After Questioning Opponent’s Support for Israel, Alexi Giannoulias Must Explain Past Support for Anti-Israel Foundation
Wednesday, February 24, 2010 @ 03:02 PM
In an effort to deflect from his embattled record and ethical issues surrounding his family bank’s ties to the mafia, Illinois Senate candidate Alexi Giannoulias (D-IL) attacked his opponent, U.S. Representative Mark Kirk (R-IL), for opposing a U.S. military option in Iran and falsely claiming Kirk wanted to "let Israel handle it."
The attack on Kirk - an established pro-Israel champion who engineered the Iran Refined Sanctions Petroleum Act and won the deployment of a U.S. X-Band radar to Israel - was an obvious attempt by Giannoulias to smear his opponent in the Jewish community and claim to be the "more pro-Israel" candidate in the race.
In light of his attack on Kirk, the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) called on Giannoulias to explain his close family ties and past support for a known anti-Israel foundation in Chicago.
In 2006, Giannoulias served as Vice President and Chief Loan Officer of his family-owned Broadway Bank, where he bragged in a recent interview: "I did everything there." A closer look at the contributions made by Giannoulias’ family bank to the Crossroad Funds - a left-wing Chicago foundation - reveals a disconcerting trend:
In 2006, records show that Giannoulias’ Broadway Bank contributed between $1,000 and $5,000 to the Crossroad Funds, which provided a $4,000 grant to the Committee for a Just Peace in Israel & Palestine in 2006
In 2007, records show that Broadway Bank elevated to the Crossroads’ "$5,000 & Above" gift level, while the foundation provided another $4,000 to the Committee for a Just Peace in Israel & Palestine.
In 2008, records show Broadway Bank continued its contributions to Crossroads, while the foundation provided another $4,000 to the Committee for a Just Peace in Israel & Palestine.
While 2009 records are not yet available, Crossroads expanded its anti-Israel grants beyond another $3,500 for the Committee for a Just Peace in Israel & Palestine - this time adding another $1,000 for the Electronic Intifada. Moreover, the Giannoulias-backed foundation honored Electronic Intifada at its 2009 annual benefit.
"The Giannoulias family’s support for fringe anti-Israel activity in Chicago is shocking. For supporters of Israel, the Illinois Senate race in November pits Congressman Mark Kirk, who has served as an independent leader and pro-Israel champion, against 33-year-old Alexi Giannoulias, whose family bank boasts strong ties to fringe anti-Israel organizations in Chicago. The contrast in this election could not be more clear," said NRSC spokeswoman Amber Wilkerson Marchand.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Giannoulias and corruption
A Senate Race, Chicago Style
Peggy Shapiro
Illinois Democratic Senate candidate Alexi Giannoulias may have a bit of explaining to do on more than just his history with the failing Broadway Bank, owned by his family, the source of his personal wealth, and where he served for several years as chief loan officer. Now it appears that his brother Demetrus, the bank's Chief Financial Officer, served on the Board of Directors of the Crossroads Fund:
" a foundation that provides grants to left-wing community organizing groups in the Chicago area. Community organizing Chicago style means ACORN, the group being investigated for voter registration fraud and exposed in the national scandal involving underage prostitution and human smuggling. Sure enough ACORN is a recipient of the Giannoulias fund grants. Not surprisingly, Bill Ayers and Bernardine Dhorn are active fundraisers for Crossroads."
Bill Ayers, Bernadine Dohrn (center) hosting a Crossroads' fundraiser
Even more embarrassing for Giannoulias, who will oppose Republican Congressman Mark Kirk in November, is that his brother's Foundation funded some of the most radical pro-Palestinian groups in the country. Kirk has one of the best records in Congress defending a strong U.S. Israel relationship. Alexi Giannoulias has tried to mouth the right words to suggest he too is pro-Israel. His brother's involvement with Crossroads will not help Alexi's lame attempt to persuade the pro-Israel community that he is as strong as Kirk on these issues.
"The Giannoulias' foundation finances not only radically left but also virulently anti-Israel groups such as the Committee for a Just Peace in Israel & Palestine - a leading anti-Israel organization in Chicago. Among the anti-Israel products financed by Giannoulias' foundation are Nakba Day Commemorations. Nakba, means "day of the catastrophe" or the anniversary of Israel's independence. The group also desciminates anti-Israel "educational materials, such as A Nakba Awareness Flyer, and promotes legislative action against Israel's right to defend itself from rocket attacks, a right which CJPIP terms 'odious.'
