Posted on 03/02/2015 5:03:00 AM PST by LeoMcNeil
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to speak before Congress this week about the situation in Iran. The Obama administration has loudly opposed the speech, believing it undermines their position in Iran. On some level the Obama administration has an argument. Foreign policy is the domain of the executive branch under the Constitution. It is not a matter that really involves Congress, particularly the House which does not vote on treaties or foreign appointments. Those on the right are more than willing to watch the Obama administration fall apart over this issue. The larger question, which will go unanswered, is whether we on the right really want foreign leaders coming to our Congress to lecture us about what our foreign policy should be. If not, why does Netanyahu get a pass?
Part of the reason Netanyahu gets a pass is because Obama is so clearly wrong about Iran. The President is practically to the point where he’s ready to announce a historic agreement with the Iranians. No doubt Iran will ignore the agreement and continue their nuclear program. Secretary of State John Kerry claims that the administration has earned the benefit of the doubt over Iran. After six years of Obama failures abroad, this President has earned the benefit of the doubt anywhere much less Iran. His deal with Iran is nothing more than another red line just begging to be crossed.
The riff between Obama and Netanyahu is so great that at least according to one paper the President threatened to shoot down Israeli planes if they tried to take out Iran’s nuclear facilities. If this is accurate Obama isn’t an ally of Israel at all. On some level it’s too bad this did not happen. Most Americans support Israel, in fact it’s only the radical left that opposes the Israelis. Obama would have faced a massive political backlash here in the US. He certainly wouldn’t have found support for a war against Israel. It’s telling though that Obama is willing to go this far to protect his legacy. Keep in mind, Obama has been promising a deal with Iran since his 2008 campaign. He’s getting close to a deal and the only thing that stands in his way are those pesky Jews.
Anti-Semitic is on the rise here in the United States, almost exclusively among progressives. Obama has been influenced by the Muslim Brotherhood and other leftists who favor revolution in Islamic countries. In typical progressive manner, his contact with those who disagree with him is limited. He pushes Republicans and Israel away, limiting contact as much as possible. As such, he’s insulated from their views and relies on the caricature of them created by the progressives he’s surrounded by. Academics and northeastern liberals do this all the time, they have no idea what their political opponents actually believe they only believe the slanderous caricature of them created by those of like opinion. Obama has done this with Israel to the point that he’s favoring their enemies and treating a long time ally as though it is the enemy of the United States. He’s doing this, in part, because he’s intellectually lazy just like the other anti-Semitic progressives.
Ultimately Netanyahu’s speech isn’t going to change much. Republican supporters will cheer wildly and vow to continue sanctions against Iran. Democrat supporters will cheer less enthusiastically for fear of reprisals from Obama supporting progressives. Opponents won’t even show up and if they do they’ll sit in stoney silence or if we’re particularly lucky they’ll put on some ridiculous display of opposition that we can laugh about later. At this point sanctions against Iran are still in place, in theory the President cannot unilaterally remove them. Republicans probably don’t have the 2/3 majority needed to override a veto to impose additional sanctions. Even if they did, this President has never been one to live by the rule of law. This speech is just a big dog and pony show. While Netanyahu takes the right position on Iran I keep coming back to the same nagging question. Should a foreign leader lecture our Congress? This is the only issue that makes me uncomfortable about the Netanyahu speech, otherwise it’s Obama threatening war with Israel that is cause for concern.
Leaders lead. They speak out when it’s necessary. They don’t wait for approval from the likes of Obama.
Why not, they are continuously lectured by foreign leaders like Barack obama
I’m sure Congress is tired of being lectured by Reid, McConnell, Boner, Pelosi and Bammy. Time to try something new.
Foreign policy is the domain of the executive branch under the Constitution.
And making law is under the Legislative branch under the Constitution.
ENFORCING the law is under the Executive branch but he choses NOT to enforce it.
Aw, you beat me to it!
He won’t be “lecturing” anybody.
He will be presenting Israel’s case for security and survival.
If we’re to start limiting speeches before congress, I suggest we start by banning the lies and pandering by Obama.
Why does he call it “lecture” here in a clearly negative way.? He is speaking to Congress.
+ 1
The Speaker of the House is 2nd in line to the presidency.
The House initiates all fiscal bills.
The House shares the responsibility to declare War.
-PJ
Yes these a-holes that run this USofA quagmire need a lecture and maybe are short a few from earlier in life
Under the Constitution, the executive and legislative branches share responsibility for making and implementing important foreign-policy decisions. Congress has a critical role to play in scrutinizing the decisions of the president when these decisions involve national security, relationships with allies and the threat of nuclear proliferation.
Congress has every right to invite, even over the president’s strong objection, any world leader or international expert who can assist its members in formulating appropriate responses to the current deal being considered with Iran regarding its nuclear-weapons program. Indeed, it is the responsibility of every member of Congress to listen to Prime Minister Netanyahu, who probably knows more about this issue than any world leader, because it threatens the very existence of the nation state of the Jewish people.
It is Congress' job to hear the voice of our only true friend and ally in the Middle East if the potus won't do it.
You are very right. Sometimes I think in the end the House is the most powerful branch, because of $$$.
Should be anti-Semitism, not anti-Semitic.
Since Obama has been President, the following foreign leaders have lectured Congress:
Petro Poroshenko, President of Ukraine
Lee Myung-bak, President of Republic of Korea
Binyamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel
Julia Gillard, Prime Minister of Australia
Felipe Calderón Hinojosa, President of Mexico
Dr. Angela Merkel, Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany
Gordon Brown, Prime Minster of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Ultimately Netanyahu’s speech isn’t going to change much.
What if he calls out Obama as a nincompoop in plain language?
I think there is a reason Obama really wants to muzzle him.
Why not, they are continuously lectured by foreign leadersdictators like Barack Obama.
“Leaders lead. They speak out when it’s necessary. They don’t wait for approval from the likes of Obama.”
Which is why I tend to doubt the threats alleged to obozo with respect to shooting down Israeli planes. Bibi would have gone right ahead and A. Obviated the Iran threat and B. Let obozo hang himself.
Why not, we have a foreign leader running the White House now.
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