Big deal: 11 Dem Reps, 1 Dem Senator to skip Netanyahu speech
The Hill reports that 11 Democratic Representatives and one Democratic Senator plan to boycott Prime Minister Netanyahu's address to a joint session of Congress in March. Here's the list:
House (11)
Rep. Earl Blumenauer (Ore.) — Wrote a Jan. 29 column in The Huffington Post explaining his decision, saying the Constitution “vests the responsibility for foreign affairs in the president.”
Rep. G.K. Butterfield (N.C.) — The head of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) in a statement focuses on Boehner undermining Obama; also emphasizes he's not urging a boycott.
Rep. James Clyburn (S.C.) — Clyburn is the highest-ranking Democratic leader to say he’ll skip the speech.
Rep. Raúl Grijalva (Ariz.) — Grijalva is the head of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC).
Rep. Luis Gutierrez (Ill.) — A spokesman told the Chicago Sun-Times Gutierrez has a "strong" record on Israel, but called the speech "a stunt."
Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Texas) — "The Congresswoman has no plans to attend the speech at this time," a spokeswoman said.
Rep. Barbara Lee (Calif.) — A member of the Congressional Black Caucus and former head of the CPC.
Rep. John Lewis (Ga.) — His office confirmed he’s not going, but emphasizes he's not organizing a formal boycott
Rep. Jim McDermott (Wash.) — “I do not intend to attend the speech of Bibi,” he said in an email to a Seattle newspaper.
Rep. Gregory Meeks (N.Y.) — Another CBC member skipping the speech.
Rep. Charles Rangel (N.Y.)
Senate (1)
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) — Sanders said it’s “wrong” that Obama wasn’t consulted about the speech.I counted at least four members of the Congressional Black Caucus - no surprises there. In the meantime, a much longer list of Dems plans to attend. And Keith Ellison (D-Mn), the first Muslim in Congress, is undecided!
Read the whole thing.
Labels: Barack Hussein Obama, Binyamin Netanyahu, John Boehner, joint session of Congress
posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 1:15 AM
2 Comments:
Actually there are 7 on your list, Carl. Plus there's John Lewis. Maxine Waters and Keith Ellison; I would also expect Andre Carson (another Muslim Democrat) to boycott as well.
Obama reportedly 'suggested' that the entire Democrats only BCC boycott Bibi's speech.
None of these people, btw have pro-Israel voting records..including Butterfield.
Watching Jewish democrats get physically assaulted by other democrats at the 2016 convention will be fairly entertaining. It won't change their love of being abused but it will be entertaining.
Post a Comment
<< Home