Mr. Goldman wearing a basketball jersey and afro wig.

Assemblyman Dov Hikind may have sincerely apologized for wearing face paint for his "black guy Purim costume," but at the Inner Circle Show this weekend, reporters demonstrated they weren't completely finished with the controversy. To wit, Bloomberg News' Henry Goldman did a musical number impersonating Mr. Hikind for the charity event, singing a modified version of the classic blues song “Got My Mojo Working." Fortunately, Mr. Goldman declined to wear face paint himself.

Watch below, via YouTube user katherine9171:

(photo: thedailyshow.com)

Assemblyman Dov Hikind may have offered his sincere apology for dressing up as a "black basketball player" for Purim, but that doesn't mean The Daily Show can't have a little fun with the incident. Accordingly, that's exactly what happened last night.

"If you live in the New York area, you may be familiar with State Assemblyman Dov Hikind," the show's host, Jon Stewart, began as he ticked off allegations of anti-Semitism Mr. Hikind has leveled against others. "Some of this may seem like a bit of an overreaction, but the guy is standing up for a group, whenever he feels this group has been unfairly maligned or held up for ridicule. So what's he been up to lately?"

He played a clip of a local news broadcast covering the costume controversy, causing Mr. Stewart to lower his head and gasp, "Oh boy."

After rattling off a few jokes, Mr. Stewart transitioned to a second segment where Jessica Williams, the show's "Senior Purim Correspondent," blasted Mr. Hikind and the Jewish community writ large for failing to pay enough respect to "the tenth most-important Jewish holiday there is."

"It's an outrage! John, this is just one more example of the politically correct ... 'War on Purim,'" Ms. Williams declared, mocking those who claim there's a "war" against Christmas. "This is a low-down, dirty shanda. The way this man, Hikind, denigrates Purim. Okay, John, Purim is the fourth or fifth--seventh--it is the tenth most-important Jewish holiday there is! Okay? It is to be celebrated with beautiful costumes of Esther and Mordecai, the heroes in that ancient battle. Then Dov Hikind goes and trivializes it by dressing up as a basketball player? Okay, correct me if I'm wrong John, but at what point in the Book of Esther do the Harlem Globetrotters show up?"

Watch both segments below:

Dov Hikind in his Purim costume. (Photo: Facebook)

Brooklyn Assemblyman Dov Hikind has been at the center of a firestorm since Politicker revealed he wore a "black basketball player" costume consisting of an afro wig, brown face paint, an orange jersey and sunglasses to a Purim party at his home Sunday. At first, Mr. Hikind fiercely defended himself against criticism before penning a "heartfelt and sincere apology" on his website this morning. Though the incident and Mr. Hikind's initial response generated harsh headlines around the world and provoked critical statements from other politicians, several insiders we spoke with insisted Mr. Hikind was spared from a stronger reaction because of the unique power he wields on the local political scene.

One local political insider noted this isn't the first time Mr. Hikind has courted controversy without facing lasting repercussions. In 2011, Mr. Hikind was one of the most vocal Democrats opposed to New York's legalization of gay marriage. He bucked his party again this year when he suggested Jewish support for President Barack Obama was a "disease."

"Can you imagine if somebody else had said that? What does that even mean, right?" the insider said of Mr. Hikind's comments on the presidential election. "People are not willing to stand up to him. Internally, everyone realizes he's a dirtbag, we're just not going to say that because that's the game we play."

A Brooklyn politico told us political figures running for citywide office are reluctant to take on Mr. Hikind because they fear "retribution" from a man who's seen as "the gatekeeper of Orthodox Brooklyn."

"If this were another Assemblyman what would happen here? A three-car pileup of city officials denouncing his actions," they said of the costume incident before citing names of several elected officials who hadn't weighed in on the flap.

The local political insider listed several factors as contributing to Mr. Hikind's strength, including his status as a perceived "kingmaker" in Brooklyn's Orthodox community, his large war chest and his past association with the militant Jewish Defense League, which has been described by the FBI as a "right-wing terrorist group."

