Posted on 02/05/2015 5:09:56 AM PST by cotton1706
WASHINGTON (CNN) —Several influential senior Democratic senators said Wednesday they and other senators are considering boycotting an upcoming speech to Congress by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to protest the decision by House Republicans to disregard protocol and invite the foreign leader without the involvement of the White House.
The White House has a standing policy of avoiding the appearance of favoritism by not visiting with foreign dignitaries when an election in their country is imminent. Netanyahu's speech comes just days before an Israeli election.
"Colleagues of mine are very concerned about it and I'm troubled by it. I won't name names, of course," said Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Illinois, the No. 2 Senate Democrat who is also a close ally of President Barack Obama. "It's a serious mistake by the speaker and the prime minister. The relationship between Israel and the United States has been so strong, so bipartisan."
Durbin said he hasn't decided whether to attend the March 3 speech to a joint meeting of Congress. In his address, Netanyahu is expected to criticize the controversial negotiations the Obama administration is spearheading with Iran aimed at curbing Iran's nuclear program. Those talks face a critical deadline at the end of March.
"One of my closest friends -- one of the strongest supporters of Israel -- described this Boehner tactic as a disaster, a terrible disaster for Israel," Durbin said, referring to Republican House Speaker John Boehner who invited Netanyahu. "I won't speak for any other members but they've been talking to me about what is the right way to react to what could turn out to be a divisive event."
(Excerpt) Read more at wcvb.com ...
“Yeah its ok. We’ll fill ya in on what happened”
Each time Durbin speaks, an IQ point falls out of his mouth.
No, you scumbag Durbin, you only name names when it's our military.
Well, now that we know Obama and probably most of the dems are funding Netanyahu’s opposition, we are fully aware of just how hypocritical that would look, so they might as well stay home. Let’s pray it is broadcast nationally. The people should see that the Obama admin has deserted Israel.
We all know that the Dims when they ran the place ALWAYS kept the Republicans in the loop, didn’t they?
THE DEMOCRATS ARE PLAYING POLITICS WITH THE SPEECH BY NETANYAHU!! Do you suppose we will hear that in Big Media?? Nah, I don’t think so either.
“The White House has a standing policy of avoiding the appearance of favoritism”
Biggest laugh line of the piece.
If the Dems boycott I see a whole slew of negative campaign commercials for 2016.
I call BS! They are pissed at Bibi and are afraid to admit the truth. Everything that spews forth from a demonrats mouth is a lie.
So that’s their spin for today, eh?
The very best thing the Republicans can do in this case is to insure that the speech *and the audience* are thoroughly video recorded, put on DVD, and a bunch of copies mailed to both Israeli and American Jews.
It would be bad for the Democrats if they just sit there, sullenly, and even worse if they boycott.
Likewise, conservative columnists and bloggers should do the “Speech of the century” bit with it.
Hope against hope that radicals, like Code Pink leftist types and Muslims, try to disrupt the speech and are caught on camera.
Nope we will play by your rules. It’s because you are racist, racist, racist and Jewaphobes! Take that. neener neener
So, is anyone going to address how Netanyahu can travel to the US without the State Department signing off on it? Thus, allowing the Admin to know about it? Or would that f’up some NARRATIVE and OPTICS that someone is trying to portray?
With friends like Durbin and Durbin's friends, Israel is better off having a 1000 enemies like Iran. And for that matter, so would the United States be.
Since when does the White House ever ask the senate or congress about who they invite to speak? I thought this was (note “was”) a democracy.
Britain’s general election is May 7. If I understand correctly, David Cameron is up for reelection. Didn’t he hold a joint press conference with Obama on January 15?
Is this the, “we don’t to candidates this close to an election Obama was talking about?”
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