"A second group funded by Giannoulias' foundation is the Electronic Intifada led by notorious anti-Israel organizer Ali Abunimah. Abunimah is also listed as a major donor of Crossroads. With the help of Giannoulias' foundation, Electronic Intifada helped publicize: Letter campaign: Israeli apartheid deserves no amnesty and Organize for boycott Israel day of action. The Electronic Intifada also sent out anAction alert: Kick Dayton and his mercenaries out of Palestine to oppose U.S. training of Palestinian security forces so that terrorists will find no impediment to their plans for attacks on Israeli and Palestinian civilians. In return for its good deeds, the Giannoulias' foundation honored Electronic Intifada at its 2009 annual benefit."
Did Alexi Giannoulias attend the Crossroads Fund benefit dinner? How close was he to some of the Crossroads fundraisers, and to groups that received Crossroads Funds? Recall that this is a contest for Barack Obama's former Senate seat. Maybe it should not be so surprising that the current Democratic nominee has family connections to the same troubling cast of characters that Barack Obama tried to run from when he ran for President.
Update:
Senate candidate Alexi Giannoulias may cry that he is not his brother's keeper about the radical, anti-Israel groups which are funded by his brother Demetris Giannoulias' Crossroads Fund; however, the Crossroads Fund, like the troubled Broadway Bank, is a Gianounlias family affair.
It seems that Demetris, Chief Financial Officer of the Broadway Bank, went on board for Crossroads when Alexi, then Broadway Bank VP, decided to run for the treasurer's office. Seeking to curry favor with Chicago's far-left, who had catapulted Obama into office, Demetris and the Broadway Bank became major donors to Crossroads. Broadway Bank contributions to the Crossroads Fund are reported in the organization's annual reports in 2006 page 17, 2007 page 17, and 2008 page 6. As much as he may want to avoid the embarrassment of explaining his connections to ACORN, Bill Ayers, Bernadine Dhorn, and the Electronic Intifada, Alexi can't distance himself from his brother or other family members. (By the way, his family contributed over half of the $5.5 million Alexi collected for his campaign to be Illinois State treasurer
Peggy Shapiro
Illinois Democratic Senate candidate Alexi Giannoulias may have a bit of explaining to do on more than just his history with the failing Broadway Bank, owned by his family, the source of his personal wealth, and where he served for several years as chief loan officer. Now it appears that his brother Demetrus, the bank's Chief Financial Officer, served on the Board of Directors of the Crossroads Fund:
" a foundation that provides grants to left-wing community organizing groups in the Chicago area. Community organizing Chicago style means ACORN, the group being investigated for voter registration fraud and exposed in the national scandal involving underage prostitution and human smuggling. Sure enough ACORN is a recipient of the Giannoulias fund grants. Not surprisingly, Bill Ayers and Bernardine Dhorn are active fundraisers for Crossroads."
Bill Ayers, Bernadine Dohrn (center) hosting a Crossroads' fundraiser
Even more embarrassing for Giannoulias, who will oppose Republican Congressman Mark Kirk in November, is that his brother's Foundation funded some of the most radical pro-Palestinian groups in the country. Kirk has one of the best records in Congress defending a strong U.S. Israel relationship. Alexi Giannoulias has tried to mouth the right words to suggest he too is pro-Israel. His brother's involvement with Crossroads will not help Alexi's lame attempt to persuade the pro-Israel community that he is as strong as Kirk on these issues.
"The Giannoulias' foundation finances not only radically left but also virulently anti-Israel groups such as the Committee for a Just Peace in Israel & Palestine - a leading anti-Israel organization in Chicago. Among the anti-Israel products financed by Giannoulias' foundation are Nakba Day Commemorations. Nakba, means "day of the catastrophe" or the anniversary of Israel's independence. The group also desciminates anti-Israel "educational materials, such as A Nakba Awareness Flyer, and promotes legislative action against Israel's right to defend itself from rocket attacks, a right which CJPIP terms 'odious.'