"It's a number of things. One, he has created a perception that he is a power broker who can actually deliver and, in a city where fewer and fewer political machines are relevant, this hits home. People really are afraid to go up against him," the insider said of Mr. Hikind. "Number two, he's amassed an awful lot of campaign cash. ... Thirdly, he's like genuinely a scary dude. He's connected with quasi-terrorist organizations that have been investigated by the FBI and he's the kind of guy that can flip on you at any moment. He operates in this sort of mysterious, shadowy way up in Albany."

Mr. Hikind's Assembly district encompasses the neighborhoods of Borough Park and Midwood, two major components of the city's Orthodox community. Last year, he was re-elected by defeating his lone opponent in the district 94 percent to six percent. He received over 19,000 votes in that effort, an impressive total in a city where the last mayoral election was decided by about 50,000 votes.

All of the sources we spoke with speculated the impression of Mr. Hikind as an influencer in the Orthodox community might be, as the Brooklyn politico put it, "overblown." Indeed, some Orthodox insiders privately told us Mr. Hikind's reputation as a power broker is largely a myth because the younger generation of Orthodox Jews is less beholden to old institutional forces. However, the perception of Mr. Hikind  as a key Orthodox power player persists on the political scene.

In addition to the idea Mr. Hikind influences a solid base in the Orthodox community, the insider described his role as a visible figurehead in the city's wider Jewish community as a major source of his strength. Mr. Hikind hosts his own show on a local Jewish radio station and is always among the first and loudest officials to speak out on issues seen as affecting the community and instances of discrimination against Jews.

"He really does the Jewish thing very, very effectively," said the insider. "Cross him and he'll call you an anti-Semite and put you in the New York Post. In New York City politics, that's something people are genuinely scared of and he plays it. ... It's like identity politics, mixed with money, mixed with intimidation."

Mr. Hikind's perceived influence in the Orthodox community both inside and outside of his district is especially important given the disproportionate presence of Orthodox voters in city elections. Orthodox voters reportedly make up as much as five percent of the total electorate in the five boroughs. Because of this, many of the major mayoral candidates have been courting Orthodox leaders ahead of the election.

Several of the insiders we spoke with suggested this desire to woo Orthodox voters may have saved Mr. Hikind from more fierce public attacks from the mayoral frontrunners. All three of leading Democratic candidates; Christine Quinn, Bill de Blasio and Bill Thompson, commented on the situation, but none of them sent out a wide press release on the incident. While Ms. Quinn simply said, "Assemblyman Hikind's costume was highly inappropriate and offensive and he should apologize," her rivals took a decidedly softer approach and included praise for Mr. Hikind in their statements on the situation.

"In all the time I've known Dov, I've never found him to be prejudiced against anyone, but clearly he did something very insensitive here," Mr. de Blasio said. "He should apologize."

Mr. Thompson echoed the call for Mr. Hikind to issue an apology while also noting he looks forward to working with the Assemblyman in the future.

"For years, Assemblyman Dov Hikind has played a crucial role in bringing together leaders from the African American, Jewish, and other communities to stand against racism and anti-Semitism," said Mr. Thompson. "Consistent with his record of service and commitment to our diverse city, I believe this incident calls for Assemblyman Hikind to issue an apology. I have stood with Dov on numerous occasions to take on the challenges that face our city. I look forward to doing so again.”

A Democratic operative, who echoed the description of Mr. Hikind being seen as an Orthodox "kingmaker," said both Mr. Thompson and Mr. de Blasio have been "angling for his endorsement" for some time.

"De Blasio has been courting Dov for years. Thompson employed Dov's brother in the comptroller's office," said the operative. "There are deep ties between Bill Thompson, Bill de Blasio and Dov Hikind."

