Candidate Apologizes with Voting Underway

Candidate Apologizes Specifically to Jewish Community

Jason Byors, a Democrat, who is challenging Greg Wallis, the Republican incumbent, for the California State Assembly District 47 seat, is apologizing after a mailer hit a nerve with Jewish constituents.

The mailer focused on “Endorsed by Democrats We Trust” and featured only one organization to attack: AIPAC. The front side of the mailer prominently displayed an emblem which said “AIPAC-FREE CANDIATE – THIS CANDIDATE HAS REJECTED AIPAC FUNDING.”

Some voters were “quite upset” as it’s not true. AIPAC only involves itself in national races and not state or local races, so Byors would not have been offered funding, and it uses hate of Israel and Judeophobia as a campaign messaging tactic.

A mailer was sent out to voters that had an emblem that said, “that I do not take any money from AIPAC (American Israel Political Affairs Committee).

At least one member of the Jewish community contacted Jason to have a “long conversation.

“I told him that I was appalled, as this messaging is not true (and the State Assembly is not engaged in foreign policy), and it is quite harmful with the rise of Judeophobia in our nation. I told him that this narrative provides fuel for the anti-Semites, and attacking Israel as a vote-getting device is simply not acceptable. He apologized to me, and I told him that he needed to apologize to the community at large. Following is his apology.

“I am a strong advocate for the Jewish community, and members of the community reached out to me and expressed that it was hurtful to see that,” Byors wrote. ” Hearing that affected me personally because I grew up in a town with a large Jewish population and one of my first jobs in high school was as a lifeguard at the Jewish Community Center in our town.  The Jewish community has been an integral part of my upbringing.

“I want to take this opportunity to apologize to the Jewish Community.  I was remiss in recognizing how that could be perceived as reinforcing harmful tropes and undermining the legitimate concerns of the community. Anti-Israel sentiments and negative feelings towards the Jewish people enflames Judeophobia and incites more antisemitism.

I want to ensure the Jewish Community that I am committed to fighting antisemitism in all forms. Antisemitism has no place in our society.

“Also, AIPAC only works with federal level candidates.  They do not get involved with state level candidates, which I am.  Therefore, they have not reached out to me and I have not been in contact with them.  The emblem was included to inform the voting public which may or may not know that.  It is a question I do receive from voters.  Going forward I will become more informed about AIPAC,”

Too little, too late? Only time will tell.