[Peace-discuss] Americans for Peace Now: Demand March 3 Netanyahu Speech to Congress Be Delayed

[Robert Naiman]

I don't think this is a free speech issue. Nobody is preventing Netanyahu
from talking. As Pelosi pointed out, he goes on American TV all the time.
This is a specific political event with a specific political agenda and a
specific political meaning. It's like the difference between saying that
someone can come to campus and give a talk and saying that they should give
a commencement address and get an honorary degree. I would be totally fine
with CIA director John Brennan coming to UIUC and giving a talk. I would
oppose him giving a commencement address and getting an honorary degree.



Robert Naiman
Policy Director
Just Foreign Policy
www.justforeignpolicy.org
naiman at justforeignpolicy.org
(202) 448-2898 x1

On Fri, Feb 6, 2015 at 11:00 AM, E. Wayne Johnson <ewj at pigsqq.org> wrote:

> Why not let "netan yahoo" talk?
>
> If he is bogus, he will surely say something worth attacking.
>
> It never ceases to amaze me how much Democrats despise free speech .
> Sent from my Sony Xperia™ smartphone
>
> ---- Robert Naiman via Peace-discuss wrote ----
>
>
> Takes 30 seconds to call Rodney Davis, and another 30 seconds to call Dick
> Durbin (I think it's a reasonable assumption that Mark Kirk is a lost
> cause.) Do your bit. Say whatever you want: delay, postpone, cancel, don't
> attend, all of the above. Durbin is publicly undecided on whether he will
> attend the speech if it goes forward:
>
>
> http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2015/02/04/senior-democrats-consider-boycott-of-netanyahu-address-to-congress/
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: Lara Friedman, Americans for Peace Now
> Date: Fri, Feb 6, 2015 at 9:01 AM
> Subject: Tell Your Elected Officials: Demand that March 3 Netanyahu Speech
> to Congress Be Delayed
> To: naiman at justforeignpolicy.org
>
>
>     [image: Americans for Peace Now]
> <http://wfc2.wiredforchange.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=x3j1NQx%2BIF88jRWe6oXWbmI%2B0oNhY%2B1k>
>
> Dear Robert,
>
> The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ohio Republican John Boehner,
> has issued an invitation for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to
> address a joint session of Congress on March 3. According to his own
> account
> <http://wfc2.wiredforchange.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=srHtBMiWBYWao%2BSEdTetUT8u9qRBopUF>,
> Boehner did so in coordination with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell
> (R-KY).
>
> Boehner’s invitation to Netanyahu has drawn criticism, bafflement, and
> outrage from across the political spectrum – in the U.S., in Israel and
> around the world. This invitation was made without coordinating with the
> White House, in violation of protocol – but it violated much more than that.
>
>    - Boehner and McConnell violated the unwritten rule that Congress not
>    meddle in a foreign country’s elections. With this invitation, Netanyahu is
>    set to address Congress only two weeks before Israeli general elections –
>    elections in which Netanyahu is a candidate.
>
>
>    - Boehner and McConnell have violated the cardinal rule that U.S.
>    support for Israel should not be turned into a partisan issue. Boehner has
>    made clear that his goal in inviting Netanyahu at this time is to try to
>    tip the balance in Congress against the White House in the ongoing debate
>    over Iran nuclear negotiations and new Iran sanctions.
>
>
>    - This move to use Israel as a wedge issue in internal American
>    politics is inappropriate and irresponsible. In short, this invitation also
>    represents a shameless attempt to exploit support for Israel to undermine
>    the President and manipulate Congress into supporting policies that are
>    potentially deeply harmful to U.S. national security and national interests.
>
> *If you have not already take action to contact your member of Congress to
> protest this inappropriate and irresponsible invitation, do so today. If
> you have already taken action, do so again!*
> <http://wfc2.wiredforchange.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=aV8cHHf%2B5HgRn%2B2mI9saNj8u9qRBopUF>
>
> The pro-Israel, pro-U.S., pro-peace in the Middle East position on this
> mess is clear: Boehner must rescind his invitation to Netanyahu, and
> reissue it such that Netanyahu, or whoever the next prime minister of
> Israel may be, is invited to address Congress at a date that is after
> negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program have concluded, and after
> elections in Israel are complete and a new Israeli government is sworn in.
>
> *Click here to contact your Senators and Representative to urge them to
> oppose the scheduled March 3 speech to Congress by Netanyahu*
> <http://wfc2.wiredforchange.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=spWySCDsaxDf0Hicg1xfKj8u9qRBopUF>
> .
>
> *Click here to contact Speaker Boehner urging him to rescind his
> invitation to Netanyahu and reschedule the speech – by Netanyahu or whoever
> the next Israeli prime minister may be – for a future date*
> <http://wfc2.wiredforchange.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=ryx4TJulNm5ncdLRZ7xK2D8u9qRBopUF>.
> Even if you’re not a constituent, as Speaker of the House, it is critical
> that Boehner understand that Americans everywhere object to his action.
>
> Sincerely,
> Lara Friedman,
> Director of Policy & Government Relations
> Americans for Peace Now
>
>
>
> <http://wfc2.wiredforchange.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=fopFquQt%2BYpzh6j5Bggz2j8u9qRBopUF>
> <http://wfc2.wiredforchange.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=srHtBMiWBYXZcYaXBs34xD8u9qRBopUF>
> <http://wfc2.wiredforchange.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=vuzpnQMvqG6WlK4JzoWLRT8u9qRBopUF>
> <http://wfc2.wiredforchange.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=JUAeJH4Z8Ig9owxHR0ZtQD8u9qRBopUF>
> <http://wfc2.wiredforchange.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=U9TW2XKaEnvZb844tzRwsmI%2B0oNhY%2B1k>
>
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