http://www.washington-report.org/backissues/0798/9807025.html
Gingrich Prostration Caps Month of Congressional Prostitution
for Pro-Israel Votes, Campaign Contributions
By Shirl McArthur, Washington Report, July/August 1998, pages 25-26, 97
Leading the largest bipartisan delegation of senators and
representatives ever to visit Jerusalem, House Speaker Newt Gingrich
(R-GA) in late May prostrated himself before the god of Jewish
campaign contributions and votes, culminating a month of frenzied
prostitution by members of Congress from both parties for those same
favors.
The buildup to the events of May began much earlier, when the Clinton
administration began pressuring the government of Israeli Prime
Minister Binyamin Netanyahu to accept the American proposal to get the
peace process moving again, which reportedly included a 13.1 percent
withdrawal from the occupied West Bank. This prompted the Israeli
lobby to crank up its machinery, and, as described in detail in the
last issue of the Washington Report, congressional pressure, mostly in
the form of several highly publicized letters, caused the
administration to back off from its threats to publicize its
proposals.
Then, during the week of May 4, after Secretary of State Madeleine
Albright invited Netanyahu to visit Washington the following week to
meet directly with President Clinton, the frenzy began in earnest. In
the Senate on May 6, Sen. Alfonse D'Amato (R-NY) made public a letter
to Clinton saying that "the brave Israeli citizens who stand ready to
defend their nation should be supported by us in every fashion," and
that "it is not just bad policy; it is wrong" to "place an ultimatum
on Israel at this time." At a press conference, D'Amato and Arlen
Specter (R-PA) called an ultimatum "wrong and unproductive."
Separately, Sen. Connie Mack (R-FL) said, "we should not publicly
pressure an ally to violate their own security assessment."
In the House, also on May 6, Reps. Eliot Engel (D-NY), Bill Paxon
(R-NY), Steve Rothman (D-NJ), and Jim Saxton (R-NJ) released the text
of their letter strongly urging Clinton not to pressure Netanyahu.
(When the letter was finally sent, after being circulated in the House
for more than a month, it contained 236 signatures. For the full list
see page 26.) And a group of Democratic congressmen-Reps. Howard
Berman (CA), Peter Deutsch (FL), Engel, Martin Frost (TX), Nita Lowey
(NY), Rothman, and Brad Sherman (CA)-held a separate press conference
to say they would resist any efforts to use foreign aid as a lever to
pressure Israel.
The Leader of the Pack
But the leader of the pack was Gingrich. He held a separate press
conference on May 6, accompanied by House International Relations
Committee Chairman Benjamin Gilman (R-NY) and Paxon, during which he
said that "now it's become the Clinton administration and Arafat
against Israel," and that, as Israel celebrates its 50th anniversary,
"the Clinton administration says, "Happy Birthday. Let us blackmail
you on behalf of Arafat."" Gingrich also released the text of a letter
he sent to Clinton in which he said that for the U.S. to "unilaterally
design a "solution" or force Israel to the table would send a clear
signal to the supporters of terrorism that their murderous actions are
an effective tool in forcing concessions from Israel."
Then it got worse. During Netanyahu's Washington visit, congressional
leaders made no effort to restrain themselves. Gingrich, in a May 12
interview with Associated Press, in a statement he later denied
making, called Albright "the agent for the Palestinians."
At a May 14 luncheon in Netanyahu's honor on Capitol Hill, Senate
Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-MS) said, "I hope the administration
will not show partiality toward the Palestinians." Gilman said, "Mr.
Prime Minister, you are not only among friends, you are among family,"
using the Hebrew word "mishpochah" for family.
Gingrich accused President Arafat of "inciting people to emotionalism
and violence." (According to the Israeli newspapers Ma'ariv and Yediot
Ahronot, Netanyahu pledged to use his support in Congress to "set fire
to Washington" if Clinton continued to press for the 13.1 percent
withdrawal.)
Gingrich then took his message (and his pitch for Jewish votes and
contributions) directly to the source: AIPAC. (Gingrich's chief of
staff, Arne Christenson, previously served as AIPAC's legislative
director and once lived on a kibbutz in Israel.) In an interview with
the AIPAC publication Near East Report , former history professor
Gingrich showed that he can also master revisionist history, by
responding to a question about the status of Jerusalem by saying, "I
have firmly believed through my entire career in Congress that the
U.S. should recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital-indeed, as its
eternal capital. Israel established Jerusalem as its capital when the
state was founded 50 years ago. The city was unified in 1967, and all
the governmental offices have always been operated from that city.
