JustASC

Looks like somebody complained after Jack Rosen, chairman of the American Jewish Congress, gave the thumb’s up to Obama for president. Rosen wrote in the Jerusalem Post:

In sum, we have much more reason to have confidence in Obama than we had at a similar stage in the candidacies of the predecessors who made the greatest contributions to the US-Israel relationship.

 Just now AJCongress sent out a news release emphasizing that it, as a tax-exempt organization, does “not endorse candidates for elective office.” But its lay leaders may speak for themselves.

Here’s the statement:

AJCongress Statement on Political Endorsements

July 28, 2008 – The American Jewish Congress wishes to clarify its position concerning the upcoming presidential election.

The American Jewish Congress as a matter of law and of its own policy does not endorse candidates for elective office. At the same time, its officers and lay leaders are free to do so, so long as they speak for themselves and not for the organization. The IRS has repeatedly stated that lay officials of tax-exempt organizations may engage in political activity so long as they make plain that they speak for themselves and not a tax-exempt organization. During the current Presidential campaign, our lay leaders supported a wide variety of candidates.

The AJCongress has no position on the upcoming election. While its members may chose to do so in their individual capacity, the AJCongress has not, and will not, endorse anyone for President of the United States. It looks forward to working with the next President of the United States, without regard to which candidate is elected.