House Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-VA) has drawn fire for comments he made about the Obama administration and the nation of Israel. In a meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel from Cantor promised the Prime Minister of Israel that the Republicans in Congress could be counted on to serve as a "check" on the Obama administration for Israel. Even the Israeli press was surprised by Cantor's statement, saying it was the first time in history that an opposition leader, like Cantor, had promised to side with a foreign nation against the President of the United States. Now some liberals are saying that Cantor's statement may have constituted a felony, or even treason.
Traditionally foreign policy is set by the executive branch of the United States in order to portray a strong, unified front. The concern is that the United States will always be the weaker country in diplomacy if foreign governments can use the American political parties against themselves in negotations. Imagine, for example, the Japanese in WWII trying to negotiate terms of surrender with Republican Party instead of being forced to talk with the Truman administration. As a more recent example imagine if Saddam Hussein was allowed to negotiate with Demcorats before either Gulf War. The same reasoning applies to United States allies and trade partners. If countries like Japan and Israel are able to talk to the political party they like best, instead of the President, it will inevitably weaken the United States foreign policy.
At the least, Cantor's comments take away from American prestige, and set a dangerous precedent for future United States foreign policy. Cantor and his Republican colleagues have every right to support the nation of Israel, but their ultimately loyalty should be to the United States and not the country of Israel. If Israel's interests conflict with that of the United States, the Israeli government should theoretically not be able to call on Republicans in Congress to "check" the foreign policy of the Obama administration.
Having said that, the charge of treason likely goes too far in describing Cantor's actions. The act of treason involves the intentional betrayal of one's nation. Most would hold that treason must involve more than just words as well. Cantor's words may suggest that he would put Israel's interests ahead of the United States, but he does not explicitly make an agreement to betray his sovreign.
Liberals do have a stronger argument when it comes to the charge of felony under the Logan Act. The Logan Act makes it a felony "for any American 'without authority of the United States' to communicate with a foreign government to influence that government's behavior on any disputes with the United States." When Speaker Pelosi went to meet with the leader of Syria a few years ago under the Bush Administration, Cantor actually accused Pelosi of a felony under the Logan Act. Pelosi merely met with the leader of Syria. She did not pledge to help him against the Bush administration as Cantor did with the Prime Minister of Israel, yet Cantor considered it a serious enough offense to warrant prosecution under the Logan Act. It turns out that Cantor only seems to believe in the Logan Act as it applies to Democrats.
Comments
that is some serious business and needs further legal investigation...you don't promise anything to another country against this country unless you intend to live there and renounce your American citizenship.
Suck teabags nagger!
You guys need to take law 101 . Please read the Logan act . It is not a blanket restriction on any
mention of foreign policy. It deals specifically with "disputes or controversies with the United States" or
"defeating measures of the United States". PLease inform me of any impending war between the US and Israel or any measures of the US against Israel.
and the "checks" that Cantor mentioned do not qualify under that statute. Also, he has congressional immunity unless stripped by the US House if I am not mistaken , and I do not expect Mr. Boehner to act upon him since these charges are baseless.
The penalty for treason is death. Heads will roll!
Those libs you're talking about must be the radical wing of the democrat party. Oh that's right. The only democrats left are socialists and marxists.
Oh fricking please get help from a shrink!
Please google "USS Liberty" or "Lavon Affair" and ask yourself why is the US so subservient to this FOREIGN nation. Why is it that AIPAC the most powerful lobby in DC is that of a FOREIGN nation. Why are Jews overrepresented in the Federal Reserve where 9 of the 12 Governors are Jewish. Why are there 3 Jewish members of the Supreme Court and not one single Protestant despite the fact that Christianity and in particular Protestants make up the majority of the US not the mention the Founding Fathers. We certainly should know the stranglehold on our New York and Hollywood medias the Jews have along with controlling Wall Street. Just for a minute imagine the Arabs controlled Wall St., Federal Reserve, the NY and Hollywood medias, foreign policy, and a Arab congressman told the President of Iran he would keep the US President in check concerning Arab policies. We were attacked on 9-11 because of our genuflecting foreign policies that always bow to Israel and not because of something as ridiculous as "they hate our freedom."
because the criminal j''ews own the US Congress, the banks and MOST world industries..the ZIONAZIS rule, and were behind 9/11 and ALL world terror while using their scheming to blame Muslims..and murder Plaestinians
USS LIberty - Google what you want. ISrael asked the US Navy - Do you have any US ships in the Naval War zone? US Navy : NO ships there. END OF STORY!