"A second group funded by Giannoulias' foundation is the Electronic Intifada led by notorious anti-Israel organizer Ali Abunimah. Abunimah is also listed as a major donor of Crossroads. With the help of Giannoulias' foundation, Electronic Intifada helped publicize: Letter campaign: Israeli apartheid deserves no amnesty and Organize for boycott Israel day of action. The Electronic Intifada also sent out anAction alert: Kick Dayton and his mercenaries out of Palestine to oppose U.S. training of Palestinian security forces so that terrorists will find no impediment to their plans for attacks on Israeli and Palestinian civilians. In return for its good deeds, the Giannoulias' foundation honored Electronic Intifada at its 2009 annual benefit."
Did Alexi Giannoulias attend the Crossroads Fund benefit dinner? How close was he to some of the Crossroads fundraisers, and to groups that received Crossroads Funds? Recall that this is a contest for Barack Obama's former Senate seat. Maybe it should not be so surprising that the current Democratic nominee has family connections to the same troubling cast of characters that Barack Obama tried to run from when he ran for President.
Update:
Senate candidate Alexi Giannoulias may cry that he is not his brother's keeper about the radical, anti-Israel groups which are funded by his brother Demetris Giannoulias' Crossroads Fund; however, the Crossroads Fund, like the troubled Broadway Bank, is a Gianounlias family affair.
It seems that Demetris, Chief Financial Officer of the Broadway Bank, went on board for Crossroads when Alexi, then Broadway Bank VP, decided to run for the treasurer's office. Seeking to curry favor with Chicago's far-left, who had catapulted Obama into office, Demetris and the Broadway Bank became major donors to Crossroads. Broadway Bank contributions to the Crossroads Fund are reported in the organization's annual reports in 2006 page 17, 2007 page 17, and 2008 page 6. As much as he may want to avoid the embarrassment of explaining his connections to ACORN, Bill Ayers, Bernadine Dhorn, and the Electronic Intifada, Alexi can't distance himself from his brother or other family members. (By the way, his family contributed over half of the $5.5 million Alexi collected for his campaign to be Illinois State treasurer
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
They hate Kirk, all the more reason to support him
To: edlasky@att.nethttp://www.commentarymagazine.com/blogs/index.php/rubin/232241
It seems as though “activists and liberal Mideast policy groups” don’t like the idea of Rep. Mark Kirk getting to the U.S. Senate, given his pro-Israel voting record.” You can understand that these groups wouldn’t want someone who was the “driving force behind a host of legislative efforts to sanction Iran (he’s the founder of of the Iran Working Group),” a vocal critic of the UN, and an opponent of Chas Freeman.
The above links to the TPM Muckraker blog item on Kirk but I rpeface that with a thumbnail sketch of TPM.
Josh Marshall , who founded and runs TPM, has 14 approved sites as his recommended websites. Among them are Andrew Sullivan’s (who routinely derides Israel and American Jews who lobby for Israel); Juan Cole-who loathes Israel and whose translation was relied upon by the NYT to argue that Iran does not intend to destroy Israel; Matt Yglesias-who from his post at the Soros creation, The Center for American Progress, disparages Israel; Pro Publica-founded and financed by Soros political partners, Herb and Marion Sandler- has started investigating how foreign policy is made on Capitol Hill.
His website is popular on the left:
Joshua Micah Marshall (born February 15, 1969 in St. Louis, Missouri) is an American Polk Award-winning[1] journalist[2] who founded Talking Points Memo,[1] which The New York Times Magazine called "one of the most popular and most respected sites" in the blogosphere.[3] He currently presides over a network of sites that operate under the TPM Media banner and average 400,000 page views every weekday[4] and 750,000 unique visitors every month.[5][6]
TPMMuckraker
GOP Senate Contender Kirk Is Favorite Of Pro-Israel PACs
Justin Elliott | February 4, 2010, 11:28AM
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Rep. Mark Kirk (R-IL)
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AIPAC, Alexi Giannoulias, Chas Freeman, Gaza, Israel, Israel-Palestine, Mark Kirk
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Republican Rep. Mark Kirk enters the Illinois Senate race as the member of the House who has consistently reaped the biggest contribution totals from pro-Israel PACs, making a name for himself through five terms in Congress as a hardline leader on legislation relating to the Israel-Palestine conflict.
