinton to get hurt. So I was the only one going after Reno and she went after me like a ton of bricks.

Freedom Forum home

email comments, suggestions

Our host:

the United States Congress

Representing you and your state?:

Or are they representing someone else?

of local interest:

Congress in a power struggle with the President

Dissenters in Congress? - what happens to them?

A congressman speaks out and is thrown in the slammer - James Traficant's ordeal