Rep. Chris Murphy's primary opponent made the charge in connection with the lawmaker's support of Israel.
Rep. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) was called a "whore" by a primary opponent during Thursday night's debate for Connecticut's open Senate seat.
Lee Whitnum, who is mounting her second bid for the Senate in Connecticut, blasted Murphy over his support for Israel, the New Haven Register reported.
“I’m dealing with a whore here who sells his soul to AIPAC, who will say anything for the job,” Whitnum said, referring to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.
Whitnum said anti-American sentiment worldwide could be cured if the federal government were to prosecute U.S. settlers who “go to Israel and maim or kill in the Promised Land.” She also called for the elimination of U.S. aid to Israel.
“The Jewish community has always taken care of its own,” she said.
In another exchange, Whitnum said another candidate, state Rep. William Tong (D), was “ignorant.”
This isn’t the first time Whitnum has raised eyebrows over her stance on Israel. She made her critique of AIPAC a centerpiece of her 2010 bid for former Sen. Chris Dodd’s (D-Conn.) seat, but lost in the primary to now-Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.).
For more on the debate, click here.
