NEW ORLEANS (WGNO)—Louisiana Rep. Cedric Richmond won’t be on hand to see Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech to a joint session of Congress.
Richmond, who represents the state’s second district, said Friday he will join nearly two dozen other Democrats in skipping Netanyahu’s controversial speech.
“Throughout my time as an elected official, I have been a staunch supporter of Israel through action and words,” Richmond said in a statement. But, he added, “Congress is not a political pawn, nor is it the forum to set foreign policy decisions without consultation from the President.”
Netanyahu’s March 3 visit to Congress has sparked political battles on Capitol Hill.
Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-OH) invited Netanyahu without informing the White House, which traditionally sets foreign policy. President Obama responded by deciding not to meet with the Israeli Prime Minister. Netanyahu will face an election later in March, and the White House says it wants to avoid appearances that President Obama is attempting to influence voters there.
Rep. Richmond’s full statement, as issued through his press office, is below.
“Israel is one of our nation’s strongest allies. This is an indisputable fact. Throughout my time as an elected official, I have been a staunch supporter of Israel through action and words. I traveled to Israel my first year in Congress to celebrate Independence Day and discuss our shared agenda with Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
A secure and prosperous Israel is in the best interest of the United States and the world. Iran’s pursuit of nuclear weapons undeniably threatened Israel’s, and ultimately the United States’, security. Because of this reality, the President and an overwhelming bipartisan majority of Congress agree that we must do all we can to prevent this from happening. However, Prime Minister Netanyahu’s speech, currently scheduled for March 3rd before a joint session of Congress, serves the opposite purpose. The United States Congress is not a political pawn, nor is it the forum to set foreign policy decisions without consultation from the President. For these reasons I have decided not to attend this joint session.
The Constitution places the primary responsibility for foreign affairs in the hands of the President. Speaker John Boehner, a fervent defender of the Constitution, should understand this. However, when he chose to invite a foreign leader to address a joint session of Congress without consulting the White House or Congressional Democratic leadership, he clearly encroached on the Presidents Constitutional authority. Time and time again, Speaker Boehner and Congressional Republicans have tried to embarrass the President of the United States. It is my hope that their misguided actions in this instance cause no irreversible harm.
The Prime Minister’s scheduled address destabilizes the President’s authority in foreign policy and forces law makers who are supportive of Israel to choose between offending Israel and undermining the President. We should not allow a perceived partisan action to cause discord among parties who agree on the threat of an armed Iran. Additionally, we must not allow Israel’s security to evolve into a partisan exercise and we must not allow the United States Congress to be used for a foreign leader’s political purposes.
A few short weeks after this proposed joint session, Israel will hold an election. The fact that Prime Minister Netanyahu is a candidate in this election is reason enough to cancel or at least postpone the speech. Using the floor of Congress for a stump speech not only marginalizes the integrity of Congress, but suggests an improper endorsement from the United States for a candidate in a foreign nation. We have established that Congress will not be a place for political posturing for foreign diplomats, even when they are our allies. Even in Israel, there is trepidation that the Prime Minister is overstepping his bounds if he goes through with the speech as planned.
My decision not to attend the joint session is not an issue of partisanship nor is it indicative of a lack of commitment to Israel. Members of Congress are tasked with upholding the sanctity of the Constitution. I intend to uphold that responsibility. I urge the Speaker and Prime Minister Netanyahu to reconsider this joint session to ensure the prosperous relationship between the United States and Israel is protected from partisan politics, and to preserve a world in which both Israel and the United States are safe.”
