WASHINGTON D.C (VINnews)-Democratic strategists David Axelrod and Van Jones clashed over the role of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee in the Michigan U.S. Senate race, debating whether the group’s multimillion-dollar involvement constitutes foreign influence or legitimate advocacy by American citizens.

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Axelrod questioned the propriety of large outside spending in the contest. “It’s a legitimate question,” he said. “Should essentially an agent of any foreign government, whether it’s Israel or any other, be able to spend … $30 million in a race like this to influence the outcome of that race?”

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Jones rejected the characterization of AIPAC as a foreign agent. “I don’t think that they’re an agent of a foreign power. I think they’re American Jews,” he replied. “Their issue is to protect Israel.”

Jones argued that the group’s opposition stemmed from the candidate’s positions on military aid. “Why is AIPAC so mad? This guy is saying that the U.S. government can’t even sell defensive weapons to Israel, which would make Israel completely defenseless. Now that would be a reason for a group of people who cares about Israelis to say this is not our guy.”