AL FRANKEN JOINS 53 Other Democrats Who Have Announced THEY WILL SKIP Netanyahu Speech

[Segami]

Last edited Tue Mar 3, 2015, 06:01 AM - Edit history (2)

Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) has joined eleven more Democrats in announcing that they won’t be attending Netanyahu’s speech to Congress. The total of Democrats who are not attending the speech has jumped to 53. In a statement, Sen. Franken said, “This has unfortunately become a partisan spectacle, both because of the impending Israeli election and because it was done without consulting the Administration. I’d be uncomfortable being part of an event that I don’t believe should be happening. I’m confident that, once this episode is over, we can reaffirm our strong tradition of bipartisan support for Israel.”


~snip~

There are still dozens of House and Senate Democrats who have not made up their minds about attending the speech. If your member of Congress or Senators is not on the list below there is still time to contact them and express your position. Netanyahu’s speech has become a partisan affair, as the attempt to disrespect the president has backfired on both Boehner and Netanyahu as Democrats are staying away by the dozens.


Here is the fully updated list via The Hill of those who will not be attending:(UPDATED)

SKIPPING


House (47)

Rep. Karen Bass (Calif.) — In a statement, Bass said that she would be in Los Angeles for a city council election. “My support for a strong U.S.-Israel relationship has been consistent during my entire time in elected office, and that support will only continue in the years to come. Support for Israel has traditionally been a non-partisan issue, and I want it to remain so,” she said. "Unfortunately, Speaker Boehner mishandled inviting Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to speak to Congress. Prime Minister Netanyahu’s speech is now marred with controversy. Prime Minister Netanyahu has been provided with other options to talk with members of Congress, but he has turned them down to do the public speech. It is truly sad that Speaker Boehner and Prime Minister Netanyahu have chosen to play partisan and divisive politics.”

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. Corrine Brown (Fla.)

Rep. G.K. Butterfield (N.C.) — The head of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) focused on Boehner undermining Obama in a statement and emphasized he's not urging a boycott.

Rep. Lois Capps (Calif.) — Told constituent in a letter posted to Facebook that she is skipping the speech.

Rep. Andre Carson (Ind.)

Rep. Katherine Clark (Mass.)

Rep. Lacy Clay (Mo.) will skip the speech, his office confirmed Monday.

Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (Mo.) will not attend, though he emphasized that he almost never attends the joint-session speeches.

Rep. James Clyburn (S.C.) — Clyburn is the highest-ranking Democratic leader to say he’ll skip the speech.

Rep. Steve Cohen (Tenn.) — “After deliberation, I have decided I cannot in good conscience attend the Prime Minister’s speech. My decision not to attend is not a reflection of my support for Israel and its continued existence as a state and home for the Jewish people. I have always strongly supported Israel and I always will,” said Cohen in a statement.

Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.) — "As a fierce supporter of Israel, I am disappointed in Speaker Boehner's efforts to drag Prime Minister Netanyahu into the GOP's endless efforts to undermine President Obama," she said in a statement.

Rep. John Conyers (Mich.)

Rep. Danny Davis (Ill.) will skip the speech, his office confirmed Monday.

Rep. Peter DeFazio (Ore.)

Rep. Diana DeGette (Colo.)

Rep. Lloyd Doggett (Texas) — "A partisan approach with our critical ally, Israel, is a grave mistake," he said in a statement.

Rep. Donna Edwards (Md.)

Rep. Keith Ellison (Minn.) — He is head of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC), a member of the CBC and the first Muslim in Congress.

Rep. Chaka Fattah (Pa.)

Rep. Marcia Fudge (Ohio)

Rep. Raúl Grijalva (Ariz.) — Grijalva is a co-chairman of the CPC.

Rep. Luis Gutiérrez (Ill.) — A spokesman told the Chicago Sun-Times that Gutierrez has a "strong" record on Israel but called the speech "a stunt."

Rep. Denny Heck (Wash.)

Rep. Ruben Hinojosa (Texas)

Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (Texas) — "The Congresswoman has no plans to attend the speech at this time," a spokeswoman said.

Rep. Marcy Kaptur (Ohio)

Rep. Rick Larsen (Wash.)

Rep. Barbara Lee (Calif.) — A member of the CBC and former head of the CPC.

