Elected Democrats a complete no-show for Jerusalem Embassy move

By Joe Newby -
Jerusalem embassy

On Monday, the United States officially moved its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.  Four Senators spoke to members of the press at the King David Hotel in Jerusalem hours before the official relocation.  All four were Republicans — Senators Ted Cruz, R-Tex., Dean Heller, R-Nev., Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Mike Lee, R-Utah, made the trip, along with ten GOP Representatives.

No elected Democrats were present, however, former Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Vt., was present.  Lieberman was the Democrat nominee for vice-president in 2000 but was rejected by the party six years later for his support of the Iraq War.

Two reporters at the event asked the Republicans why no Democrats were present.

“That is a sad, sad manifestation — I wish we had every member of Congress here … every member of Congress had the option before them to come,” Cruz said.

Graham said no one was specifically invited, and those who were present were there on their own volition.

“It’s not for me to tell you what that says,” he said. “It hurts me.”

Graham also observed that the absence of Democrats sends a dangerous message that Americans are not united in their support for Israel.

According to Breitbart:

Breitbart News spoke to Sen. Lieberman separately and asked him whether he was disappointed that no Democrats had come to the embassy opening.

“I’m not disappointed, but I’m surprised, because support for it has been broadly bipartisan.”

He recalled: “I was part of the group that worked to pass the Jerusalem Embassy Act in 1995. There was Bob Dole and John Kyl on the Republican side, and myself and Pat Moynihan on the Democratic side, and it got 95 votes.

“I don’t want there to be a misimpression that this is a partisan act. And I would hope that Democrats understand that this is not a pro-Trump rally. It is a pro-U.S.-Israel partnership, alliance rally.”

Sen Graham observed that the partisan divide over Israel seemed to have grown deeper since President Barack Obama signed the Iran deal, over the objections of Republicans and the Israeli government.

Many on social media also noted the lack of Democrats at the event.

Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., perhaps attempting to ward off backlash, issued a statement applauding President Trump.

“In a long overdue move, we have moved our embassy to Jerusalem. Every nation should have the right to choose its capital. I sponsored legislation to do this two decades ago, and I applaud President Trump for doing it,” he said.

Schumer, however, chose not to attend…

One can only speculate as to why, but it certainly wasn’t smart…

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