Elizabeth Warren to skip Netanyahu speech

[octoberlib]

WASHINGTON — Senator Elizabeth Warren and two other members of the Massachusetts congressional delegation plan to skip Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech to Congress Tuesday, saying they are protesting the invitation made by House Speaker John Boehner.

Representatives Katherine Clark, a Melrose Democrat, and Jim McGovern, a Democrat of Worcester, also are planning to miss the event.


Warren announced she would not attend the speech in a statement issued by her office Monday evening.

“I strongly support Israel, and I remain deeply concerned about the prospect of an Iranian nuclear weapon, which I discussed in detail with Prime Minister Netanyahu when we met in Jerusalem last November,’’ the Democratic senator said in a statement. “It’s unfortunate that Speaker Boehner’s actions on the eve of a national election in Israel have made Tuesday’s event more political and less helpful for addressing the critical issue of nuclear nonproliferation and the safety of our most important ally in the Middle East.”



http://www.bostonglobe.com/news/nation/2015/03/02/elizabeth-warren-and-two-other-massachusetts-lawmakers-skip-netanyahu-speech/Xx60a5sGbCmqzs3nE60DhP/story.html

[Skidmore]

1. Best statement I've read thus far.

We do need to seek a peaceful resolution to relations with Iran and we don't need to be lied into another damned war.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

34. Yes indeed, a strong statement from the leader of our party. Elizabeth showing once again why she is our best hope for 2016.

[LittleBlue]

2. Every article about Warren makes her more appealing to me

Skipping Bibi's speech is bold for such a high profile senator. I like it.

[whathehell]

8. Same here -- Good for her!

[Fred Sanders]

3. Same person who voted for emergency 220 million dollars for more ammo when the IDF ran out pounding Gaza?

This is a significant move supporting Obama.

[whathehell]

12. Different issue.

She is protesting the disrespect being shown to our president.

[Fred Sanders]

14. Yes, by the same PM she voted to give more weapons and ammo to....more than the billions already.

And Bibi is not the only one and it is more than "disrespect".

[whathehell]

17. I didn't agree wiith that decision, but I DO agree with her decison to "miss" Bibi's s speech.

As I said, different issue.

[Fred Sanders]

18. Different issue, but inconsistent principal...I support her on this though. Her principals? Evolving?

[Bugenhagen]

41. What she shows is the ability to learn and make good decisions

She came to the senate as a leading expert on bankruptcy and related issues, not foreign policy savant. Everyone starts from whatever position they start from. She isn't a career politician. But she has shown a refreshing ability to learn, to think, and to come up with great conclusions.

[JDPriestly]

21. She clearly stated that she supports Israel.

Most Americans do.

[cascadiance]

40. It's just like you can support America and not have to support Boehner too...

You can support Israel and not support the jerk Netanyahu. At some point Israelis will realize he's a liability for him and get someone else in power who's more rational and can work more in that region towards collective peace against the troublemakers like ISIS instead of being more of the troublemakers with countries like Iran who we're trying to have work with us along with Turks, Syrians, Kurds, and many other different countries and religious sects to fight the real threats over there.

[dissentient]

4. Fuck Nutenyahu, I hope any Democrats that do attend will publicly walk out in protest

at some point during his ridiculous war mongering speech.

[peacebird]

5. I hope they all remain in their seats UNTIL Netanyahu begins speaking, then get up and walk out

That would prevent the repubs from filling the seats with aides

[Agschmid]

6. There we go.

[montanacowboy]

7. Good for Her!

That's the only response.

[SomethingFishy]

9. Here's a statement from Netanyahu.. "Iran is only a few years away from having a nuclear weapon..."

can anyone tell me when he said this?


How about...

1992... 1995... 1997.. 2001... 2004... 2008... etc etc etc..

How can you solve problems when you lie, exaggerate or use hyperbole? You can't.

[Skidmore]

11. An Israel already has them.

Last edited Mon Mar 2, 2015, 10:09 PM - Edit history (1)

He never addresses that issue. And Iran is not so stupid as to destroy itself.

[Fred Sanders]

16. Israel has up to 80 nuclear weapons, refuses to admit any, and refuses to sign any inspection or treaty

"Israel has been stealing nuclear secrets from allies and covertly making bombs since the 1950s.