Kirk, who is considered a moderate Republican on most issues, sailed to an easy victory in the GOP primary this week and goes into the general election race as a strong contender for Barack Obama's old Senate seat.
There are plenty of members of Congress who subscribe to the same hawkish pro-Israel positions as Kirk. But the money totals (and his legislative record) show that Kirk is a particular favorite of the pro-Israel community.
In 2008, for example, Kirk got $414,000 from pro-Israel PACs, more than double the haul of the next biggest recipient in the House, and behind only Barack Obama, John McCain, and Hillary Clinton overall, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.
With $108,000 in pro-Israel PAC donations in the current cycle, Kirk is second overall (to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid), and easily the biggest recipient in the House. He was the second biggest recipient of pro-Israel dollars in 2006. And his career total is $1,025,000, seventh overall of any member of Congress, and behind only prominent senators like Joe Lieberman.
With polls showing Kirk in a strong position in his Senate race, activists and liberal Mideast policy groups are concerned that he could become AIPAC's point man in the Senate. (It's worth noting that AIPAC, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, is a lobbying organization and does not donate to campaigns.)
Kirk's campaign Web site calls the congressman a "pro-Israel champion," listing accomplishments against Iran and Hamas. His Democratic opponent, Alexi Giannoulias, also touts "unwavering" support for Israel, though his site also endorses a two-state solution, which Kirk's does not.
In the House, Kirk has been a driving force behind a host of legislative efforts to sanction Iran (he's the founder of of the Iran Working Group), increase U.S. military support of Israel (including the integration of Israel into the American ballistic missile defense system), and cut any U.S. support for Palestinians (he wants to slash funding for the UN agency that is charged with aiding refugees).
He was also one of the leaders of the campaign against Chas Freeman, an Obama pick for the National Intelligence Council whose nomination was killed after a campaign by the pro-Israel community.
Kirk caused a mini controversy when, during the invasion of Gaza last year, he said: "To misquote Shakespeare, something is rotten in Gaza and now it's time to take out the trash."
It seems as though “activists and liberal Mideast policy groups” don’t like the idea of Rep. Mark Kirk getting to the U.S. Senate, given his pro-Israel voting record.” You can understand that these groups wouldn’t want someone who was the “driving force behind a host of legislative efforts to sanction Iran (he’s the founder of of the Iran Working Group),” a vocal critic of the UN, and an opponent of Chas Freeman.
The above links to the TPM Muckraker blog item on Kirk but I rpeface that with a thumbnail sketch of TPM.
Josh Marshall , who founded and runs TPM, has 14 approved sites as his recommended websites. Among them are Andrew Sullivan’s (who routinely derides Israel and American Jews who lobby for Israel); Juan Cole-who loathes Israel and whose translation was relied upon by the NYT to argue that Iran does not intend to destroy Israel; Matt Yglesias-who from his post at the Soros creation, The Center for American Progress, disparages Israel; Pro Publica-founded and financed by Soros political partners, Herb and Marion Sandler- has started investigating how foreign policy is made on Capitol Hill.
His website is popular on the left:
Joshua Micah Marshall (born February 15, 1969 in St. Louis, Missouri) is an American Polk Award-winning[1] journalist[2] who founded Talking Points Memo,[1] which The New York Times Magazine called "one of the most popular and most respected sites" in the blogosphere.[3] He currently presides over a network of sites that operate under the TPM Media banner and average 400,000 page views every weekday[4] and 750,000 unique visitors every month.[5][6]
TPMMuckraker
GOP Senate Contender Kirk Is Favorite Of Pro-Israel PACs
Justin Elliott | February 4, 2010, 11:28AM
Spread the word. Share this article on Facebook!
5Share
Rep. Mark Kirk (R-IL)
Read More
AIPAC, Alexi Giannoulias, Chas Freeman, Gaza, Israel, Israel-Palestine, Mark Kirk
Share
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Send to a friend!
To email: Your Name: Your email:
Republican Rep. Mark Kirk enters the Illinois Senate race as the member of the House who has consistently reaped the biggest contribution totals from pro-Israel PACs, making a name for himself through five terms in Congress as a hardline leader on legislation relating to the Israel-Palestine conflict.
Kirk, who is considered a moderate Republican on most issues, sailed to an easy victory in the GOP primary this week and goes into the general election race as a strong contender for Barack Obama's old Senate seat.