A source close to Mr. Thompson pointed out the candidate has extensive ties to many Orthodox leaders. They also said Mr. Thompson, who did not receive Mr. Hikind's endorsement when he first ran for comptroller, but earned the Assemblyman's backing in his 2009 mayoral bid, had worked with Mr. Hikind in specific instances to diminish the tensions that long existed between the African-American and Jewish communities. Meanwhile, a source close to Mr. de Blasio said that, while the candidate's statement specified he knew Dov not to be a racist, Mr. de Blasio was still firmly calling for him to apologize.

Regardless, Mr. Hikind certainly seemed pleased by the treatment he received from Mr. de Blasio and Mr. Thompson in the aftermath of the costume controversy. He discussed the various political reactions to the incident in an appearance on the Zev Brenner show on local Jewish radio last night.

"A lot of people made statements today and, if you look at them, you can see the difference between many of them," explained Mr. Hikind. "The statements of Bill de Blasio, the statements of Bill Thompson, I mean you can see the difference between those who have worked with me, and know who I am and what I'm all about and those who just have to have a knee jerk reaction."

In that same appearance, Mr. Hikind reiterated his defense of the incident by arguing he meant no offense and his critics misunderstand the nature of the costumed Jewish Purim celebration.

"If I was doing that all over again, I would look at additional alternatives," Mr. Hikind said of his costume. "Maybe I would be a gay person. By the way, would that be OK Zev, if I played a gay person next year?"

By this morning, Mr. Hikind did what many politicians previously called on him to do and issued an unequivocal apology for the incident.

"My intention was never to hurt or make fun of anyone," he wrote in a statement on his website. "Unintentional as they were, I recognize now that the connotations of my Purim costume were deeply offensive to many. I am sincerely sorry that I have hurt anyone. I apologize for the pain that I have caused anyone by this incident, and by any remarks that I have made in connection with it."

Some observers clearly think Mr. Hikind's apparent ability to weather this storm despite taking a ather meandering road to a full mea culpa is a luxury few others could afford. In New York City politics, it's good to be the "kingmaker."

(Updated 1:22 p.m. to clarify Mr. Hikind did not endorse Mr. Thompson's campaign's for comptroller, but did back his '09 mayoral campaign.)

Dov Hikind and his family in their Purim costumes. (Photo: Facebook)

Assemblyman Dov Hikind held a press conference in front of his home this afternoon responding to the uproar over a story that first appeared on Politicker today about his "black basketball player" Purim costume. In front of a small crowd of reporters, Mr. Hikind apologized that people were "offended" and reiterated his initial defense that the getup, which consisted of an orange jersey, brown face paint, an afro wig and sunglasses was merely a costume to celebrate the Jewish Purim holiday. However, even after Mr. Hikind addressed the firestorm, several members of the City Council sent letters to the Assemblyman arguing his apology did not go far enough.

"Anyone who was offended by the outfit that I was wearing on Purim yesterday ... it was not meant to offend anyone or hurt anyone in any fashion," Mr. Hikind began. "That is not what I am all about for the past 31 years in pub office and before that."

Mr. Hikind went on to describe how "hundreds and hundreds of people" came to his home during the fourteen hour party for which he donned the costume yesterday. He said "the whole idea" of the costume was "not to be recognizable."

"Anyone who was offended, I'm sorry that they were offended. That was not the intention and that's really all I can say," continued Mr. Hikind. "I just have to reiterate, it was Purim. Purim is when people get dressed up and try to look different."

The Assemblyman also assured the crowd of reporters gathered in front of his home that his costume "was never about a racial thing."

"If I was black, I might have asked the makeup person who I hire every single year and said, 'Make me look white this year. I want to look differently, I just dont want people to recognize me,'" said Mr. Hikind, referencing his tradition of hiring a makeup artist to help him prepare for the Purim festivites. "It wasn't about white, it wasn't about black, it wasn't about anything like that. So, you know, in hindsight seeing that all of you guys are out here today and this has become a real story, my God, you know I would have picked something else."

Mr. Hikind also discussed rethinking his future Purim costume choices with the New York Times.

