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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsSenate GOP pushes pro-Netanyahu resolution
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/senate-gop-pushes-pro-netanyahu-resolution?cid=sm_fb_maddowSenate GOP pushes pro-Netanyahu resolution
02/13/15 11:32 AMUpdated 02/13/15 02:13 PM
By Steve Benen
If congressional Republican wanted to make the ongoing controversy surrounding Benjamin Netanyahu even more of a partisan food fight, this is clearly the way to do exactly that.
Senate Republicans on Thursday moved to officially welcome Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the U.S. ahead of his planned speech to Congress next month, the latest development in a saga that has roiled politics in both countries.
Almost all GOP senators were listed as co-sponsors of a resolution by Sen. John Cornyn (R., Texas) saying the Senate eagerly awaits the address of Prime Minister Netanyahu before a joint session of the United States Congress and reaffirms the U.S. commitment to standby Israel in times of uncertainty.
During this time of such great instability and danger in the Middle East, the United States should be unequivocal about our commitment to one of our closest and most important allies, Mr. Cornyn said in a statement.
Almost all GOP senators were listed as co-sponsors of a resolution by Sen. John Cornyn (R., Texas) saying the Senate eagerly awaits the address of Prime Minister Netanyahu before a joint session of the United States Congress and reaffirms the U.S. commitment to standby Israel in times of uncertainty.
During this time of such great instability and danger in the Middle East, the United States should be unequivocal about our commitment to one of our closest and most important allies, Mr. Cornyn said in a statement.
How subtle.
If Cornyn is expecting unanimous support for his resolution, hes likely to be disappointed. As of last night, 22 congressional Democrats 19 in the House and three in the Senate have announced they will not attend the Israeli prime ministers scheduled speech on March 3, and that number continues to steadily grow.
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), meanwhile, argued yesterday Democrats will send an unwelcome signal to the terrorists in all parts of the world if they stay away from Netanyahus speech, adding just a little toxicity to an already depressing debate. (Its been a while since the far-right rolled out a if Democrats do _____ the terrorists win argument, but some demagoguery apparently never goes out of style.)
Ive seen some suggestions this week that Netanyahu, as the Israeli prime minister, is somehow a de facto spokesperson for Jewish people everywhere, so to question the unhealthy and unprecedented Netanyahu/GOP partnership is to snub all Jews. The argument is plainly silly President Obama has received more votes from Jewish voters than Netanyahu has and its of interest that several of the prominent congressional Democrats whove announced theyll skip the event are themselves Jewish.
That includes, by the way, an eloquent statement from Rep. John Yarmuth (D-Ky.), who is Jewish, and who announced yesterday that he will not attend the joint-session speech. Whats more, of the three U.S. senators whove balked at the GOP/Netanyahu scheme, two are Jewish.
Also this week, former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright told msnbcs Andrea Mitchell that Netanyahu is interfering in our internal affairs in inappropriate way.
The Congressional Black Caucus and the Congressional Progressive Caucus are urging House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) to reconsider his plan, but by all appearances, GOP leaders care as much as about Democratic concerns as they do for U.S. protocol which is to say, not at all.
As for the event itself, J Streets Dylan Williams said this week that Capitol Hill staffers will reportedly sit in seats left empty by Democrats to ensure good visuals and standing ovations.
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Senate GOP pushes pro-Netanyahu resolution (Original Post)
babylonsister
Feb 2015
OP
still_one
(92,325 posts)1. so obviously like Netanyahu they believe it is ok to influence another countries elections, in this
case Israel.