The Hill: Senate Dems (led by Lieberman) might join rebuff of Obama on Israeli border issue

[flpoljunkie]

Stab our Democratic president in the back, and you will not see a dime from me, Senators. That goes for the House, as well--if they follow Lieberman's lead.

Senate Dems might join rebuff of Obama on Israeli border issue
By Alexander Bolton

05/25/11

Senate Democrats are expected to support a resolution intended as a rebuff to President Obama’s call for basing Middle East peace talks on the 1967 Israeli-Palestinian borders.

It would be a rare rebuke of the president by the upper chamber and a sign that Democrats are worried about the impact of last week’s speech on the U.S.-Israel relationship and pro-Israel constituents.

Democrats in both chambers are scrambling to fix the damage caused when Obama called for the 1967 borders and land swaps as a basis for peace. Some Democrats have tried to downplay the rift, but Israel’s strongest supporters in Congress say there’s no denying that Obama made a tactical mistake in handling the relationship.

“I wish that the president had not made the speech on Thursday, particularly not made it — I gather — without much consultation” with Israel, said Sen. Joe Lieberman (Conn.), an Independent who caucuses with Democrats. “So I think it was a tactical mistake.” Lieberman said he was reassured by the president’s follow-up speech to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) on Sunday but thinks additional steps need to be taken.

He is working with Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) on a resolution that would show broad consensus within Congress that the 1967 Israeli-Palestinian borders are not only “indefensible,” as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated, but also contrary to U.S. national security interests.

more...

http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/163105-dems-may-join-rebuff-of-obama

[Thrill]

1. Same reason Gitmo is still open

And the reason Obama doesn't take more Progressive stances.
Weak knee Dems.

[young but wise]

5. Yep.

[Historic NY]

2. They're going to look like idiots when they parade out video from Clinton & Bush era...

that show its the exact same policy.

[Mass]

3. May be Kerry will be able to reestablish some sanity on this issue

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-Mass.) said Obama’s remarks represented “nothing new whatsoever.”

“Nobody is talking about going back to the 1967 border,” Kerry said. He noted the president specifically called for mutually agreed-upon land swaps as a mechanism for changing those original borders.

I also noticed that they cant name one Democrat who says he/she will vote with Lieberman on that. At best, some people say that the 1967 borders wont work and that they have to read the bill before deciding.

[flpoljunkie]

4. Thanks. Mass. Let's hope so.

[EC]

6. I am so sick of this

Obama stated that the border would not be as the 1967 accord had it drawn that there are adjustments made and to be made. Netanyahu agreed with that - so what is the problem? Netanyahu even in his speech yesterday said he agreed with Obama...so why do these guys "pretend" to not have heard the clarification? What is their real agenda?

[flpoljunkie]

7. I think Peter Beinart had it right today in a Daily Beast column

Maybe so. But watching over Fadi’s shoulder as members of Congress robotically rose to applaud Netanyahu, I couldn’t help thinking of the contrast. Anyone who has spent any time around Congress knows that many of the people who applauded Netanyahu—the Jewish Democrats in particular—don’t actually support his policies. Privately, many consider settlement expansion a catastrophe and the occupation a disgrace. But they don’t want to create headaches for themselves. Could they say what they really believe and get reelected? Probably—after all, incumbents are very hard to beat. But who needs the hassle?

http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2011-05-25/benjamin-netanyahus-speech-and-the-palestinian-right-to-dream/?cid=hp:mainpromo2

(As for the Republicans, they are hoping to lure Jewish donors and voters away from the Democratic party by their full-throated support of the Likudnik Netanyahu.)

[Proud Liberal Dem]

8. Man, I hope that they don't get behind this

Such an action IMHO would just legitimize Republican attacks on President Obama for, as other people have pointed out, calling for what every other President in recent history has called for. Somebody needs to get the videos out there.

[Tarheel_Dem]

9. "Somebody needs to get the videos out there". Agreed, and I think

Debbie Wasserman-Schultz as head of the DNC, and being a Jewish descendant would be perfect for the job. Debbie's a smart lady, and I think she would be a great point person on this issue, especially for media consumption.

I've been surprised that Anthony Weiner, an idolized progressive, is so hardline when it comes to I/P issues. I don't get it.

[center rising]

10. Gee, Lieberman, a Jew, supports Israel. who would have thought huh!!

My God, it would have been heresy if he didn't support Israel.