“Next year I was thinking I’d be an Indian,” Mr. Hikind said. “But you know, I’ve changed my mind about that. I don’t think that’s a good idea. Somebody will be offended.”

Mr. Hikind's apologies clearly did not satisfy the members of the City Council's Black Latino and Asian Caucus. After the press conference, Councilmen Robert Jackson and Fernando Cabrera, the co-chairs of the 27 member Caucus sent a letter to Mr. Hikind on behalf of the group asking him to make a "true and real public apology" and meet with community leaders.

"We write, as the Black, Latino & Asian Caucus of the New York City Council, to directlyaddress the incident involving your donning of blackface at a party, and your sentimentssuggesting that no offense should be taken," the letter said. "We find it deeply disturbing that, not only didyou make the conscious decision to wear the offensive costume, but your commentsfollowing the media blowback suggest that you have no consideration for the history of  blackface and the trivialization of the black experience in this country."

Councilman Jumaane Williams, who is a member of the BLA Caucus, went a step further and sent another letter to Mr. Hikind co-signed by seven other Council members and Karim Camara, chairman of the minority caucus in the State Assembly. That letter also called for Mr. Hikind to make a "sincere public apology" and meet with community leaders.

"Your costume is offensive to a significant segment of this borough for its connection to the sordid history of blackface in American theater. People associate blackface with offensive African-American stereotypes popularized in minstrel shows and vaudeville, stereotypes such as laziness, stupidity and cowardice. In fact, this same art form negatively depicted other communities, including the bigoted portrayal of Jews as corrupt and conniving," the letter said. Not only have you appeared publicly in blackface, you have offered an initially fierce defense of your actions, declaring on your blog that 'this is political correctness to the absurd.' This is a disconcerting response, especially when we consider that on multiple occasions you have come out to loudly defend the Jewish community against real and perceived indignities."

Dov Hikind and his family in their Purim costumes. (Photo: Facebook)

Assemblyman Karim Camara, chairman of the New York State Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Legislative Caucus, is "deeply shocked and outraged" by his fellow lawmaker Dov Hikind's "black basketball player" Purim costume. In his statement on the costume, Mr. Camara described it as "insensitive," compared it to the "blackface minstrel show" and demanded an apology.

"I am deeply shocked and outraged by the insensitive actions of Assemblyman Hikind, to dress as a black basketball player complete with tanned skin and an Afro wig," Mr. Camara said. "We, as leaders have to be extremely careful that we foster understanding amongst our different cultural groups and not use the images of one as a tool for humor. In speaking with many African Americans both leaders and average citizens, the outrage is widespread."

Mr. Camara compared Mr. Hikind's costume to stereotypical "blackface minstrels" that were once common in this country.

"The history of the blackface minstrel show is something deeply painful in the African American community. It brings back the memories of African Americans being reduced to 'buffoonery' just to gain access to the entertainment industry," he said. "The stereotypes embodied in blackface minstrels have played a significant role in cementing and proliferating racist images, attitudes and perceptions, which are still painful and offensive today."

Mr. Hikind has dismissed the criticism of his costume as "Political Correctness to the Absurd." However, Mr. Camara said, at a minimum, Mr. Hikind should offer an apology to anyone he offended.

"I find the actions of the Assemblyman to be callous and repugnant," said Mr. Camara. "At the very least, an apology should be issued to those who found his portrayal objectionable."

Mr. Camara isn't the only local lawmaker who has spoken out against Mr. Hikind's Purim getup. Councilman David G. Greenfield, who represents the Boro Park neighborhood along with Mr. Hikind, told Gothamist he disagreed with the Assemblyman's defense of the costume.

"He should've known better," Mr. Greenfield said.

Councilman Charles Barron told the Daily News Mr. Hikind's justifications for the outfit were "a bunch of crap."

“It is racist," said Mr. Barron. "He is trying to justify his racism."

Mr. Barron continued by saying Mr. Hikind should have used a different strategy if he wanted an outlandish Purim costume.

