Israel advocates have combined to oppose a distinguished nominee from becoming Ambassador to Brazil because of comments she had made over two decades ago about the lobby for Israel.

Democratic Senators Cardin and Menendez initiated the attack on longtime diplomat and Democratic donor Elizabeth Frawley Bagley, then Republicans finished it off.

The full Senate could theoretically still confirm Bagley to the important post, but either way, the message has been delivered: Don’t mention facts about the Israel lobby that its members dislike, or they’ll mobilize their ‘nonexistent’ power against you…