There are plenty of members of Congress who subscribe to the same hawkish pro-Israel positions as Kirk. But the money totals (and his legislative record) show that Kirk is a particular favorite of the pro-Israel community.
In 2008, for example, Kirk got $414,000 from pro-Israel PACs, more than double the haul of the next biggest recipient in the House, and behind only Barack Obama, John McCain, and Hillary Clinton overall, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.
With $108,000 in pro-Israel PAC donations in the current cycle, Kirk is second overall (to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid), and easily the biggest recipient in the House. He was the second biggest recipient of pro-Israel dollars in 2006. And his career total is $1,025,000, seventh overall of any member of Congress, and behind only prominent senators like Joe Lieberman.
With polls showing Kirk in a strong position in his Senate race, activists and liberal Mideast policy groups are concerned that he could become AIPAC's point man in the Senate. (It's worth noting that AIPAC, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, is a lobbying organization and does not donate to campaigns.)
Kirk's campaign Web site calls the congressman a "pro-Israel champion," listing accomplishments against Iran and Hamas. His Democratic opponent, Alexi Giannoulias, also touts "unwavering" support for Israel, though his site also endorses a two-state solution, which Kirk's does not.
In the House, Kirk has been a driving force behind a host of legislative efforts to sanction Iran (he's the founder of of the Iran Working Group), increase U.S. military support of Israel (including the integration of Israel into the American ballistic missile defense system), and cut any U.S. support for Palestinians (he wants to slash funding for the UN agency that is charged with aiding refugees).
He was also one of the leaders of the campaign against Chas Freeman, an Obama pick for the National Intelligence Council whose nomination was killed after a campaign by the pro-Israel community.
Kirk caused a mini controversy when, during the invasion of Gaza last year, he said: "To misquote Shakespeare, something is rotten in Gaza and now it's time to take out the trash."
Friday, February 5, 2010
Why Kirk's election to US Senate is crucial
From Ed Lasky Max Boot -a bright guy http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Max_Boot
http://www.commentarymagazine.com/blogs/index.php/boot/230531
Congratulations to Mark Kirk
Max Boot - 02.03.2010 - 12:10 PM
I am greatly cheered to see that Mark Kirk has won the GOP nomination for the Senate seat in Illinois and has a good chance of winning in the general election. I say that not just because Kirk could represent another Republican pickup in the Senate — although given the overweening nature of the Democratic agenda, some more checks and balances would certainly be welcome — but also because he is a very impressive individual. I had the privilege of chatting with him last year when he visited the Council on Foreign Relations, and I found him to be extremely well-informed about world affairs — far more so than the average House member. He was also full of shrewd and sensible insights. Perhaps that should be no surprise given that, in addition to his current congressional duties, he also finds time to serve as a Naval Reserve officer. An intelligence specialist, he was deployed to Afghanistan in December. In the House, he has been a leader on various foreign-policy issues; for example, he is the driving force behind legislation, which has passed both houses, to impose strict sanctions on Iran’s petroleum imports. If he joins the Senate, he should play an important role in steering U.S. national-security policy in the (so to speak) right direction.
j-
http://www.commentarymagazine.com/blogs/index.php/boot/230531
Congratulations to Mark Kirk
Max Boot - 02.03.2010 - 12:10 PM
I am greatly cheered to see that Mark Kirk has won the GOP nomination for the Senate seat in Illinois and has a good chance of winning in the general election. I say that not just because Kirk could represent another Republican pickup in the Senate — although given the overweening nature of the Democratic agenda, some more checks and balances would certainly be welcome — but also because he is a very impressive individual. I had the privilege of chatting with him last year when he visited the Council on Foreign Relations, and I found him to be extremely well-informed about world affairs — far more so than the average House member. He was also full of shrewd and sensible insights. Perhaps that should be no surprise given that, in addition to his current congressional duties, he also finds time to serve as a Naval Reserve officer. An intelligence specialist, he was deployed to Afghanistan in December. In the House, he has been a leader on various foreign-policy issues; for example, he is the driving force behind legislation, which has passed both houses, to impose strict sanctions on Iran’s petroleum imports. If he joins the Senate, he should play an important role in steering U.S. national-security policy in the (so to speak) right direction.
j-
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