"If he wanted to find somebody who [looked] strange, wild and crazy, he should look in the mirror," Mr. Barron said. "He didn’t have to pick on us."

Dov Hikind and his family in their Purim costumes. (Photo: Facebook)

Brooklyn Assemblyman Dov Hikind is standing by his decision to don a Purim costume that some people have described as offensive "blackface." The outfit, which consisted of brown face paint, an afro wig and sunglasses in what Mr. Hikind described as a representation of a "black basketball player"provoked widespread outrage after Politicker first wrote about it this morning. However, in a post on his personal website bluntly titled "It's Purim. People Dress Up," Mr. Hikind argued his critics don't understand the nature of the Purim holiday, a costume and wine-fueled reverie commemorating a time when Jewish people living in Persia were saved from extermination.

"Yes, I wore a costume on Purim and hosted a party," Mr. Hikind wrote. "Most of the people who attended also wore costumes. Everywhere that Purim was being celebrated, people wore costumes. It was Purim. People dress up."

Mr. Hikind went on to say he is not prejudiced against any ethnic group.

"I am intrigued that anyone who understands Purim—or for that matter understands me—would have a problem with this," wrote Mr. Hikind. "This is political correctness to the absurd. There is not a prejudiced bone in my body."

Dov Hikind and his family in their Purim costumes. (Photo: Facebook)

Brooklyn Assemblyman Dov Hikind hosted a massive Purim party at his home yesterday that featured over fourteen hours of food and drink and, as is customary on the Jewish holiday, elaborate costumes. Mr. Hikind said a professional makeup artist came to his home to transform him into a "basketball player" with a costume that consisted of an afro wig, sunglasses, an orange jersey and brown face paint.

"I was just, I think, I was trying to emulate, you know, maybe some of these basketball players. Someone gave me a uniform, someone gave me the hair of the actual, you know, sort of a black basketball player," Mr. Hikind explained. "It was just a lot of fun. Everybody just had a very, very good time and every year I do something else. ... The fun for me is when people come in and don't recognize me." 

The Assemblyman's wife was dressed as a devil and his son was a trippy, yin-yang-faced "angel." Mr. Hikind, a Democrat and power broker in the city's Orthodox Jewish political scene, said he put a sign outside his house in the afternoon letting his neighbors know the door was open and a steady stream of revelers came in to enjoy the festivities throughout the day.

"People just know that we have--we in general have a very open house in terms of the weekend, the Sabbath," said Mr. Hikind. "Friday night, Saturday, we invite a lot of company, we have a lot of guests."

Politicker asked Mr. Hikind whether he was worried his "black basketball player" costume could be seen as offensive blackface. He described the outfit as respectful fun in keeping with Purim traditions.

"I can't imagine anyone getting offended. You know, anyone who knows anything about Purim knows that if you walk throughout the community, whether it's Williamsburg, Boro Park, Flatbush, Forest Hills, Kew Gardens Hills, people get dressed up in, you name it, you know, in every kind of dress-up imaginable," Mr. Hikind said. "Purim, you know, everything goes and it's all done with respect. No one is laughing, no one is mocking. No one walked in today and said, 'Oh my God.' ... It's all just in good fun with respect always, whatever anyone does it's done with tremendous amounts of respect and with dignity, of course."

Mr. Hikind's costume was quite labor intensive. When we spoke to him shortly after midnight, Mr. Hikind said he spent over thirty minutes in the shower trying to remove the makeup and still had more work to do.

"I came out and I wiped my face and I still had stuff on my face. It's going to take me a while," the assemblyman explained. "But it's all worth it, I would do it again in a minute."

Additional reporting by Colin Campbell.

Joe Lazar, left (Photo: Facebook)

Three years after a lopsided loss to David Greenfield in a contentious Brooklyn special election,  Democrat Joe Lazar found out this week he owes more than $200,000 to the Campaign Finance Board. Mr. Lazar's campaign committee Friends of Lazar was fined a grand total of $236,774 and forced to repay all of the public funds it received. The fines are unusually high for a City Council candidate and were revealed when the CFB, which audits all city campaigns, completed their audit of his operation.

