Comical Posturing on Israel

We've seen a growing chorus of voices recently questioning the direction of American foreign policy when it comes to Israel. A number of these voices -- including some recent editorials -- appear disconnected from the facts; they seem to ignore President Obama's commitment in word and deed to our strong U.S.-Israel relationship as this administration thoughtfully pursues peace. But others willfully and hypocritically distort this administration's stance on Israel to drive a wedge in the Jewish community, and to peel off support from this overwhelmingly Democratic voting demographic. And that just makes me crazy.

Enter Reps. Virginia Foxx (R-NC) and Jim Jordan (R-OH). They circulated a "Dear Colleague" letter this week expressing their supposed "deep concerns" about President Obama's commitment to foreign aid for Israel, which has regularly been deemed a key vote by the American Jewish community. In total, 23 House Republicans signed the letter. The only problem? Like more than half of House Republicans, just a few weeks ago these two voted against foreign aid, including $2.2 billion in aid to Israel -- a measure which the administration supported, along with 95 percent of House Democrats. So they're hypocritically circulating heart-wrenching "Dear Colleague" letters, warning the President darkly that on his watch, "foreign assistance to Israel may be in danger." Yet most of the Republicans signing the letter just got done doing their best to kill the bill. It is in fact comically hypocritical; do they think nobody is watching or keeping track?

As it so happens, the very voting block they're cynically targeting -- the American Jewish community -- does notice these things. Between votes and letters like these and the broad common ground between most American Jews and the policies of House and Senate Democrats and this White House, it's no surprise that Jews continue voting so reliably for Democrats. It's also no surprise that of the dozens of members of Congress who are Jewish, only one is Republican -- Eric Cantor (R-VA). He told the Israeli English-language newspaper Haaretz this weekend, "My sense is that we need the Sarah Palins, Dick Cheneys, Rush Limbaughs, the Colin Powells.... We need all of them."

Keep talking, Mr. Cantor. You're just helping to keep Jews pulling the lever for Democrats.

This is crossposted on Politico's Arena.

Follow David A. Harris on Twitter: www.twitter.com/NJDC

Comments

[LeftistGuerrilla]

Can anyone explain to me how Israel is good for U.S. national security?

[maddy48]

It's time to cut the annual financial aid to Israel by half (at least). The US has done a fine job of supporting Israel over decades. We're in a deep recession. Let Pat Robertson & fanatics who want to hold hands @ the wailing wall raise the $$$.

[HST]

Let's see rethuglican party:

alienate Latinos -check!
alienate Jews -check!
alienate working people -check!

Wow they are sure positioned for quite a show in the midterms. The Dems better watch out!

[johnsopinion]

"Virginia Foxx (R-NC) and Jim Jordan (R-OH). ... circulated a "Dear Colleague" letter this week
expressing their supposed "deep concerns" about President Obama's commitment to foreign
aid for Israel, which has regularly been deemed a key vote by the American Jewish community.
In total, 23 House Republicans signed the letter. The only problem? Like more than half of House
Republicans, just a few weeks ago these two voted against foreign aid, including $2.2 billion in
aid to Israel -- a measure which the administration supported, along with 95 percent of House
Democrats.­"

"Survival of the fittest" will start biting a lot of people in the ass.
What we sow today, we reap tomorrow.

[LMPE]

Who cares what Eric Can't-do-anything says?

[MinisterMelinda]

I am not sure that the Israelis/Jews would be doing all of this if it weren't for the non-conditional American support they've always enjoyed. I have no problem with helping others. But when helping someone else causes you to have to make unjust or immoral actions okay....th­en I wonder.
Americans do not want to be seen as the big bully of the world anymore...­in my opinion.

[sippewissett]

This article should have been under the 23/6 humor tab. I haven't stopped laughing. Isn't ANYone helping these nitwit GOPers? They lie and think they won't get caught? Haven't they been caught in serial lies already?

[reasonshouldrule]

No, they don't think they'll get caught because their supporters don't let facts get in the way of their prejudices. Just look at the birthers.

[JackWhistle]

If we have to kick the jewish vote out to stop the oppression of Palestinians, to force Israel to follow international law, so be it.

[Itofts]

In other words the right has a team of imbeciles out their as professional liars, as usual.

Adding nothing but hate, bigotry and ignorance and lies conservative republican america is providing the evidence of why it deserves nothing less then a total political isolation and death.

[pinkibus]

Many American Jews oppose any American money going to Israel. Indeed, it is ridiculous to think that Americans are locked in a deadly battle about universal health care while Israelis have it thanks to the more than one hundred billion dollars they have received from Americans.­. It is ridiculous to read that two families have been evicted from their homes - dragged out in the night - because a court has ruled the homes belong to Jews. The people evicted had lived in the home for more than fifty years. They weren't renting it and so, given that the UN gave the land to the families and they had at least gained squatter's rights, it is hard to see the eviction as anything other than a slap in the face for Obama.

[courtb]

Wow. Just wow. First of all, I'm not sure how many American Jews you actually know, but many American Jews are fine with the US support for Israel. Furthermore, over 100 billion dollars from Americans.­..I'm assuming you talk about the roughly 3 billion Israel gets every year...whi­ch is a pretty recent number. If you hate that amount, you must hate all the foreign aid we give to countries around the world. Egypt gets almost as much as Israel, for example.