Rep. John Lewis (Ga.) — His office confirmed he’s not going but emphasized he's not organizing a formal boycott

Rep. Zoe Lofgren (Calif.) — “I am disappointed Speaker Boehner chose to irresponsibly interject politics into what has long been a strong and bipartisan relationship between the United States and Israel. As President Obama has noted, it is inappropriate for a Head of State to address Congress just two weeks ahead of their election. I agree that Congress should not be used as a prop in Israeli election campaigns, so I intend to watch the speech on TV in my office.”

Rep. Betty McCollum (Minn.): "In my view Mr. Netanyahu’s speech before Congress is nothing more than a campaign event hosted by Speaker Boehner and paid for by the American people," McCollum said in a statement."

Rep. Jim McDermott (Wash.) — “I do not intend to attend the speech of Bibi,” he said in an email to a Seattle newspaper.

Reps. Jim McGovern (Mass.) — Told MassLive.com the “timing and circumstances of this speech are deeply troubling.”

Rep. Jerry McNerney (Calif.) — “Rep. McNerney is not planning to attend the speech. He’s got several previously planned commitments for that day.”

Rep. Gregory Meeks (N.Y.) — A CBC member.

Rep. Gwen Moore (Wis.)

Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D.C.)

Rep. Beto O'Rourke (Texas)

Rep. Chellie Pingree (Maine)

Rep. David Price (N.C.) — "Speaker Boehner should never have extended the invitation, given the proximity of the speech to Israel's national elections and the fact that delicate international negotiations, which the Prime Minister wishes to upend, are hanging in the balance.”

Rep. Charles Rangel (N.Y.) — "I'm offended as an American," he said on MSNBC.

Rep. Cedric Richmond (La.)

Rep. Jan Schakowsky (Ill.): Said she won’t attend but is “anguished” that Boehner’s invitation could weaken support for Israel in Congress.

Rep. Bennie Thompson (Miss.)

Rep. Mike Thompson (Calif.)

Rep. John Yarmuth (Ky.) — "We know what he is going to say," the Jewish lawmaker said in a statement.



Senate (8)

Sen. Al Franken (Minn.) — “This has unfortunately become a partisan spectacle, both because of the impending Israeli election and because it was done without consulting the Administration,” said Sen. Franken in a statement. “I’d be uncomfortable being part of an event that I don’t believe should be happening. I’m confident that, once this episode is over, we can reaffirm our strong tradition of bipartisan support for Israel.”

Sen. Tim Kaine (Va.) — “There is no reason to schedule this speech before Israeli voters go to the polls on March 17 and choose their own leadership," Kasine said in a statement.

Sen. Patrick Leahy (Vt.) — Leahy called it a "tawdry and high-handed stunt," according to a Vermont newspaper.

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) — Sanders, who caucuses with Democrats, said it’s “wrong” that Obama wasn’t consulted about the speech.

Sen. Brian Schatz (Hawaii) — “The U.S.-Israel relationship is too important to be overshadowed by partisan politics," said Schatz in a statement. "I am disappointed in the Republican leadership’s invitation of Prime Minister Netanyahu to address a joint session of Congress with the apparent purpose of undermining President Obama’s foreign policy prerogatives.”

Sen. Martin Heinrich (N.M.) — “I intend to watch his speech about Iran from my office, but I have strong objections to using the floor of the United State Congress as a stage for his election campaign — or anyone's for that matter," Heinrich said in a statement.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (Mass.) — Warren is "deeply concerned" about the prospect of a nuclear Iran but said Speaker Boehner's actions "have made Tuesday’s event more political."

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (R.I.) — “I’m concerned that behind it was a mischievous effort to manipulate domestic politics in both countries, which should not be the terms of engagement between friendly allies,” he said in a statement to local station WPRI.


http://thehill.com/homenews/house/232160-whip-list-dems-skipping-netanyahu-speech

cont'

http://www.politicususa.com/2015/03/02/al-franken-joins-52-democrats-announced-skip-netanyahu-speech.html

[marym625]

1. Durbin is going?

That sucks.

[Segami]

4. Durbin is listed as..

'On-The-Fence'.........

http://thehill.com/homenews/house/232160-whip-list-dems-skipping-netanyahu-speech

[marym625]

6. I called and left a message

At his Chicago office. His DC office is not taking messages so I will call in the morning

[PoliticAverse]

2. Here's a direct link to The Hill's list which is now at 54 (not including Elizabeth Warren

who announced tonight she won't be attending):
http://thehill.com/homenews/house/232160-whip-list-dems-skipping-netanyahu-speech

[marym625]

7. I will call Bobby Rush I'm the am as well.

[still_one]

3. Al like Bernie have always been people of conviction

[myrna minx]

5. I'm so proud My Congressman, Rep Ellison, and one of my Senators are both boycotting.

I am positive that Senator Wellstone would have boycotted as well.

