Bob Good’s decision to vote against a foreign aid package has cost him an endorsement from the Republican Jewish Coalition.
The Virginia congressman was one of 21 members of the Republican Party to vote against a bill that will provide $26 billion to Israel, which has been waging a monthslong war with Palestinian terrorist group Hamas that has killed more than 33,000 people since Hamas’ surprise attack on the country on Oct. 7.
The Republican Jewish Coalition not only condemned Good but immediately endorsed his rival, state Sen. John McGuire, who is vying for Good’s 5th District seat in the House of Representatives. McGuire has been running a campaign from the right against the already staunchly conservative Good.
“Congressman Bob Good (VA-05) shamefully voted against this critical support for the Jewish state, abandoning Israel as it continues to fight for its very survival after the worst massacre of Jews since the Holocaust,” the group’s CEO Matt Brooks said in a statement.
Good’s "no" vote stands in contrast to his consistent pro-Israel messaging. On March 4, for instance, he issued a statement urging the U.S. to stand with Israel and condemning President Biden for “repeatedly suggesting there should be a ceasefire in Gaza,” the Palestinian territory which has served as the setting for the lion’s share of the ongoing conflict.
“The United States must continue to support Israel as they defend themselves from the Hamas terrorists who have brutally attacked their citizens,” Good said.
On Saturday Good explained his thinking, saying in a statement that, despite his vote, his support for “Israel’s right to defend itself remains unshakeable.”
According to Good, his vote was not against Israel but against increasing the national debt. Good and other members of the far-right Freedom Caucus, which he leads, have said that financial prudence is a guiding light for them; they have threatened on multiple occasions to shut down the government if certain spending is not reduced.
“We were willing to throw down and risk shutting down the government to achieve anything,” Good said at a Louisa County fundraiser in October, where he defended his decision to oust former Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy.
Critics of Good have argued he is more interested in disruption than governance.
In explaining his vote against the Israel aid, Good’s statement referenced the national debt and said that the money would “fund terrorists,” an apparent reference to $9 billion of humanitarian relief the package allocates to people in Gaza.
Squaring his "no" vote with his support for Israel, Good pointed to a November bill he supported, which would have supplied Israel with $14 billion. That package would have been paid for by cutting funding for the Internal Revenue Service.
“Rather than saddling American taxpayers with the bill, the Senate should have taken up the$14.2 billion paid-for Israel bill five months ago to help our ally,” Good said.
That logic was inadequate for the Republican Jewish Coalition, which said this vote was not the first time the pro-Israel community has had concerns about the congressman.
“Good also voted against passage of an Israel aid bill in February and he opposed a defense authorization bill that included important funding for joint U.S.-Israel defense programs, including Iron Dome,” Brooks said in his statement, adding that his organization was proud to support “conservative stalwart” McGuire.
The McGuire campaign seized the opportunity to bash Good, questioning the incumbent’s loyalty to both Israel and former President Donald Trump.
“Israel is under attack and America must stand with our allies. I’m also a devout Christian and the bible makes it clear that Christians must support Israel,” McGuire said in a statement. “Bob Good clearly doesn’t understand what it means to stand by a friend.”
It echoed an argument that has become central to McGuire’s campaign: Good is not loyal to Trump. McGuire supporters regularly point out that Good endorsed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in the Republican presidential primary, and only switched his endorsement to Trump after DeSantis dropped out of the race.
Good’s campaign has pushed hard against the narrative, and his website notes that Trump endorsed him for Congress in 2022. Trump has not yet made an endorsement in the Good-McGuire race, although former Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani has endorsed McGuire. So too has Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene. Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz and other members of the Freedom Caucus have stumped for Good on the campaign trail.
“Virginia voters should know that Bob Good backstabbed Israel the same way he backstabbed President Trump,” McGuire said.
Despite Good, the rest of the House voted overwhelmingly in favor of an aid package totaling $95 billion, which includes money for Israel and $61 billion for Ukraine as it wages its own war against an invading Russian army. It also allocates $8 billion for Taiwan and other U.S. allies in the Indo-Pacific region.
Good voted against spending all of that money.
In what appears to be a tight race, the Republican Jewish Coalition’s endorsement could prove helpful for McGuire, especially if it’s followed by financial support.
“If you don’t stand with the Jewish community, if you don’t stand with Israel, Republican or Democrat, the RJC will work to defeat you,” Brooks said.
Source: www.dailyprogress.com
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