Did the Egyptians lack the technology to possess and deploy a US flag?????
The President of the US at that time Lyndon Johnson exonerated Israel . Now who is criticizing Eric Cantor over "defying the US president"??? End of Story.
The Lavon affair - go way back nearly 60 years ago- a disorganized Israel , in its early years of statehood. There were no injuries or deaths , only minor property damage to the US cultural center.
The incident caused the firing of the Defense minister - eventually , the resignation of the Prime Minister who was not informed of the incident.
You mean Jews like Mel Gibson and Spike Lee ? Do you mean US AWACS sales to the Saudis?
Do you mean Reagan's condemnation of Israel's attack on the Osirek ? Do you mean military sales
to Qatar, Do you mean military sales to Kuwait , do you mean military sales to the UAE ? Do you mean military sales to Pakistan ? Do you mean military sales to Lebanon? Do you mean the 60 billion dollar
military deal with the Saudis?
Science and technology in Israel is one of the country's most developed sectors. The percentage of Israelis engaged in scientific and technological inquiry, and the amount spent on research and development (R&D) in relation to gross domestic product (GDP), is amongst the highest in the world.[1] Israel ranks fourth in the world in scientific activity as measured by the number of scientific publications per million citizens. Israel's percentage of the total number of scientific articles published worldwide is almost 10 times higher than its percentage of the world's population.[2]
Israeli scientists have contributed to the advancement of agriculture, computer sciences, electronics, genetics, medicine, optics, solar energy and various fields of engineering. Israel is home to major players in the high-tech industry and has one of the world's most technologically-literate populations.[3] In 1998, Tel Aviv was named by Newsweek as one of the ten most technologically influential cities in the world.
WOW - Israel and the Jews are so terrible!
George Washington warned US about getting involved in foreign wars or affairs but we didn't take heed of his words. Right now you have brave young men and women off dying, coming back maimed or psychologically scarred for the rest of their lives FIGHTING WARS FOR ISRAEL. Instead of placing these troops on our southern border where a REAL AMERICAN WAR is waging Jewish congressman like Cantor, LIEbermann and traitorous neo-cons like Juan McAmnesty and Lindsey Grahamnesty are more concerned with protecting Israel's borders and not America's borders or American citizens. Prosecute this Israel firster Cantor to the fullest extent of the law.
Absolutely Correct! Globalization is a Plot to enslave the Masses!
If this is not treason, or at least a felony, then what is??
Forget about how ridiculous it is to suggest the Democratic party is not friendly enough to Israel.
Eric Cantor, a leader in Congress, promised a foreign leader to undermine the policy of his own government, to side with the foreign nation against his own Government's policies!!!
What did Eric Cantor pledged allegiance to?
A lot of stupidity and blatant anti-semitism here . Obama has already surrendered Israel's borders to
the indefensible situation of 1967, the response to Egypt's violation of the 1956 armistice agreement
and shutting down an international waterway and blockading ISrael, clearly by all standards , an act of Arab
aggression and a response to attacks by Syria and Jordan. Territory was lost. Period . Lost means lost.
If Netanyahu or any other world leader made the comment - the US should retreat to its 13 colonies
borders , it wold be outrageous and ludicrous. Cantor is only standing up to the questionable
judgment of the sitting president who is hurting one of its most staunches allies.
As far as the Liberty incident is concerned, an unfortunate incident where the US Navy declared that there were no US ships in the declared war zone during the 6 day war, well, that's what happens when
the information provided to allies during war is inaccurate. President Johnson fully exonerated Israel for this act , but now it's you guys who are second guessing and undermining the sitting president of that time . The Lavon affair was unfortunate and in the early days of Israel's statehood . What wasn't mentioned was that the PM did not authorize that operation and dismantled that part of the intelligence that committed that folly as well as apologizing to the US .
You can side with terrorists or you can side with those that support the US like Israel.
Butch - weren't you that bullying SOB from the Little Rascals? The word Cantor used was "check",
coincidentally, the same word check as in the system of "check and balances" .
Mr. Cantor is holding MR Obama to his promises . Mr Obama campaigned to be a staunch defender of
Israel, Mr. Cantor is holding the president to that commitment as a matter of policy. Declaring
Israel to its 1967 borders is not only unprecedented, it is hypocritical. (I don't see Obama declaring
the original 13 colonies as the official US border) . Mr Cantor is holding Mr. Obama to that "check", as
withdrawing to those borders would be detrimental to Israel's security.
