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[quote=Anonymous][quote=jsteele][quote=Anonymous][quote=jsteele][quote=Anonymous]I don't always agree with Tom Friedman, but this is a very concise summation of where he thinks Omar is on the issue. It's worth the two minute read.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/06/opinion/israel-ilhan-omar.html?action=click&module=Opinion&pgtype=Homepage[/quote]

His main issue seems to be that she supports BDS, while also having criticisms of it. But, he like her, doesn't believe in passing laws against it. But, in this part he is completely wrong:

"And one issue she seems to have seized on is the alleged dual loyalty of Jews to America and Israel."

As I have said repeatedly, this is a mischaracterization of what she said at Busboys and Poets. She didn't question or suggest dual loyalty among Jews. To the contrary, she said she understood their support for the country and compared it to her children's support for Somalia. What she questioned was political pressure to support another country, the example being the anti-BDS law which enables punishing US citizens for exercising their 1st Amendment rights in order to protect the interests of Israel. 
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And one more time, the FEDERAL law does not punish anyone.   The anti BDS bills in states vary. Opponents of BDS believe that BDS is not just a threat to Israels interests, but to US interests and to justice.   And if her issue was support, she did not need to use the word allegiance.  And yes, its fully appropriate for US citizens to pressure their representative to support causes they believe in.  As it happens I believe Omar gets support from CAIR, which supports things not everyone agrees with. [/quote]

Regardless of whether BDS is good, bad, or ugly, it is a non-violent movement that Americans should be able to support, or at a minimum, not be required to oppose. The idea that American school teachers or newspaper publishers should be required to sign a pledge not to exercise their 1st Amendment rights in order to protect Israel's interests is unAmerican. If you believe BDS is bad, use your 1st Amendment rights to oppose it. You can even start a thread on DCUM. Just don't pass laws making me sign pledges to protect Israel. For the record, while I agree with many of BDS's position, I don't boycott Israel myself. One of our advertising partners is an Israeli company. They don't pay much and I could easily give up the revenue. But I like the folks and have found them to be good partners. 
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Individual states are allowed to put all kinds of criteria into contracting that would not be acceptable as general law for all private citizens.   Again its possible some state level anti BDS laws violate the 1st amendment, and very likely that some do not.  All would in theory be impact by the Commerce clause and federal preemption.  If you believe that an anti BDS law where you live or do business or bid for contracts violates the 1st amendment, you can take the state to court.

You are also free to believe that such laws are in general so bad that you wish to exercise your rights and lobby your congressmen to oppose the deconflicting legislation.    But others are free to lobby in support of such deconfliction laws (I personally do not lobby in either direction - while I think BDS is harmful to peace and the two state solution, I think the campaign against it is a waste of energy, relative to more important things I can do for Israel and for peace) And to lobby without being accused of something nefarious, disloyal, or disgusting.

I do think the power of lobbyists should be reduced - not only by changes to campaign finance law, and to the revolving door, but by increases in congressional staff (one of the real sources of lobbyist power is NOT money, but information and time to help draft legislation) This would impact all lobbyists, and not just the favorite targets of the left.

I am not particularly afraid that that will hurt Israel, as I believe support for Israel is based on something much stronger and deeper.

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