Daily Beast: Progressive Democrats Of The House And Senate Refuse To Criticize Israel

[Cali_Democrat]

Even Left-Wing Politicians Can’t Quit Israel
Tim Mak

Much of the American left is critical of Israel, particularly since its incursion into Gaza. But in the halls of Congress, even progressive Democrats beloved by grassroots activists are loath to criticize the Jewish State’s ongoing military offensive.

A Pew Research Center poll released Monday showed that a plurality of Democrats across the country, 35 percent, and liberals, 44 percent, said that Israel had “gone too far” in its response to its conflict with Hamas. Meanwhile 47 percent of Democrats told Gallup that Israel’s actions during the current conflict were “unjustified,” compared to just 31 percent who thought the opposite.

But these opinions are nearly impossible to find in Congress. Democrats, when asked a question about Israeli operations in Gaza, had two standard responses: irritation, or else a statement of their broad support of Israel, without going into specifics. It was as if the very mention of Israel turned the question into a hostile interview.

<...>

Sen. Bernie Sanders, a darling of the left who identifies as a democratic socialist, was curt. His tone changed suddenly when the topic shifted from the Veterans Administration bill that he had been shepherding through Congress to Israel’s operation in Gaza.

“That’s not where my mind is right now,” he told the Beast.

Read more: http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/07/30/even-left-wing-congressmen-can-t-quit-israel.html

[atreides1]

1. Limited Progressives

Kind of like 'Buffet Christians'!

[Cali_Democrat]

4. Don't you think Bernie is a real Progressive? nt

[Comrade Grumpy]

14. Not, apparently, when it comes to Israel.

[sabrina 1]

25. He will lose credibility as a 'real Progressive' if he supports this crime in progress. It's as

simple as that. I hope he realizes that, but if he doesn't, we need to know exactly where he stands on this important issue. While it's disappointing to learn things about those we support that are not what we expected, in the end it's far better to know. We can then move forward and do the work necessary to find candidates that DO reflect the opinions of those who support them.

[LordGlenconner]

47. Must. Have. Ideological. Purity.

[conservaphobe]

7. Throwing a bunch of good folks under the bus over a 139 sq mile piece of land.

[cpwm17]

18. And then they came for the Palestinians and that's your callous response.

We're creating two million throw-away trash people with US tax dollars, weapons, and support, but you couldn't give a shit.

[conservaphobe]

42. The I/P conflict is the world's oldest rerun.

[cpwm17]

43. Nope, it is a relatively recent conflict

That's a myth. The US is complicit.

You know, if you are not able to give a shit about the victims of our foreign policy, then think about this: the number one issue that upset the 9-11 hijackers was our support of Israel. They saw Israel's brutality, done with US supplied weapons and support.

They and Osama had other issues, such as, US actions in Iraq and attacking Iraq from US bases on Saudi soil, etc.

You know, what goes around tends to come around. But too many Americans couldn't give a shit why some people in the world may not like us. That is why that fell for the BS war propaganda and allowed Bush to conduct that unprovoked war against Iraq. People just don't give a shit. How did not giving a shit turn out for us, or Iraq?: not very well.

[LordGlenconner]

52. You are a sad little rain cloud

I'm curious, in your view, do the waring parties in Gaza bear any responsibility at all or is it all the fault of the US? It would seem that in your view, it is entirely the fault of the United States which is of course quite ludicrous.

[cpwm17]

53. We can only be responsible for our own actions

It's not all of the US's fault.

Since the US Government is our government, that is what we should do our best to influence. And what our government does wrong, we should do our best to bring attention to it.

Supporting war is evil. The US Government is the biggest supporter of war, would-wide. Of course the US is the most powerful, so the opportunity is there like in no other nation.

Israel is behaving as they are because they can. Our politicians give them an opportunity. Like any other people, victims of our weapons and actions take notice. Regardless of any other responsible party, we should do our best to make sure we behave properly. It's better for us and it's better for them.

