On the J Street Controversy

Nathan Guttman puts the best spin possible on things:

(J Street President Jeremy) Ben-Ami took full responsibility for not revealing in public the fact that Soros has been providing funds to J Street. He issued a statement carrying this message as the press and right-wing blogs were already in a frenzy of criticism against the group, some predicting that the Soros affair would mark the beginning of J Street's demise, or at least the end of the Ben-Ami era.

But most observers now agree that neither scenario is likely to materialize.

"People see it as an aberration, not as a pattern," said Rabbi David Saperstein, director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, referring to Ben-Ami's post-Soros image in political circles. "Usually you get one free pass for things like this." Saperstein, who was also involved in initial talks that led to the creation of J Street, said he did not sense any concerns on Capitol Hill or in the administration about dealing with Ben-Ami or with J Street.

I don't know about "most observers," but most reporters -- not "right-wing" reporters, just reporters -- are waiting for Jeremy Ben-Ami to apologize for misleading them personally and repeatedly. Does he get a pass after that? Probably.