"In rare circumstances, the CFB requires candidates to repay all public funds in response to serious violations," said CFB spokesman Matt Sollars.

Mr. Lazar was fined $123,874 for vastly exceeding the CFB's strict spending limit. The limit for the 2010 special election was $168,000 and Mr. Lazar surpassed that by $41,291.33. More notably, Mr. Lazar was also fined an additional $20,000 for failing to report expenditures Assemblyman Dov Hikind, a Lazar ally, made through his own campaign committee and his political club, the United New York Democratic Club, on Mr. Lazar's behalf.

According to the audit, Mr. Lazar's deputy campaign manager received payments from both the campaign and United NY, the campaign shared space within United NY's office and Mr. Hikind's campaign committee, political club and the Lazar campaign had "overlapping financial relationships" throughout the special election. Paid, coordinated campaign activities between a campaign and an outside entity must be reported as an in-kind contribution, according to campaign finance law.

It was first reported in 2011 that Mr. Hikind had directed up to $30,000 from his campaign account toward Mr. Lazar. The 2010 open race for the Boro Park, Bensonhurst and Midwood seat was to replace Simcha Felder, who at the time had stepped down to become a deputy comptroller. Mr. Felder is now a State Senator representing the area.

A call to Mr. Lazar's campaign committee went unanswered.

"Shames on Brooklyn College Support of Jew-Hatred"

The Israel-Palestine conflict once again reached New York's political scene today as elected officials and other activists gathered to denounce Brooklyn College's political science department for their controversial decision to sponsor a February forum calling for boycotts, divestment and sanctions against Israel.  To say the press conference was heated would be an understatement as it was chocked full of charged rhetoric including multiple references to anti-Semitism, the Holocaust and al-Qaeda.

"Let me tell you, it brings back a lot of memories," Assemblyman Dov Hikind, the emcee of today's denunciation, began. "I studied here towards my B.A. and got my Master's at Brooklyn College, a lot of very fond memories. I stand here very, very disappointed, ... students and the organization [are] holding a lecture next week with two viciously, viciously, anti-Israel [speakers]. And when I say 'viciously,' I mean they call for the destruction of the state of Israel. They think Hamas and Hezbollah are good organizations. I would assume they feel the same way about al-Qaeda. These are individuals who are extreme radicals."

Mr. Hikind and his fellow elected officials were not calling for the forum itself to be canceled, however. Their issue was the school, which is part of the publicly-funded City University of New York system, sponsoring the event. Though college representatives have denied the school's sponsorship indicates an endorsement of the forum's views, that argument was not accepted by the various officials at today's rally.

Councilman David Greenfield, labeling the forum as part of a "hate-filled, antisemitic, pro-terrorist movement," even brought out his dictionary to counter the college's defense of the forum.

"This is the United States of America, if you want to be a racist, if you want to be an anti-Semite and even if you want to speak out in favor of terrorism, we respect that you have the right to do that. Of course, you're wrong, but you have the right to do that and should have the right to do that on a college campus," Mr. Greenfield explained. "The problem is--and this is what's oh-so-very-offensive to me--is when the administration turns around and says, 'Well, we're not endorsing these views, we're simply sponsoring the event.' I mean, it's a little bit shocking, honestly. ... The word 'sponsorship' according to the dictionary means 'one who who vouches or is responsible for another thing.' So it really is intellectually dishonest."

Others at the event invoked Nazi Germany and the Klan as they attacked Brooklyn College for its sponsorship of the forum.

"As a child of Holocaust survivors, I will not remain silent," Assemblyman Steve Cymbrowitz declared.