[conservaphobe]

2. Good.

They're not dumb enough to commit political suicide over a 139 sq mile piece of land.

[Comrade Grumpy]

15. Yeah, they're real profiles in courage.

[sabrina 1]

27. On the contrary, they are doing just THAT over that 139 sq mile square piece of land

Who are they responding to again? Not, according to the polls, those who put them in power and who can just as easily remove them from power.

You got it backwards, unless of course you don't think the voters' opinions count at all.

[leftynyc]

28. I have no idea what polls you're looking at

but here are both Pew and Gallup polls showing you have no idea what you're talking about:

http://www.pollingreport.com/israel.htm

[Comrade Grumpy]

41. There's a Pew poll mentioned in the OP. n/t

[oberliner]

45. The Pew poll shows a plurality of Democrats saying Israel's response is "about right' or "not enuf"

35 percent of Democrats in that poll say that Israel has "gone too far"
31 percent of Democrats say that Israel's response is "about right"
9 percent of Democrats say that Israel's response "does not go far enough"

http://www.people-press.org/2014/07/28/hamas-seen-as-more-to-blame-than-israel-for-current-violence/

[1StrongBlackMan]

54. We tend to agree on a lot of issues; but here, we differ ...

it's not about 139 square miles, it's about human lives ... and a status quo of oppression. How can one call themselves a progressive and ignore a status quo that oppresses a significant portion of the region's population?

[tularetom]

3. I guess a lot of these Dems are probably getting fat at the AIPAC teat

I'd be willing to cut Sanders some slack. He is Jewish and has personal ties to Israel, having spent time working on a kibbutz there during the 60's.

[leftynyc]

30. Or perhaps they're doing

their job and representing their constituents who strongly favor Israel. Here are the polls:

http://www.pollingreport.com/israel.htm

[Fred Sanders]

5. Disgusting, these guys need to explain themselves and not run away and hide.

A Pew Research Center poll released Monday showed that a plurality of Democrats across the country, 35 percent, and liberals, 44 percent, said that Israel had “gone too far” in its response to its conflict with Hamas. Meanwhile 47 percent of Democrats told Gallup that Israel’s actions during the current conflict were “unjustified,” compared to just 31 percent who thought the opposite.

To be ignored and sent to jury.......ignored in the media.

[KoKo]

19. Great Timing Netanyahu showed..before US Mid-Terms...

Snip from end of Daily Beast article:

“If you just keep your mouth shut, it’s hard to imagine progressives abandoning you,” one progressive pro-Israel activist said. “There isn’t a lot of upside and potentially a lot of downside of a lawmaker getting on the wrong side of a community that is riled up, especially in the run-up to an election…intensity beats numbers, and the people who support Israel are very intense.”

For the left, congressional support for Israel is such a given that many have turned to other methods to influence the debate.
“[Activists] look at Congress as hopeless. Moving Congress or moving the administration is hopeless,” said Kevin Martin, executive director of Peace Action, an anti-war group. “That’s why there’s a shift to [the BDS movement] rather than…trying to influence congressional or administrative policy on Israel.”

[leftynyc]

34. Your numbers are wrong

45% of Democrats said Israel was justified, 42% said unjustified. Here's a link to the Pew poll - this question about 1/4 way down page:

http://www.pollingreport.com/israel.htm

Further - independents - who Democrats cannot win an election without were 56% justified, 36% unjustified.

[Fred Sanders]

38. That is the overall polling...thanks for the link, lot of Americans feel the slaughter is not

justified, whatever justified means. Polling on issues is mainly propaganda fodder, but at least let us use similar fodder.

[leftynyc]

40. Now you just have to find people

who are willing to base their vote on this issue. My guess is you wont find too many and I disagree about it being propaganda - given the poll results going back several years, it looks like Americans haven't changed their minds about Israel regardless of their past fighting with Gaza. I know people here are loathe to admit it but the majority of Americans just don't like the Palestinians.

[Fawke Em]

55. ...because of the complicit media who only tell Israel's side.

