Earlier this week, the liberal group MoveOn started a petition asking 2020 Democrats to not attend the annual American Israel Public Affairs Committee event. They have learned that basically no Democratic contenders are schedule to speak there, and are declaring victory. This is a real victory for the movement!

Or not.

The thing is, AIPAC doesn’t invite presidential contenders to speak in the off-year before the election. They invite them to speak during the actual year. So none of these people were going to show up in the first place. It’s not a statement, or anything like that.

Ron Kampeas, one of the smartest people on this beat, notes this, writing, “No declared presidential candidates are scheduled to speak at the conference, and AIPAC’s policy is that presidential candidates are invited to speak only in election years.”

He did note they sometimes show up and mingle with attendees. In a crowded campaign, that really isn’t worth it right now.

Yes, debate on Israel-Palestine is shifting. No, this isn’t an example of it.