Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!americast-post Newsgroups: americast.twt.news From: americast-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: americast-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: Israeli lobby president resigns over promises Date: Wed, 4 Nov 92 16:16:30 EST Message-ID: \SE A;NATION \HD Israeli lobby president resigns over promises \SH Bragged to contributor about lies to Clinton \BY Michael Hedges \CR THE WASHINGTON TIMES The president of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee resigned yesterday after statements he made to a prospective contributor raised questions about the lobbying group's connections with Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton. In a taped telephone conversation, obtained by The Washington Times, with a man he believed would back pro-Israel politicians, AIPAC President David Steiner said his organization was "negotiating" with Mr. Clinton over who would be named secretary of state and national security adviser in a Clinton administration. "We have a dozen people in [Mr. Clinton's] headquarters," Mr. Steiner told Harry Katz, a New York City businessman who said he wanted to contribute $100,000 to candidates supported by AIPAC. "And they are all going to get big jobs." "I'll tell you I have friends on the Clinton campaign, close associates. [Sen. Al] Gore is very committed to us," said Mr. Steiner, who is also a trustee of the Democratic National Committee. Neither AIPAC nor Mr. Steiner dispute the authenticity of the tape. Mr. Steiner also described what he said was a secret negotiation with former Secretary of State James A. Baker III in which "I got almost a billion dollars in other goodies [besides stated U.S. aid to Israel] that people don't even know about." Mr. Katz said he taped the telephone conversation with Mr. Steiner because, "as someone Jewish, I am concerned when a small group has a disproportionate power. I think that hurts everyone, including the Jews. "If David Steiner wants to talk about the incredible, disproportionate clout AIPAC has, the public should know about it." A search of the files of New York newspapers reveals a long and often contentious relationship between Mr. Katz and several Jewish groups there. He has been a small contributor to AIPAC, and he has sued Jewish groups and others in New York to settle personal grievances. AIPAC, a grass-roots group with tens of thousands of members, is the principal pro-Israel lobbying body in the United States and is widely regarded as the most influential lobbying organization in the country. Its member-financed budget grew from $1.4 million in 1980 to $12 million in 1991. Because it is a registered lobbying group, AIPAC cannot by federal law raise money for congressional or presidential candidates, or recommend to potential contributors to whom they direct their money. When Mr. Katz asked who Mr. Steiner thought would be secretary of state under President Clinton, Mr. Steiner replied: "I don't know yet, we're negotiating." Asked whether AIPAC would have a role in the selection, Mr. Steiner said, "We'll have access." Mr. Steiner spoke candidly of animosity he felt toward President Bush and Mr. Baker. Referring to allegations that Mr. Baker used an expletive to describe Jews, which Mr. Baker denied, Mr. Steiner said: "Do you think I'm ever going to forgive him for that? . . . Do you think I could ever forgive Bush for what he did September 12th a year ago? What he said about the Jews for lobbying in Washington?" Mr. Bush had criticized the lobbying efforts of pro-Israel groups during the congressional debate over $10 billion in loan guarantees by the United States to Israel, which were later approved. Mr. Clinton "is going to help us," Mr. Steiner said. "He has something in his heart for the Jews, he's got Jewish friends. Bush has no Jewish friends." In response to written questions from The Times, AIPAC specifically denied many of Mr. Steiner's claims, including that the organization played a role in a "deal" with Mr. Baker, and that it was negotiating with Mr. Clinton on political appointees. Mr. Steiner, in a one-paragraph statement announcing his resignation yesterday, also denied the truth of several statements on the tape. "In an effort to encourage and impress what I thought was a potential political activist calling on the telephone, I made statements which went beyond overzealousness and exaggeration and were simply and totally untrue. I apologize to Governor Clinton, chief of staff Baker and AIPAC for these actions." AIPAC has been accused of violating Federal Election Commission rules governing the involvement of special interest groups in raising money for political candidates, but in late 1990 the FEC ruled there was "insufficient evidence that AIPAC controlled a collection of political action committees that contributed millions of dollars to congressional candidates. The Steiner-Katz conversation, taped without Mr. Steiner's knowledge, occurred Oct. 22. Under New York law, such taping is not illegal. In the conversation, Mr. Katz asked for advice on how to divide his proposed contribution to political candidates, which he had earlier said would total $100,000. Mr. Steiner told Mr. Katz that "the political information I give you, they're personal choices, AIPAC does not rate or endorse candidates, does not solicit money." He gave Mr. Katz detailed information about elections from Hawaii to North Dakota to Wisconsin, recommending that he consider contributing to candidates who were friendly toward Israel. Mr. Steiner discussed commissioning a poll and sending other support to Sen. Daniel Inouye, Hawaii Democrat. "We commissioned a poll and got some people, and I've got to raise $27,000 to pay for the poll," he said. Toby Dershowitz, a spokesman for AIPAC, said AIPAC had no role in paying for the poll in Hawaii. This article is copyright 1992 The Washington Times. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM