mick silver
5th February 2015, 11:09 AM
Top Rand Paul aide working for Israeli prime minister's re-election effortVincent Harris, Paul's digital strategist, is advising Benjamin Netanyahuhttp://l.yimg.com/os/publish-images/news/2014-10-15/10ddc5a0-5494-11e4-8e2f-79bd3b2ceded_JonWard_100.jpg (http://news.yahoo.com/author/jon-ward/) By Jon Ward (http://news.yahoo.com/author/jon-ward/) 2 hours ago Yahoo News
http://l.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/9rQNSe0g1uTxphohzqYDJg--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTM3NztpbD1wbGFuZTtweG 9mZj01MDtweW9mZj0wO3E9NzU7dz02NzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/ap_webfeeds/e09eef199253f11e5b0f6a706700c768.jpg (http://news.yahoo.com/top-rand-paul-aide-working-for-israeli-prime-minister-reelection-effort-152336941.html#)
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Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., listens as he is introduced to speak by Iowa Republican congressional candidate Rod Blum, left, during a meeting with local Republicans, Aug. 5, 2014, in Hiawatha, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
WASHINGTON – Rand Paul’s top digital strategist is working for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s re-election campaign.
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Vincent Harris, the 26-year-old Austin-based digital strategist, has made two trips to Israel to help the Israeli leader in a stiff fight to win his fourth term as prime minister and has been working for his campaign for more than six weeks, he told the Jerusalem Post (http://www.jpost.com/Israel-Elections/American-media-guru-denies-Republicans-sent-him-to-help-Netanyahu-re-election-campaign-389737).
Harris denied to the Post that he had been sent by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., or Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, for whom he has previously worked, to help Netanyahu.
“I have not spoken to Sen. Cruz or to Mitch McConnell about my job here,” Harris told the Post. “My Israeli work is completely separate from my work in the U.S., so what is being reported is not true. I love Israel, and I am excited to be here to help the Likud and the prime minister use digital media in an effective and forward-looking manner.”
Harris did not respond to Yahoo News' request for comment.
Harris, who according to colleagues is skilled at understanding the role of social media in campaigns and in translating technical ideas into plain language, worked for McConnell’s re-election campaign in 2014.
In 2012, Harris had worked for Cruz, and many thought he would work for the Texan’s likely presidential campaign. But Paul, a Republican senator from Kentucky who is also likely to run for president in 2016, hired Harris last November to be his chief digital strategist.
Paul is viewed with some skepticism by members of the American right who hold strong pro-Israel views. Paul, in 2011, proposed a budget that would eliminate all foreign aid (http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2014/aug/07/rand-paul/did-rand-paul-propose-cutting-aid-israel/), including to Israel. After it came under criticism, Paul’s more recent budget proposals have included aid to Israel.
Harris is not the only American political operative involved in the Israeli election. Jeremy Bird, the national field director for President Obama’s presidential campaigns, is providing consulting (http://www.jpost.com/Israel-Elections/American-media-guru-denies-Republicans-sent-him-to-help-Netanyahu-re-election-campaign-389737) to a coalition of groups that are working to defeat Netanyahu.
Netanyahu’s planned trip to the U.S. next month has ignited controversy because House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, invited the Israeli leader to address Congress without informing President Obama’s White House. Some Democrats are contemplating boycotting (http://www.politico.com/story/2015/02/democrats-might-skip-benjamin-netanyahu-speech-114891.html) the speech.
Elections
Politics & Government
Rand Paul
Vincent Harris
Israel
Mitch McConnell
Ted Cruz
digital strategist
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http://l.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/9rQNSe0g1uTxphohzqYDJg--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTM3NztpbD1wbGFuZTtweG 9mZj01MDtweW9mZj0wO3E9NzU7dz02NzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/ap_webfeeds/e09eef199253f11e5b0f6a706700c768.jpg (http://news.yahoo.com/top-rand-paul-aide-working-for-israeli-prime-minister-reelection-effort-152336941.html#)
. View photo
Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., listens as he is introduced to speak by Iowa Republican congressional candidate Rod Blum, left, during a meeting with local Republicans, Aug. 5, 2014, in Hiawatha, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
WASHINGTON – Rand Paul’s top digital strategist is working for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s re-election campaign.
Related Stories
Obama to pass on meeting Netanyahu during Washington visit (http://news.yahoo.com/obama-not-meet-netanyahu-during-trip-washington-171111454.html) Associated Press
Israeli premier accepts Boehner invite to speak to Congress (http://news.yahoo.com/israeli-premier-accepts-boehner-invite-speak-congress-161122963.html) Associated Press
Obama won't meet with Netanyahu during controversial U.S. visit (http://news.yahoo.com/obama-won-t-meet-with-netanyahu-during-controversial-u-s--visit-173809042.html) Yahoo News
Boehner invites Israeli leader to address Congress on Iran (http://news.yahoo.com/boehner-invites-israeli-leader-address-congress-iran-144320870.html) Associated Press
US House leader: Boehner invite to Netanyahu inappropriate (http://news.yahoo.com/house-leader-boehner-invite-netanyahu-inappropriate-164525502.html) Associated Press
Vincent Harris, the 26-year-old Austin-based digital strategist, has made two trips to Israel to help the Israeli leader in a stiff fight to win his fourth term as prime minister and has been working for his campaign for more than six weeks, he told the Jerusalem Post (http://www.jpost.com/Israel-Elections/American-media-guru-denies-Republicans-sent-him-to-help-Netanyahu-re-election-campaign-389737).
Harris denied to the Post that he had been sent by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., or Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, for whom he has previously worked, to help Netanyahu.
“I have not spoken to Sen. Cruz or to Mitch McConnell about my job here,” Harris told the Post. “My Israeli work is completely separate from my work in the U.S., so what is being reported is not true. I love Israel, and I am excited to be here to help the Likud and the prime minister use digital media in an effective and forward-looking manner.”
Harris did not respond to Yahoo News' request for comment.
Harris, who according to colleagues is skilled at understanding the role of social media in campaigns and in translating technical ideas into plain language, worked for McConnell’s re-election campaign in 2014.
In 2012, Harris had worked for Cruz, and many thought he would work for the Texan’s likely presidential campaign. But Paul, a Republican senator from Kentucky who is also likely to run for president in 2016, hired Harris last November to be his chief digital strategist.
Paul is viewed with some skepticism by members of the American right who hold strong pro-Israel views. Paul, in 2011, proposed a budget that would eliminate all foreign aid (http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2014/aug/07/rand-paul/did-rand-paul-propose-cutting-aid-israel/), including to Israel. After it came under criticism, Paul’s more recent budget proposals have included aid to Israel.
Harris is not the only American political operative involved in the Israeli election. Jeremy Bird, the national field director for President Obama’s presidential campaigns, is providing consulting (http://www.jpost.com/Israel-Elections/American-media-guru-denies-Republicans-sent-him-to-help-Netanyahu-re-election-campaign-389737) to a coalition of groups that are working to defeat Netanyahu.
Netanyahu’s planned trip to the U.S. next month has ignited controversy because House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, invited the Israeli leader to address Congress without informing President Obama’s White House. Some Democrats are contemplating boycotting (http://www.politico.com/story/2015/02/democrats-might-skip-benjamin-netanyahu-speech-114891.html) the speech.
Elections
Politics & Government
Rand Paul
Vincent Harris
Israel
Mitch McConnell
Ted Cruz
digital strategist
Click to view comments
View Comments (490)