And western governments, including Britain and the US, turn a blind eye. (Since the 1950's to today.) But how can we expect Iran to curb its nuclear ambitions if the Israelis won't come clean?"

When no one even dare mention or ask "how many nuclear weapons does Israel have and are they safe?"

If Iran uses one nuclear weapon.....Iran turns to glass....why would they want even one against the hundreds aimed at them even as we all sleep?



http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jan/15/truth-israels-secret-nuclear-arsenal

[shaayecanaan]

31. Probably more like 200 to 400 warheads

and ICBMs (Jericho 3) with at least 11,000 kilometres in range, enough to hit all of Asia and most of the Americas.

[Fred Sanders]

32. The world's worst kept and most deadly secret...WMD's have been found!

[George II]

28. We've been hearing this since 2002, and it still hasn't happened.

[cprise]

36. Even Mossad would have to agree with you:

http://www.democracynow.org/2015/2/24/as_netanyahu_tries_to_stop_us

[SomethingFishy]

37. What makes this even more funny is

we're making the deal with Iran that they can't enrich the Uranium for weapons, which, according to everyone except Israel, they are already not doing. They are making a deal to not do something they are already not doing. Whatever they get in return in the negotiations, they come out ahead.

[DCBob]

10. She should have gone then right in the middle of Bibi's speech...

yell out 'YOU LIE !!!'

[tracks29]

13. That might come off as too angry

[Agschmid]

15. Or just straight up ridiculous...

[calimary]

24. Welcome to DU, tracks29!

Glad you're here! Unfortunately this is a very good point. Because she's a woman, she has to be careful of what she says as well as how she says it. It takes me back to a quote I read from Barbra Streisand. Around the time she'd directed and starred in "Yentl," when women directors were almost non-existent, much less a woman director who's also the lead actress in the same project. So much shit came at her for being assertive and forceful, standing her ground, being the leader that a film director has to be, at the helm of a film production. I can't tell you how many times I heard the reference to - "when a man does it, he's being forceful, ballsy, courageous. no-nonsense, no-bullshit, commanding, gutsy, etc. etc. etc. but when a woman does it, she's a bitch." Hell, this point was understood quite a bit before Streisand. It's unfair and imbalanced. It IS a double standard. What else could it be? Quite simply: the same behavior that's admired and encouraged in a man is dissed and scorned in a woman.

[albino65]

19. Thank you Senator Warren

You have more balls than my senator, Sherrod Brown.

[PedXing]

20. I am thrilled that Senator Warren will not attend.

However, I am not the least bit concerned with a nuclear armed Iran.

[calimary]

39. Welcome to DU, PedXing!

Good to have you with us! I feel the same way. Frankly, in my opinion anyway, we wouldn't even have that big a constant worry about Iran if Saddam Hussein were still alive. He kept them busy. Kept them contained. Kept them occupied. There was ongoing, seemingly never-ending war between those two next-door neighbors, Iraq and Iran. They were far more concerned about the threat AT their border than to be able to make much time to bother with Israel. NOW, unfortunately, all those distractions and obstacles have been "thoughtfully" cleared away by bush/cheney, and the way is all clear and open for them to start making whatever mischief they want. Guess the bushies didn't think about that. Especially when they weren't thinking, PERIOD. Except with their "little heads," maybe. Had to go swagger around over there and prove who was Mas Macho. And they wound up proving NOTHING except how big a colossal and catastrophic mess they could make.

I still don't get how turning down the heat regarding the Iranians would somehow be harmful to Israel? I don't get that. How can that not be at least mildly beneficial not only to Israel but to that whole area, if you're able to cool things down over there, even by just a few degrees? How can that NOT be a good thing? And how could that NOT be helpful to Israel?

[libodem]

22. Oh Hell, yeah!

[WillyT]

23. K & R !!!

[tishaLA]

25. Warren AND Franken! Wow!

I'm so happy to read this

[George II]

26. It took her up to the LAST day before the speech to make up her mind????

[Fred Sanders]

33. Warren is just learning how to play the political game of Pretend...everyone has to.

[George II]

35. She's been in office for two years....

[spanone]

27. k&r...

[Agnosticsherbet]

29. Very, very good.

[pnwmom]

30. Good for her. I just wish she'd announced this earlier, when she might have influenced more people.

[Babel_17]

38. I support this (nt)

[Mike Nelson]

42. Yay!

...good idea!