There is a big difference between Pelosi and Syria, and Cantor and Israel; Israel being a friend of the United States.
As shown with our last election, when the people don't agree with the administration's policies, we vote them out. The current administrations policies toward the Middle East are naive at best.
With friends like Israel, who needs enemies?
My best friend is the son of a USS Liberty survivor. I've heard his dad tell stories about how he lost his leg and too many of his shipmates, Americans all, lost their lives in a fight where they were unable to defend themselves against the ENEMY.
"...saying it was the first time in history that an opposition leader, like Cantor, had promised to side with a foreign nation against the President of the United States."
Wrong, "Dead" Ted Kennedy offered to "assist" the Soviets during the Regan years after losing to Carter in a brusing primary and then the humiliating defeat of his party. Not bad enough that he was a drunk, a murderer and a crook, he also sought to actively betray his country.
At least Israel is an ally, Dead Ted wanted to help our enemies and what is wrong with putting a check on an anti-Israel minded president? What about when all those liberal House members went to Cuba and practically licked Castro's feet, slobbering with praise? Or how about a President who just can not help bowing to tyrants, dictators and terrorists? Liberals will kill this country.
YOUTUBE: TOP RABBI EXPOSES JEWISH RACISM
One of you neocon fanatics please provide us with a list of all the wonderful things the USA has gained from their "ally" Israel.
Two wars with iraq?
Israeli intelligence lies about Iraqi WMDs?
Israel's attempts to drag us into a war with Iran??
The Beruit Bombing and kidnappings in Lebanon - leading to the "missiles for hostages" deal with Iran?
The enmity of the Palestinians, resulting in propaganda ranging from "America hates Arabs" to "America is at war with Islam"?
Or maybe the repeated interference in the US political process by everything from AIPAC to neocon pukes like Cantor who put Israeli national interests ahead of US national interests??
With "friends" like Israel, who needs enemies???
Agreed.
WRONG! Here are some examples:
Senator Daniel Inouye, Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee and
former Chairman of the Intelligence Committee: “The intelligence received
from Israel exceeds the intelligence received from all NATO countries
combined.” He assessed that Soviet military hardware which was transferred,
by Israel, to the USA (P-12 Soviet radar in 1969, Mig-21 and Mig-23 Soviet
fighter aircraft in 1966 and 1989 respectively, etc.) tilted the global
balance of power in favor of the USA and amounted to a mega-billion dollar
bonus to the USA.
In 1981, Israel bombed Iraq’s nuclear reactor, thus sparing the US a nuclear
confrontation with Iraq in1991 and 2003. In 1982 and 2007, Israel
demolished Soviet surface-to-air missile batteries operated by Syria and a
Syrian-Iranian-North Korean nuclear reactor in Syria. The battle tactics -
which were the first ever to penetrate such advanced Soviet/Russian defense
systems – were shared with the US Air Force, enhancing the US military edge
over Moscow.
In 2011, US soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan benefit from Israel’s
experience in combating Improvised Explosive Devices, car bombs and suicide
bombers.
By the way - ISraeli medical techniques have reduced childhood leukemia death rates to less than 50%
AND THAT WAS BACK IN THE 1970's !!!!!!!
I found it interesting that when I googled this subject - the bulk of sites condemned Cantor's actions. I was seeking the argument to support Cantor's meeting and his subsequent message.
This story is troubling. Are any of the Conservative/Republicans voices specifically addressing this meeting? -lg
No, because loyalty to the Party and the funders of the Party (Israel and the Tea Party/Birchers) is more important to them than loyalty to the USA.
Remember USS Liberty!
This is the icing on the cake. It's been plain to see by anyone who using their own observation how Israel gets treated like the third rail, but now they don't even keep quiet about it. Wake up America! We've been sold out!!!
Connect the dots!
M. A. S. O. N.
Find these letters on the one dollar bill American Seal,
Draw a line from one to the other.
The image drawn is an uppside down triangle.
This is supperimposed over the Triangle formed by the Pyrimid.
The Resulting Image is the Star of David.
Also the Seal of SOLOMON!
This is a Hexagram, Claimed to Call or Suppress Demons!
Solomon was Paid 666 Talons in Tribute Annually
WHO? do you suppose Runs The Show in America?
Think About It!
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