April 6, 2012

Candidate calls rival ‘whore for AIPAC’

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A candidate for the Democratic nod for Connecticut’s U.S. Senate seat called a rival a “whore for AIPAC.”

Lee Whitnum, an anti-Israel activist, in a televised debate Thursday night referred to U.S. Rep. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), as the “whore here who sells his soul to AIPAC, who will say anything for the job.”

Whitnum, who is not considered viable for the nomination, had been barred from earlier debates, faced calls to keep her away from future debates after the attack.

Murphy defended his support for Israel as in the U.S. national security interest.

“I stand with the U.S.-Israeli relationship and I’m willing to defend my position on it,” he said. “It just should be done without name-calling.” The candidates are vying for the opportunity to replace Sen. Joseph Liebrman (I-Conn.), who is retiring.