DON'T DISRESPECT OUR PRESIDENT, Black Lawmakers Tell Netanyahu

[Segami]

The CBC leader said Boehner is as much or more responsible for the slight as is the Israeli leader. “I don’t hold Netanyahu responsible,” Butterfield said. “I hold Speaker Boehner responsible, but I would hope that Mr. Netanyahu would not want to get involved. I personally think it is disrespectful.”

The audience for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech to Congress on March 3 is shaping up to be largely Republican — and almost completely white. Many members of the Congressional Black Caucus say they’re planning to skip the speech, calling it a slight to President Barack Obama that they can’t and won’t support. Israeli officials have been taken by surprise by the CBC backlash, kicked off by Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.), a civil rights leader who said last week he won’t attend, quickly followed by Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.) and others. As a result, they’re working to set up a meeting for CBC members with Ambassador Ron Dermer — or even Netanyahu himself when he’s in Washington.

“..To me, it is somewhat of an insult to the president of the United States,” said Rep. Greg Meeks (D-N.Y.), leaving the White House on Tuesday after a long meeting with Obama and Vice President Joe Biden, who also will miss the speech. “Barack Obama is my president. He’s the nation’s president, and it is clear, therefore, that I’m not going to be there, as a result of that, not as a result of the good people of Israel...”

Netanyahu’s speech to Congress, scheduled just two weeks before Israeli national elections, is aimed at stopping a deal with Iran over its nuclear weapons program — a diplomatic opening Obama administration officials believe could reintegrate Iran into the international community and enhance Israel’s security. Netanyahu, however, feels the United States and its international partners are being naive about Iran’s true intent. “I’m determined to speak before Congress to stop Iran,” Netanyahu tweeted on Tuesday. Democrats across Capitol Hill have been increasingly vocal about their opposition to the speech, criticizing the prime minister and House Speaker John Boehner for making them choose between their support for their president and support for Israel. Announcements that Democrats plan to sit out the speech have trickled in for days.

But the CBC reaction has been particularly potent, striking at the political alliance between Jews and African-Americans that dates to the civil rights movement but has grown more fraught over the years. Often Obama’s strongest defenders against political attacks, black members say they’re outraged that a foreign leader would try to intervene in the U.S. political process. “It’s not just about disrespect for the president, it’s disrespect for the American people and our system of government for a foreign leader to insert himself into a issue that our policymakers are grappling with,” said Rep. Hank Johnson (D-Ga.). “It’s not simply about President Obama being a black man disrespected by a foreign leader. It’s deeper than that.” CBC chairman Rep. G.K. Butterfield (D-N.C.) told reporters that the speech didn’t come up as a topic in the 90 minutes they spent with Obama in the Cabinet Room. But he, like Meeks, Johnson and many of his members, is not planning to go to Netanyahu’s speech.





cont'


http://www.politico.com/story/2015/02/benjamin-netanyahu-congressional-black-caucus-115103.html

[bravenak]

1. Love the CBC.nt

[Cha]

6. +1!

[guillaumeb]

2. Republicans have been race-baiting and

disrespecting the President since inauguration day. Why would they stop now? At least they are consistent in their race hatred of everyone who is not white and of European descent.

Has Congress passed a bill yet to legislatively declare that:
WHEREAS conservative Republicans are necessary components of the Republican war on the working class, the Congress hereby declares that:
Louisiana Governor Piush "call me Bobby because it sound white " Jindal
and South Carolina Governor Nimrata "call me Nikki because it sounds white too" Haley
are actually white people and it is good to vote for them.

Or are non-white Republicans better than non-white Democrats?

[Cha]

7. Exactly, guillaumeb.. from day one.

[zentrum]

10. Yes they have. Day One.

It's been both shocking and then, not shocking at all.

[Journeyman]

3. I don't see it as an insult so much to the President as it is an affront to the People of the U.S. …

By what leave does any foreign dignitary use our government to advocate for changes in our policies? There are many avenues available to him to petition this government, to present his beliefs and make his case. But nothing in international law gives him or Boehner the right to sidestep the State Department or the Executive and appeal directly to the People. We have established our form of government and assigned its various bodies specific functions. Why else would we do this other than because it is the proper way we wish to do business with everyone?

Boehner's engaging in bad politics. Netanyahu's showing bad form. Both are insulting We, the People.

[sabrina 1]

4. It was an insult to the entire country, the president represents this country. And clearly Bibi and

and his co-conspirators don't think the American People are smart enough to bother about. He thinks his needs are what OUR Congress are there for, not OURS.

No doubt he views the American People as pretty stupid.

Perhaps it's time to flood that embassy with calls from the American people to let them know, you mess with our National Security as represented by our President, you're going to hear from the American people.

[Aerows]

8. +100000

Insulting our President is insulting our nation. I don't know who Netanyahu thinks he is, but he isn't the President of the United States.

[MyOwnPeace]

9. You know,

I would be MOST willing to call and bitc* (rhymes with rich ((think Koch)).
Could we have a number for the embassy?

[merrily]

12. Sure, but googling it would have taken you less time than asking another poster for it.

https://www.google.com/search?q=WAshington+DC+number+for+Israeli+Embassy&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8

[sabrina 1]

14. Sure: Israeli Embassy Phone #: [phone]

I had already posted it before, in this OP: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026191033

Calling members of Congress appears to be working, so that might help also.

[merrily]

11. +1

[Cha]

5. WOW! How the heck did you find that one.. it's perfect! It is Of Course most definitely an Insult

that boner and bibi cooked up.. Thank GoodNess for the CBC saying this.

“It’s not just about disrespect for the president, it’s disrespect for the American people and our system of government for a foreign leader to insert himself into a issue that our policymakers are grappling with,” said Rep. Hank Johnson (D-Ga)

Mahalo Segami~

[Segami]

13. Its Bibi's self-serving arrogance thats incredible.

With the obvious snub coming from President Obama and VP Biden along with all the neg bad press coupled with Democratic criticism and speech boycotts, Bibi doesn't give a hoot and is definitely holding up the bird to all Americans. He is conducting himself as if Congress is HIS domain to schedule and operate as he chooses.

It really is mind-blowing when you consider reversing the situation and President Obama conducting himself likewise in Israel. Its simply unbelievable!

[Cha]

15. Really! It is mindblowing.. good point.. if Pres Obama inserted himself into a foreign land and

dissed the President of Prime Minister of said country.

Leave it to the arrogance of boner and bibi to perpetrate such a fubar. Hope this boomerangs back on both of them.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

16. Maybe they should attend and turn their backs.

Right wingers were for it before.

[Segami]

17. How about a Wilson 'in-sync' collective

"YOU LIE" shoutout from sitting Democrats as Bibi talks........I'm sure reTHUGS are quite comfy with such rude antics from members.....