State Senate President Pro Temp Darrell Steinberg joined DFI-LA, Raoul Wallenberg Democratic Club, AIPAC, ADL and J-Street in hosting over 350 Democrats at the annual California Democratic Party Convention Ice Cream Social.

Democrats for Israel Los Angeles, a Democratic Club focused on the Pro-Israel community of Southern California announced a campaign against Republican Congressmen who opposed the the Israel aid package in 2007 because it also contained provisions allowing aid for distribution of contraceptives in developing nations, many of whom also voted, but failed to cut aid to Israel by $24 million by supporting an across-the-board 1% cut in all foreign aid.

Over 100 Democratic leaders and Pro-Israel activists gathered in Cheviot Hills, as Democrats for Israel Los Angeles honored Assembly Speaker Karen Bass and Los Angeles County Democratic Party Chair Eric Bauman at their annual garden party.

Assembly Speaker Bass, who represents the Miracle Mile, Pico-Robertson and Westwood portions of Los Angeles was honored for her work with the Jewish community in Los Angeles and promotion of Jewish values.

Congressman Brad Sherman addressed Democrats for Israel as they elected their new board.

Sherman a co-founder of DFI-LA and chair of the House Subcommittee on Terrorism on Nonproliferation criticized the Bush administration and McCain for talking tough on Iran but refusing to put real sanctions in place, citing their repeated opposition to increased sanctions including the Iran Sanctions Enabling Act.

Andrew Lachman, President of DFI-LA was elected to the Democratic National Committee. He will be the only Jewish male in the state and one of three Jewish members from California (Roz Wyman of Los Angeles and Rachel Binah of Mendocino County are the others). His term starts Aug. 29th. Congratulations!

The following DFI-LA Members were elected to Los Angeles County Democratic Committee

38th - Isaac Lieberman,Lyn Shaw
40th - Miguel Santiago, David Hyman, Erin Prangley
41st - Cecile Bendavid
42nd - Joyce M Rubin, Jeff Prang, Paul Koretz, Laurence Zakson, Ken Silk, Alton Reed, Diana Plotkin
47th - Lee Welinsky, Jimmie Woods Gray, Evelyn Metoyer Williams, Terrence Montgomery, Ruth Weisman
54th - Marilyn Landau

Congratulations to the following DFI-LA Members who were named delegates to the Democratic National Convention

CLINTON
BOE Member Judy Chu
State Senator Jenny Oropeza
Assemblymember Fiona Ma
Assemblymember Kevin DeLeon
LA Councilman Jack Weiss
Joyce M. Rubin
David Hyman
Ron Galperin (alternate(

OBAMA
State Senator Mark Ridley-Thomas
Assemblymember Ted Lieu
LA Council President Eric Garcetti
Becca Doten
Wendy Wanderman

COMMITTEES
John Emerson (Credentials)
Howard Welinsky (Platform)
Congressman Adam Schiff (Platform)
Wendy Greuel (Rules)

Reprinted from the Houston Jewish Herald-Voice Feb. 28, 2008

Jewish community response to Obama rumors should make us reflect on ourselves

By ANDREW LACHMAN 28.FEB.08

The way Jews have responded to Sen. Barack Obama’s campaign for president shows that we have much to be proud of, and to be ashamed of. Sen. Obama has a challenge in the Jewish community because he does not have the history of Sen. Clinton, who has built a reputation of supporting the Jewish community throughout her 10 years as a senator from New York and her husband’s strong record as president.

Commentary - Jewish Journal Nov. 8, 2007

Progressives should join Jews on Iran strategy

By Andrew Lachman

Iran's nuclear ambitions have emerged not only as a foreign policy issue but recently have become an American political issue, as well.

Howard Berman discussed the strong record of the Democratic Congress on Israel, Iran and other issues and questions brought up by the 65 people who attended the event at Valley Beth Shalom in Encino.

Berman focused on the 2007 aid appropriation, which expanded aid to Israel and was opposed by 149 Republicans on the grounds that the appropriations bill also repealed a prohibition on aid to family planning organizations.