[Thor_MN]

14. Ditto.

Thank you Keith and Al.

[rgbecker]

8. Here's my letter to Markey. Copy and paste if you like.

I see he isn't on the list, nor is Senator Warren, or my rep Keating.

I hate it when my guys pay more attention to foreigners than to me.

Dear Senator Markey,

I’m hoping you will not attend the political rally for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, that house speaker John Boehner has scheduled for next week in the halls of Congress. I know you know there are many other pressing issues to attend to. I know you realize attending such a gathering, which is designed to undermine President Obama’s and Secretary Kerry’s efforts to keep Iran from building a nuclear weapon in a way that does not involve use of our military in the middle east would not be in our country’s best interest.

Instead of spending the time listening to Netanyahu denigrate President Obama I suggest you spend the time working with your senate colleagues to accomplish some basic things for your state’s citizens. Here are some ideas.

1. Make sure there are emergency funds available immediately to continue the fuel assistance activities for people who are seriously being impacted by the extreme weather conditions we have had in Massachusetts.
2. Work to establish a coalition of lawmakers who can get some movement to address the impact of increased CO2 in the atmosphere which may very well be causing these extreme weather conditions.
3. Work to strengthen Social Security by raising the income level subject to social security and self employment tax to include incomes up to $250,000 instead of just to $118,500. The sooner this is accomplished, the sooner the social security trust funds will be strengthened to weather the predicted change in the nation’s demographics.
4. Work to remove the tax loophole that allows traders of securities to pay only the favorable capital gains tax rate rather than the usual income tax rate especially when it clear this income is derived not from investment activities but rather simply trading activities. Seriously consider a transaction tax on security trading.
5. Work to pass an infrastructure funding bill that will upgrade our bridges and roads, public transportation options and green energy production.

The list is endless and that should tell you wasting your time attending a rally for a foreign country’s prime minister would not look good to those who have supported you in your work for your constituents.

Yours,

[brooklynite]

15. I think your letter goes the wrong way...

...your shopping list of things to do is inconsistent with the fact that we are talking about one hour of available time. Far better to explain why the President's policy on Iran should be supported.

[krawhitham]

9. add Elizabeth Warren to list

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/02/elizabeth-warren-al-franken-netanyahu_n_6788136.html

[rgbecker]

10. That's my gal!

Apparently folks are still making up their minds. I'd love to see the place vacant of Democrats.

[GoCubsGo]

11. I don't have a problem with Dems being there.

Just so long as they pull a Joe Wilson.

[rpannier]

12. I see my Congressional Rep is not on the list

Bustos continues to disappoint
I really think Durbin won't show
It gives whoever runs against Kirk another way to go after him
My family lives in western Illinois in a rather conservative (55-45 Rep area) and most of the people there don't support the speech
I just don't see how this is a losing proposition (unless you're in a district with a lot of older Jewish voters or uber fundies) to skip it
By 2016, it will hardly be the talk of the campaign season

[Segami]

21. She is still undecided....so she says.

The Hill doesn't even have her on the full list.

We'll see what this Blue Dog decides today...

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

13. because Al is obviously a raging anti-Semite

.

[jwirr]

16. Thank you Al. I am glad you are going to join the others.

[Nobel_Twaddle_III]

17. but who will yell "YOU LIE" durring the speach ?

It is a bold Republican tradition, but I do not think they will mind if it is barrowed.

[Cha]

18. All of them.. Leaders! There's so much reason Not to Attend. Three Reasons To Boycott Netanyahu's

Speech To Congress by Sally Kohn

Netanyahu is trying to scuttle promising negotiations with Iran.

Netanyahu is meddling in American politics.

Netanyahu does not speak for all Jews. Like he Lies about doing..

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/cafe/three-reasons-to-boycott-netanyahus-speech-to-congress

[raven mad]

19. My "thank you" list is getting longer!

I don't mind - I celebrate every refusal of anyone who would pander to this asshole!

[langstonhues]

20. I'm glad to hear that. I like Franken. I don't like Bibi.

[Hekate]

22. My Congresscritter is not attending. Good old Lois Capps; I really love her.

DiFi is on record as (a) trying to get Netenyahu into a closed door meeting with herself and Durbin, which N turned down, and (b) saying he does not speak for her as a Jew and to say so is incredibly arrogant on his part.

After all that I can certainly forgive her if she does decide to attend the speech.