Mariam Zuhaib, Associated Press file. Rep. Cori Bush (D-Mo.) addresses the media at a press conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Dec. 8, 2022.
Aug 01, 2024 Story by: Editor
The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) is under fire for circulating an advertisement featuring a digitally altered image of Missouri Congresswoman Cori Bush, which critics have labeled as racist.
The ad, distributed to voters, depicts Bush, who is Black, with exaggerated facial features, raising concerns about the intent behind this modification.
In response, Bush’s campaign issued a statement condemning the ad, expressing disappointment that such overt racism could still surface in political campaigns, especially in a Democratic primary. “It is shameful that in 2024 our communities are still being targeted with such blatant racism from political campaigns,” the statement read. “The people of St. Louis deserve better than to see their first Black congresswoman racistly distorted into a caricature — I shouldn’t have to ask my opponent to condemn his biggest funders for putting out an ad like this and to apologize to the people of this district.”
AIPAC’s super PAC, the United Democracy Project, has reportedly spent approximately $7 million in efforts to unseat Bush by endorsing her challenger, Wesley Bell, who is a former Republican campaign organizer. Bell’s campaign has not commented on the situation.
While AIPAC is known for its focus on supporting Israel, the ad in question centered on domestic issues, accusing Bush of not backing President Joe Biden’s infrastructure plan. However, Bush, alongside many House progressives, supported Biden’s original Build Back Better bill but opposed a revised version influenced by Republican input, which included corporate-friendly measures.
The decision to alter Bush’s appearance in the ad has sparked widespread backlash, reminiscent of previous controversies where candidates’ images were similarly manipulated. For example, in the 2020 Georgia Senate races, opponents of Jon Ossoff, who is Jewish, and Raphael Warnock, who is Black, faced criticism for ads that altered their features, playing into harmful stereotypes.
Adding to the controversy, the photo of Bush used in the ad was sourced from the Missouri Independent, without permission. Jason Hancock, editor-in-chief of the Missouri Independent, expressed concern over the unauthorized use of their photo, stating, “As a nonprofit news organization, we do not allow campaigns or political groups to use our photography,” as reported by The Intercept.
As the primary election draws near, progressives are voicing their frustration over what they see as a larger issue of right-wing influence in Democratic primaries, fueled by Republican donors. Usamah Andrabi, a spokesperson for Justice Democrats, told The New Arab, “In Wesley Bell’s name, AIPAC is peddling racist caricatures to attack Missouri’s first Black congresswoman in a disgusting new low, even for them. Bell should immediately condemn these racist pieces of mail and apologize to the people of St. Louis for allowing his biggest financial backers to promote outright racism in this Democratic primary.” Source: The New Arab
