AIPAC

For my politics class, I had to do a research paper on an interest group, and I chose AIPAC, the American Israeli Public Affairs Committee. I eventually finished the paper, but I continued to research AIPAC because it was so interesting.

AIPAC is one of the most influential lobbies in the United States. It has over 100,000 members, a multi million dollar budget, and it is extremely effective as the watch dog for Israel. Some have found AIPAC's methods to be rather underhanded (a lot of their influence comes from their ability to direct where campaign money goes), and many people are concerned with the unhealthy amount of power that AIPAC has over legislation, especially where Israel is concerned.

When I talk to people about it, though, nobody seems to know anything about it. My friend just came back from Israel, and she said that Israelis don't really know that much about it either. Everything that I read about is so polarized, too. Proponents of AIPAC are die hard defenders of the organization and Israel, and dissenters are labeled Anti Semitic, and it's hard to find something that doesn't seem biased.

What do you guys think? Is AIPAC the villain/godsend that people make it out to be? Or is it just a very efficient lobby?

How ya doing, buddy?