Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
2016 Postmortem
In reply to the discussion: Hillary Distances Herself From Obama -- Talks Of Rebuilding Ties With Netanyahu [View all]Catherina
(35,568 posts)11. Oh and get this. Netanyahu will be speaking at the pro-Hillary Center for American Progress
Why Is the Center for American Progress Hosting Benjamin Netanyahu?
The Israeli prime minister has spent the last few years trying to sabotage the Obama administrations foreign policy. So whats with the invite?
By Ali Gharib
October 28, 2015
When Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu comes to town next month, hell meet with President Obama at the White House for the first time since the right-wing Israeli led a failed campaign to block the liberal Democrats nuclear deal with Iran. During the course of his long, no-holds-barred fight against diplomacy with Iran, Netanyahu took a stand with congressional Republicans against the White House, attracting minimal Democratic support for his position against Obamas signal foreign policy achievement. Three years ago, Netanyahu all but endorsed Obamas opponent in the presidential race, Mitt Romney. And Netanyahus own behavior at homemost notably the modus operandi of his successful reelection bid this year, which included anti-Arab bigotry and a vow to block a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflictstrained relations further.
So it was altogether fitting that Netanyahu, during his swing through Washington, would be given an award by the American Enterprise Institute, a neoconservative think tank close to the Republican Party that never strays too far from Netanyahus ideological home turf. Though Israeland its most influential DC lobby group, AIPAChas traditionally garnered bipartisan support, neoconservatives dont give a whit about it; they have long thought Democrats, and especially todays Democrats, were insufficiently hawkish to give Israel the kind of support it needed in the Middle East. And Netanyahu has more than made clear where his allegiances lay on the American political spectrum: with the Republicans, and especially the neoconservatives among them.
It was jarring, then, to see the news yesterday that Netanyahu would be invited to address the liberal Washington think tank Center for American Progress, a group that serves the purpose of fueling the Democratic Party with progressive policies and ideas. The Israeli embassy approached CAP, the Huffington Post reported (in an article in which I was quoted), and asked for an opportunity to speak. Hes looking for that progressive validation, a former CAP staffer told the news website, and theyre basically validating a guy who race-baited during his election and has disavowed the two-state solution.
...
Still, there is some sense in agreeing to host Netanyahu. For one, he is the head of state of a nominal ally, however noxious he can be and however much he spurns his countrys best ally. No one should be surprised that CAP seriously entertains an offer to speak from any head of state. Whats more, CAP is in a mode now of switching from being Obamas think tank to being Hillary Clintons; the gravitational pull of an election is too great for the think tanks ideological imperative (progressivism) to outweigh its unstated partisan mission. Clinton continues, in the 2016 race, to stake out at least moderately hawkish positions on the Middle East, either from a political calculation (to distinguish herself from Obamas overstated reluctance to conflict), a campaign one (Haim Saban, the hawkish Israeli-American businessman is a longtime Clinton and Democratic donor, though notably cool on Obama), or an ideological one (shes just a hawk). It makes a lot more sense for Clintons think tank to invite Netanyahu than it would for Obamas.
.... Its hard to see how giving a liberal platform to Netanyahu helps advance any progressive cause at allindeed, considering his policies and positions, Netanyahus appearance looks poised to do the opposite: help the right wing. Thats what makes the invitation particularly perplexing.
...
http://www.thenation.com/article/why-is-the-center-for-american-progress-hosting-benjamin-netanyahu/
The Israeli prime minister has spent the last few years trying to sabotage the Obama administrations foreign policy. So whats with the invite?
By Ali Gharib
October 28, 2015
When Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu comes to town next month, hell meet with President Obama at the White House for the first time since the right-wing Israeli led a failed campaign to block the liberal Democrats nuclear deal with Iran. During the course of his long, no-holds-barred fight against diplomacy with Iran, Netanyahu took a stand with congressional Republicans against the White House, attracting minimal Democratic support for his position against Obamas signal foreign policy achievement. Three years ago, Netanyahu all but endorsed Obamas opponent in the presidential race, Mitt Romney. And Netanyahus own behavior at homemost notably the modus operandi of his successful reelection bid this year, which included anti-Arab bigotry and a vow to block a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflictstrained relations further.
So it was altogether fitting that Netanyahu, during his swing through Washington, would be given an award by the American Enterprise Institute, a neoconservative think tank close to the Republican Party that never strays too far from Netanyahus ideological home turf. Though Israeland its most influential DC lobby group, AIPAChas traditionally garnered bipartisan support, neoconservatives dont give a whit about it; they have long thought Democrats, and especially todays Democrats, were insufficiently hawkish to give Israel the kind of support it needed in the Middle East. And Netanyahu has more than made clear where his allegiances lay on the American political spectrum: with the Republicans, and especially the neoconservatives among them.
It was jarring, then, to see the news yesterday that Netanyahu would be invited to address the liberal Washington think tank Center for American Progress, a group that serves the purpose of fueling the Democratic Party with progressive policies and ideas. The Israeli embassy approached CAP, the Huffington Post reported (in an article in which I was quoted), and asked for an opportunity to speak. Hes looking for that progressive validation, a former CAP staffer told the news website, and theyre basically validating a guy who race-baited during his election and has disavowed the two-state solution.
...
Still, there is some sense in agreeing to host Netanyahu. For one, he is the head of state of a nominal ally, however noxious he can be and however much he spurns his countrys best ally. No one should be surprised that CAP seriously entertains an offer to speak from any head of state. Whats more, CAP is in a mode now of switching from being Obamas think tank to being Hillary Clintons; the gravitational pull of an election is too great for the think tanks ideological imperative (progressivism) to outweigh its unstated partisan mission. Clinton continues, in the 2016 race, to stake out at least moderately hawkish positions on the Middle East, either from a political calculation (to distinguish herself from Obamas overstated reluctance to conflict), a campaign one (Haim Saban, the hawkish Israeli-American businessman is a longtime Clinton and Democratic donor, though notably cool on Obama), or an ideological one (shes just a hawk). It makes a lot more sense for Clintons think tank to invite Netanyahu than it would for Obamas.
.... Its hard to see how giving a liberal platform to Netanyahu helps advance any progressive cause at allindeed, considering his policies and positions, Netanyahus appearance looks poised to do the opposite: help the right wing. Thats what makes the invitation particularly perplexing.
...
http://www.thenation.com/article/why-is-the-center-for-american-progress-hosting-benjamin-netanyahu/
Edit history
Please sign in to view edit histories.
44 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
RecommendedHighlight replies with 5 or more recommendations
Hillary Distances Herself From Obama -- Talks Of Rebuilding Ties With Netanyahu [View all]
Report1212
Nov 2015
OP
I think Netanyahu is on the verge of being a war criminal if he is not already.
hollysmom
Nov 2015
#1
Seriously, if ever there was a doubt Hillary should never be President, this seals it.
InAbLuEsTaTe
Nov 2015
#12
Hillary distanced herself from me long ago poured cement on it with the Death Penalty,
Todays_Illusion
Nov 2015
#10
Oh and get this. Netanyahu will be speaking at the pro-Hillary Center for American Progress
Catherina
Nov 2015
#11
What does Bernie say about Bibi? I bet there is not daylight between HC and BS on this. nt
kelliekat44
Nov 2015
#13
Bernie Sanders was the first Senator to refuse to go to Netanyahu's Congressional appearance
karynnj
Nov 2015
#15