Being an elected Democrat is treacherous business these days when it comes to the subject of US-Israeli relations. On one hand, Israel is a beacon of democratic pluralism, tolerance and modernity in a very rough neighborhood, and an extremely close American ally. On the other, Barack Obama and company
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The resolution presented by Republican Del. Brenda Pogge stated that a “cordial and mutually beneficial relationship” between Virginia and Israel should be encouraged, and also laid out the case for “Israel’s legal, historical, moral, and God-given right of...self-governance and self-defense throughout the entirety of its land.” The resolution passed by a wide margin of 70-2, with a large number of Democrat members choosing to sit out from the vote by leaving the chamber. The two votes against the resolution came from Democrats Vivian Watts and Scott Surovell.
Two Democrats had the courage of their morally-perverse convictions; others fled the chamber for the vote, returned to their seats, then raced for the exits again when a re-vote was proposed. The House Speaker rightly mocked this "profile in courage" from the podium as his craven colleagues bolted:
As Richmond Times-Dispatch photo showed the vacated seats:
Meanwhile, national Democrats are split over whether to attend Netanyahu's speech, which will focus on the existential threat of a nuclear-capable Iran. The address was announced against the backdrop of
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Netanyahu is “a man who fights for his people, unlike our president," Giuliani said.
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