"If David Duke were here, I'm sure President Gould would be outside protesting as well. This is not just an academic exercise on the part of the political science trying to teach some political science," Assemblyman Alan Maisel added. "The destruction of Israel has real consequences. That would mean that the millions of people living in Israel would not have a state. It means that it would be open house on all of the people who live there. We are talking about the potential of a second Holocaust."

Today's event also drew a leading mayoral candidate, former Comptroller Bill Thompson, who described the upcoming event at the college as a "forum of hate."

"We all stand here in support of free speech. We believe in being able to express your opinion. We believe in students being able to express their opinions. We believe in different points of view," Mr. Thompson announced. "It's what makes this country so great. You can express your opinion. So let me express an opinion against that. This organization is one that expresses hate, that expresses opposition to Israel. I have the right to stand here, and oppose that organization. ... You have the right to express an opinion just like we do. But you do not have have a right, and should not put, the name of Brooklyn College, the name of the political science department, on that forum of hate."

Speaking on behalf of the school about today's press conference, Brooklyn College spokesman Jeremy Thompson dismissed the controversy over the forum as simply different groups expressing opposing views.

"As far as the press conference being held, my only comment is, just like we stand behind our students and faculty who have a right to present views and discuss topics they see as important, so do the assemblymen," Mr. Thompson told Politicker when reached for comment. "They are well within their right to voice their views, just as everyone in our college community is."

Despite all of the angry rhetoric, Mr. Hikind wrapped up the event by suggesting the officials in attendance could have been much harsher in their condemnation of Brooklyn College.

"You've heard the calmest presentation today [from] people who care deeply about Israel. They're not calling here to cancel the event. That's not what they're saying! Boy! How calm and reasonable is that?" the assemblyman exclaimed as he made his final points. "It should not be sponsored by the university itself because that means my dollars are paying for that event and I'm not interested in paying for hate. ... They're giving the seal of approval, they're making it kosher. It's not a kosher event."

Additional reporting by Ross Barkan.

(Photo: Getty)

Assemblyman Dov Hikind is not in the least bit pleased about President Barack Obama nominating former Senator Chuck Hagel to be his new Secretary of Defense.

Mr. Hikind, a prominent pol in Brooklyn's Orthodox Jewish community and a Democrat known for breaking with his own party, is incensed over what he feels is Mr. Hagel's insufficient support for Israel and a controversial comment he once made referring to the "Jewish lobby."

“Hagel’s policy positions have been anti-Israel and pro-Iranian," Mr. Hikind declared in a press release blasted out earlier this afternoon that compared Mr. Hagel with Neville Chamberlain, the former British Prime Minister famous for appeasing Adolf Hitler before World War Two. "His lack of tact and openly anti-Semitic statements about a ‘Jewish’ lobby and ‘not being a Senator of Israel’ expose his gut feelings about Jewish-Americans, while his conciliatory position regarding Iran allows that terrorist state to get closer to its ability to manufacture and deliver nuclear weapons. This sounds like Neville Chamberlain all over again. But the truth is we will not achieve peace in our time by denying the Iranian government’s desire to destroy the only democratic state—and our only true ally—in the middle east."

Mr. Hikind also took aim at Mr. Hagel's supporters, sharply lashing out at the the National Jewish Democratic Council for supporting the  nomination.

“The NJDC’s statement made me sick to my stomach,” Mr. Hikind said. “It’s a spineless position for an informed Jewish group to assume. The message is ‘we are Democrats before we are anything.’ That’s disgusting! The NJDC should be charged with fraud. After tracking and publishing Hagel’s numerous pro-Iran, anti-Israel statements and policy positions, the members of the NJDC know the real score. Their new declaration that Hagel will ‘follow the President’s lead of providing unrivaled support for Israel and lead the world against Iran’s nuclear program’ is deceitful, dishonest and dangerous!"

While Mr. Hikind obviously has no say in whether Mr. Hagel will make it through the Senate, his comments echo the case Republicans are making against the nomination. Whether or not those  arguments will be enough to sink Mr. Hagel's fortunes remains to be seen.