Thanks to everyone for the letters, calls and emails to government officials that have flowed from our past action alerts.  These efforts are important!   We feel that they have a big impact.

To Protect Our Heritage PAC sees it as our responsibility to actively participate in the political process of our Country.  We are among the luckiest people in the history of the world to be citizens of this wonderful, blessed country.  But we have obligations too --  it's not enough to react passively to important current events.  

Individual efforts make a difference far beyond what one might imagine.  Sometimes we put a lot of effort in and get seemingly little results, sometimes little effort appears to generate disproportionately favorable results.  It's not a straight line that connects points A and B.  Consistent effort is what counts.  

People are watching to see how pro-Israel groups react these days.  The fact is that the commitment of groups like ours energizes others.  There is a ripple effect.  When we actively present our views, others will be encouraged to support us instead of staying on the sidelines.

We do this by staying informed, making the effort to talk to our friends and colleagues about important issues and to fill them in on the facts, and by regularly contacting elected officials to make our point of view known.

TO PROTECT OUR HERITAGE, a political action committee, has in recent weeks contributed financial support to Congressional and Senatorial candidates who have strongly supported the U.S.-Israel alliance. Congresswoman and Democratic Chief Deputy Whip Jan Schakowsky (D-IL, 9th Dist.) has cosponsored H.R. 4483, the Syria Accountability Act.  This measure requires America to cut off aid and support to Syria as long as that nation continues to support, finance and house terrorists in its land. 

Congressman Lane Evans (D-IL, 17th Dist.) likewise became a cosponsor of the Syria Accountability Act.  Cosponsorship means that Representatives Schakowsky and Evans have pledged themselves to work actively to enlist other colleagues to support this vital legislation.  PAC members attended his September 4th fundraiser which featured former President Clinton.

TO PROTECT OUR HERITAGE is happy to report that Cynthia McKinney (D-GA) was defeated  in the Democratic Primary.  The PAC contributed to the winner,  Denise Majette, a moderate Democrat and former judge.  She easily won the general election.  This election had been viewed as too close to call, but Judge Majette won by a convincing 58% to 42%. 

The five-term incumbent may have been the most anti-Israel representative in Congress.  Ms. McKinney had accused President Bush of knowing about the September 11 terrorist attacks in advance and had apologized to the Saudi prince after Mayor Rudy Guiliani had turned down his $10 million check.  

Both candidates received political contributions from outside their district.  Pro-Israel groups helped Judge Majette raise more than $1,100,000, almost twice the $640,000 raised by Ms. McKinney.  A substantial amount of Ms. McKinney’s contributions were from individuals with Moslem or Arab American surnames, some with ties to Arab terrorists.  Michael Barone draws the lessons from McKinney’s defeat.  The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has more: click here and here.

HERBSTMANS HOST FUNDRAISER FOR CONGRESSMAN MARK KIRK (R).  Congressman Kirk is a freshman Congressman from Illinois’ Tenth District and has already distinguished himself by taking forthright leadership positions in support of Israel.  Representative Kirk, a naval reserve intelligence officer, has helped Israel secure the latest radar system from the U.S. Army to help perfect her anti-ballistic missile defense system.  Congressman Kirk serves on the very important Armed Services Committee, so his voice and experience are keenly heeded in Congress.

R. Burton and Helene Herbstman, involved members of TO PROTECT OUR HERITAGE, graciously opened their home and invited their friends and neighbors together with members of our PAC to hear and support Mark Kirk.  He was enthusiastically received by more than 60 people.  Now completing his first term in the House, Congressman Kirk has already attracted national attention.  He has proven a valuable supporter of Israel’s defense needs as a member of the House Armed Services Committee.  His experience as a naval officer in the Gulf War and as Chief Counsel to Rep. Ben Gilman (R-NY), then Chairman of the House International Affairs Committee, have helped Cong. Kirk speak with authority on foreign and military affairs.

The current Intifada was among the Congressman’s very cogent remarks at the Herbstmans.  Rep. Kirk contends that the violence has much to do with the free-for-all for power among the contenders for Palestinian leadership.  Since the PLO was expelled from Lebanon, other groups have perceived the bankruptcy of Arafat’s Fatah group.  Hamas and Islamic Jihad especially, but also the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, are each trying to prove that they should lead the struggle.  Likewise, the violence is an effort to point out to the world that the other Arab nations have done nothing to aid their Palestinian brethren.  Meanwhile the Israelis suffer.  Israel’s government must be given a freer hand in protecting the lives of every Israeli. 

At this writing contributions for Rep. Kirk are still coming in.  If you would like to contribute to his re-election campaign, please send your contribution through the PAC.  Click here to contact us for more information.

To Protect Our Heritage PAC supports the following 2002 Federal Senate campaigns (listing political party, state and important Senate Committee(s)):

Max Baucus (D-Montana) Chair Finance Committee
Larry Craig (R-Idaho) Appropriations
Dick Durbin (D-Illinois) Appropriations, Defense Foreign Operations, Select Intelligence
Susan Collins (R-Maine) Armed Services.
Tim Johnson (D-South Dakota) Appropriations, Banking
John Kyl (R-Arizona), Finance
Gordon Smith (R-Oregon) Foreign Relations
Robert Smith (R-New Hampshire) Armed Services
John Warner (R-Virginia) Ranking Member, Armed Services
John D Rockefeller IV (D-West Virginia) Finance, Select Intelligence

Please note 2002 is the year of U.S. Congressional redistricting, in compliance with the 2000 census. Some friends have been redistricted and thus need our help once again to be elected in their new districts. This is so with Elliott Engel (D-New York) International Relations, Ben Gilman (R-New York) International Relations, Joseph Crowley (D- New York) International Relations, Jim Maloney (D-Connecticut) Armed Services, Robert Simmons (R-Connecticut) Armed Services, Lynn Rivers (D-Michigan), running against John Dingell.

We are also contributing to the following Federal Congressional campaigns:  Shelly Berkley (D-Nevada) International Relations, Steven Israel (D-New York), Mark Kirk (R-Illinois) Armed Services, Jan Schakowsky (D-Illinois), Lane Evans (D-Illinois) Armed Services, Tim Johnson (D-Illinois), Danny Davis (D-Illinois), David Wu (D-Oregon) and Adam Schiff (D-California).

Further we are pleased to note that several PAC board members expressed their intention to personally contribute to some of the above-mentioned races.  Several PAC members will be in Washington in the next month or two and have volunteered to personally present our PAC's campaign contributions, along with individual contributions they collect on behalf members of the Jewish community. Please consider a personal contribution to various candidates, which we can deliver with the PAC's contribution, to emphasize the Jewish Community’s appreciation for those Representatives' support for the U.S. Israel relationship.  Help us Protect Our Heritage.

We are sure, dear readers, you realize that supporting all these candidates has taxed our treasury.  This list represents almost $15,000 in campaign donations helping our country's leaders on our issues continue their good work.

We need your contributions to again fill our coffers for future elections! Please be generous.