[An anecdote: The summer Chaney, Schwerner and Goodman were murdered in Mississippi, I had decided to drive down there myself. And I would have, were it not for my mother (OBM) who begged me not to go. For once I listened.
Which brings me to what’s been going on today. There’s been a lot of talk about Congressional Democrats who will not attend Netanyahu’s speech next month. In truth, so far Obama has managed to get only 15 members of Congress to raise their hands. A quick look at the list shows they’re mostly the usual gang of “progressives,” with over half African-Americans.]
Here is the list of Democrats who are skipping Netanyahu’s speech, compiled by The Hill:
Rep. Earl Blumenauer (Ore.) wrote a Jan. 29 column in The Huffington Post explaining his decision, saying the Constitution “vests the responsibility for foreign affairs in the president.”
Rep. G.K. Butterfield (N.C.), head of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), focuses on Boehner undermining Obama in a statement. He also emphasizes he's not urging a boycott.
Rep. James Clyburn (S.C.) is the highest-ranking Democratic leader to say he’ll skip the speech.
Rep. Raúl Grijalva (Ariz.) is a co-chairman of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC).
Rep. Luis Gutiérrez’s (Ill.) spokesman told the Chicago Sun-Times the congressman has a "strong" record on Israel but called the speech "a stunt."
Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D.C.)
Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (Texas) — "The Congresswoman has no plans to attend the speech at this time," a spokeswoman said.
Rep. Barbara Lee (Calif.) is a member of the Congressional Black Caucus and former head of the CPC.
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