That is until this war, when social media has started showing just what a bully Israel is.

[oberliner]

46. Poll actually shows that a plurality of Democrats say that Israel's response is "about right" or

"not far enough". The total of those two responses is 40 percent.

35 percent of Democrats in that poll say that Israel has "gone too far"
31 percent of Democrats say that Israel's response is "about right"
9 percent of Democrats say that Israel's response "does not go far enough"

http://www.people-press.org/2014/07/28/hamas-seen-as-more-to-blame-than-israel-for-current-violence/

[Comrade Grumpy]

6. This is a pathetic and disgusting display of political cowardice. Why am I not surprised?

A plurality of liberals and Democrats think Israel has gone too far, and nearly half of Democrats say Israel's actions are unjustified. Yet our representatives kow-tow to Israel. Who represents us?

As far as I know, precisely ONE Democratic senator or congressman has spoken out strongly against the Israeli massacre. Keith Ellison of Minnesota.

As for Bernie Sanders, well, this colors my view of him.

[myrna minx]

8. The Profiles in Courage are few and far between.

[Tarheel_Dem]

9. Let's face it, Bernie is beloved because he's willing to talk shit about Democrats & the President,

not because of his so-called political courage.

[Cali_Democrat]

11. Actually I think, overall, Bernie has been pretty supportive of Obama

He's been critical at times, but not like the self-proclaimed Progressives on online message boards.

Bernie is a pretty staunch defender of the ACA even though a number of self-proclaimed progressives have called the ACA a sell out to corporate interests.

[Tarheel_Dem]

20. Well, most of our friends didn't call for our Democratic president to be primaried in 2012. I'll...

never forgive Sanders for that, and I'll never support his run for the WH, no matter what party label he chooses.

[Douglas Carpenter]

10. There is not a single person here who doesn't know beyond the slightest shadow of a doubt what

would happen to the political careers of anyone would dare to speak out.

[treestar]

26. Maybe there is someone who can take a shot at it

If they are well known, the damage to their political career could be newsworthy. How would they do it? Someone who suddenly has no money where he/she did before would be able to show that trail.

[Douglas Carpenter]

29. I'm sure you know that there have been some very credible and well documented books written about

this - all of course predictably denounced as anti-Semitic propaganda.

[treestar]

32. Who has it happened to?

And how where their careers destroyed? What did they say/do that was deemed enough to bring on their destruction?

Though of course if We the People would vote based on issues and character rather than on whoever spends the most money, we'd be better off. It goes against the grain for any foreign country to have so much pull.

[Douglas Carpenter]

39. the first book of notoriety on the subject was written by former Republican Congressman Paul Findley

They Dared to Speak Out: People and Institutions Confront Israel's Lobby written way back in 1985

The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy by Stephen Walt and John Mearsheimer two leading Ivy League and internationally respected foreign policy experts work explains a lot.

When it gets down to specific members of Congress well of course we have the late Sen. J. William Fulbright, the late Senator Charles Percy, former Republican Congressman Paul McCluskey and of course some others. The method usually involved funding one campaign either in the primaries or a general election while de-funding the incumbent. At the same time applying pressure on the national party to distance themselves from a pariah all along with suggestions of anti-Semitism. The simple reality is an incumbent whether liberal or conservative cannot bare the weight of the inevitable label of being an anti-Semite for criticizing Israel if they want to keep their position. The chilling effect creates the atmosphere where neither an incumbent from a safe seat in a rural conservative district or a liberal urban district knows that they better not cross the line. No one serious about American politics is not well aware of this reality.

[sabrina 1]

31. And THAT is a huge problem that needs to be dealt with. If this really is true, this country is

under the control of shadowy entities we know nothing about. When an elected official is being threatened like that, it is a CRIME. This should become a number one issue, to find out WHAT is going on when people elected by the American people are being held hostage to unelected entities who remain in the shadows. They need to be exposed to the sunlight, whatever it is that is striking that kind of fear into the hearts of our elected officials very badly needs to be rooted out and exposed, and removed from our political process.

[oberliner]

50. "This country is under the control of shadowy entities "

"the American people are being held hostage to unelected entities who remain in the shadows"

What are you going on about?

[hifiguy]

59. Insiders with tons of money and the power to destroy careers

and outsiders who hold the same kind of power. Think of a virtually unknown equivalent of the Kochtopus. Such entities are out there.

[oberliner]

60. Who are they and what is their motivation?

Can you elaborate at all?

[hifiguy]

63. Such people have existed throughout history.

I don't want to descend into conspiracy theories but there are and always have been people who wield immense power, primarily through the use of money, to obtain results they want. One that was brought to light was the Military-Industrial Complex (though I would add "Intelligence" to that Ike formulation). Where do these people come from? Where do they work for when they leave government? Answer those questions and that solves the riddle.

[oberliner]

64. And they have some kind of connection to Israel?

Why would they care so much about having US politicians not be critical of Israel?

[HooptieWagon]

12. Money buys silence.

All the Senate, and most of House get payoffs from Pro-Israel PACS.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025309488
They're not going to bite the hands that write the fat checks.

[hifiguy]

58. Yep. Follow the money.

And anyone who criticizes Israel will be labeled an anti-Semite by the Israel Lobby.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

13. this is in no small part due to the fact that American are pro-Israel or at any rate Anti-Islam. nt

[tritsofme]

16. Alternate headline: Democrats refuse to embrace nonsense

No surprise for me.

[MineralMan]

17. I wonder how many people know that Bernie Sanders is Jewish.

But under the bus he goes, anyhow...

[JI7]

21. Bernie Sanders also developed his socialist views while he was living in Israel

i always knew this which is one reason i was not surprised by this.

[treestar]

23. That doesn't matter much

There are Jewish people who are against all this - even in Israel there is opposition.

So Bernie the socialist needs to explain why he thinks it needed as a foreign policy issue.

[sabrina 1]

33. We are Democrats, we KNOW our elected Reps. What makes you think any Democrat

here wasn't aware that Sen. Sanders is Jewish? And why do you think that is of any importance in a situation like this? The issue is not about 'Jews', as you appear to be implying, it is about wrongdoing by far right government that has taken over a country MOST DEMOCRATS have ALWAYS supported.

Did you wonder if we all knew the religious backgrounds of the far right Cheney/Bush gang or if it was important at all in terms of the war crimes they were committing?

You don't have to be of any particular religion to be a criminal or NOT to be a criminal.

Most American Jews, like Bernie have always been Liberal, as he is. Regarding his fear of taking a stand on this issue, this has been an ongoing problem for decades and has zero to do with the religion of those who appear to fear angering those who are currently calling our SOS, John Kerry, a 'terrorist supporter'.

Are all of our Senators Jewish? No, so what has that got to do with anything?

[MineralMan]

35. I assure you that there are Democrats who do not know that.

This is about Israel and Palestine. We support Israel as a nation, and have since it's formation. We have been supporting Israel since we and the other allies created Israel, after WWII. We're not going to stop doing that, right or wrong.

As for Bernie Sanders, ask him what he thinks. I can't speak for him.

[sabrina 1]

36. You did speak for him, you implied his ethnicity had something to do with his reluctance to condemn

the war crimes in Gaza by the Far Right Netanyahu regime.

It has zero to do with the fear among our elected officials, ALL OF THEM, to oppose war crimes committed by that government.

'We' support our own COUNTRY, but we do not support WAR CRIMINALS like Cheney and Bush.

'We' support Israel, but we do not support WAR CRIMINALS, like Netanyahu.

[MineralMan]

37. Ask Bernie.

As far as I know, he could be an atheist. This is not about religion. And with that, we've reached my self-imposed two-post subthread conversation with you. I'll see you in some other thread.

[sabrina 1]

48. Don't worry, we will be asking Bernie, we always do when conflicts of this kind with their stated

views on human rights arise. You don't get to 'limit' MY comments, you are free not to be willing to engage in a discussion and I am free to continue any discussion no matter who starts it and no matter what self limits they impose on themselves, they certainly can't impose them on anyone else.

As for this not being about religion, it IS about religion. The Far Right Fundie Christians in THIS country are totally on board with the Far Right Fundies currently controlling Israel, hopefully temporarily. NOT because they all love each other, but because of the Old Testament.

We learned all about these things here on DU throughout the Bush years. OF course there is way more to it than that, but religion is a powerful tool and it is used 'liberally' by war mongers of every stripe, including in this disaster.

Bernie WILL be hearing from a whole lot of people, which you should know if you know anything about DUers.

[MADem]

57. After he graduated college, he went to live on a kibbutz. I'm sure he learned a lot there, and

formed many opinions, in addition to the ones he formed growing up as a Jew in Brooklyn.

People want to fit him into a mold of their own making. They do the same thing to anyone who is regarded as a Great Multicolored Savior....they initially defend them, then when they realize that their interests do not totally coincide, they ram them under the bus and give a few good kicks to make sure they stay there.

It'll only be a matter of time, not just for Bernie but for anyone who functions as a pragmatic Democrat (cough Warren cough) ...the more of a voting record they accrue, the more they attract hate and disapprobation from the purists who don't understand the give and take nature of serving as a legislator.

[MineralMan]

61. Yes. Elizabeth Warren is also a strong supporter

of Israel. I wonder who will be left by primary season in 2016. All under the bus perhaps.

[MADem]

66. Here, maybe, but not everywhere.

There are a lot of unrealistic expectations here--as we get closer to election season, the more hard-nosed information is often to be found in the state forums, where the people who actually do the smiling/dialing and pavement pounding hang out. Some of the contributors there are really wonderful; I always enjoy getting a link from some insider in this state or that, because that's where you get a real window on what is happening on the ground.

There were people here who genuinely thought Dennis Kucinich had a shot at the Presidency. There were more than a few fans of Nader, and they're probably still here and keeping their heads down. And we know that the Paul contingent had fans as well, leading to EarlG's valuable exhortation.

So even while insufficiently pure candidates are trashed and thrashed here, they still survive out in the real world...

[treestar]

22. It's very mysterious

You'd think at least one would have constituents who would not vote them out because of it.

This is a foreign country - we don't have to give it a dime. People must be seeing it as being in our interests.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

24. Which is why I vote for/against policies and principles rather than party or politician.

[oberliner]

44. Deceptively manipulated poll figures

From the article:

A Pew Research Center poll released Monday showed that a plurality of Democrats across the country, 35 percent, and liberals, 44 percent, said that Israel had “gone too far” in its response to its conflict with Hamas.

Link to Pew website: http://www.people-press.org/2014/07/28/hamas-seen-as-more-to-blame-than-israel-for-current-violence/

If you look at the poll data, you will see:

35 percent of Democrats in that poll say that Israel has "gone too far"
31 percent of Democrats say that Israel's response is "about right"
9 percent of Democrats say that Israel's response "does not go far enough"

So the poll actually shows that a plurality of Democrats (40 percent) say that Israel's response is either about right or not strong enough.

[bigwillq]

49. Grow a spine, Congresscritters.

Or it will cost you my vote.

[MFM008]

51. The gop is vile

but we know what we can expect from them but most democrats are so spineless they qualify as Invertebrates.

[Larkspur]

56. Congress, including Dems, won't change their blind worship of Israel

until the American public does and until activists put pressure on them.

Why should Israel get get millions more in taxpayer funded weaponry, when Congress can't pass a jobs bill? Just proves that Israel is the 51st state and has more support from our congress critters than the bona fide 50 states. Shameful.

[Jefferson23]

62. Our complicity on display, and one reason we have no business as a broker in this conflict. n/t

[brooklynite]

65. Imagine...event progressives aren't ideologically pure...

Who cares if you agree with on other issues; it time to throw them over the side.