More importantly, it has been the capital of the Jewish people for
more than 3,000 years."
Gingrich brazenly called on Israel to defy the U.S. government.
On May 19, the top congressional leaders of both parties-Gingrich,
Lott, Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD), and House Minority
Leader Richard Gephardt (D-MO)-fell all over themselves to demonstrate
their support for Israel before 2,000 of the faithful at the end of
AIPAC's annual policy conference.
However, Gingrich was clearly the star of the show! He brazenly called
upon Israel to defy the U.S. government, saying that Israel's "right
of self-determination has to be defended at all costs, even against
the best intention of some of Israel's friends, including the United
States."
But this was all just by way of warm-up for the main event: the
congressional delegation to Israel over the Memorial Day recess to
participate in Israel's "50th anniversary" celebration. (Actually,
there were four delegations, one led by Gingrich, one by Gilman, one
by Sen. Joseph Lieberman [D-CT], and one hosted by AIPAC. However, the
press tended to group them all together, with Gingrich as their
leader.) Although reports vary regarding who was on which delegation,
and even how many went in all, a list furnished by Americans for Peace
Now (APN), an organization of American Jews who understand the obvious
truth that Israeli security cannot be achieved without peace, lists 28
senators and representatives: Sens. Joe Biden (D-DE), Frank Lautenberg
(D-NJ), Lieberman, Don Nickles (R-OK), and Jack Reed (D-RI), and Reps.
Gingrich, Gephardt, Gary Ackerman (D-NY), Roy Blunt (R-MO), John
Cooksey (R-LA), Tom Davis (R-VA), Deutsch, Jim Gibbons (R-NV), Gilman,
Kay Granger (R-TX), Dennis Hastert (R-IL), Tom Lantos (D-CA), John
Linder (R-GA), Robert Livingston (R-LA), Michael McNulty (D-NY), Bob
Menendez (D-NJ), Dan Miller (R-FL), Connie Morella (R-MD), Jerrold
Nadler (D-NY), Anne Northup (R-KY), Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Mark Souder
(R-IN), and Henry Waxman (D-CA).
Actually, Gingrich fired the first shots of his visit before he even
arrived. First, on May 20, he announced at a rally on the Capitol
steps that he and Gephardt would visit the proposed site of the new
U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem and participate in a cornerstone-laying
ceremony. (Later, Gephardt's spokesman denied that, saying, "It's just
supposed to be a press conference.") Then, the day before his May 23
arrival, the Jerusalem Post published an op-ed piece by Gingrich, in
which he repeated that "Israel, and Israel alone, must define the
requirements of Israeli security," and he blamed the Palestinians for
freezing the peace process.
Gingrich's embassy-site plans raised a major firestorm. APN wrote to
each of the delegation members urging them not to participate in the
ceremony, because it "may be merely ceremonial, but it will clearly
destabilize the peace." Yossi Beilin, a leading member of Israel's
opposition Labor Party, said that he would boycott meetings with
Gingrich, because for Gingrich it was just a game, and "I don't think
he is a pro-Israel congressman." The White House and State Department
were furious with Gingrich and, reportedly, National Security Adviser
Sandy Berger personally asked Gingrich to cancel his visit to the
embassy site. On May 22, Gingrich announced that he and the delegation
would not visit the site.
But he wasn't through causing controversy. Speaking before the
Knesset, Israel's parliament, Gingrich said that "We in Congress stand
with you today in recognizing Jerusalem as the united and eternal
capital of Israel," causing the Arab members of the Knesset to walk
out.
Gingrich concluded his visit with an hour-and-a-half meeting with
Arafat in Ramallah that both sides described as positive. Gingrich
called the meeting "very honest," and the Palestinians also said the
meeting went well. Although Arafat did not participate with Gingrich
in a post-meeting news conference, PA Planning Minister Nabil Shaath
said, "I think we are creating a dialogue with the American Congress
for the first time."
In fact, there were earlier signs that some Democrats in Congress,
mostly in the Senate, saw that, as Beilin said, Gingrich was only
staging a "cynical" show for "right-wing American Jews," and was more
interested in attacking Clinton than supporting Israel. In early May,
there were reports that the "six senators letter," signed by Democrats
Daschle, Biden, Bob Graham (FL), Lautenberg, Carl Levin (D-MI) and
Lieberman, which applauded the administration for its efforts to
achieve peace, was sent at the instigation of the White House to
counter the effects of the "81 senators letter," which was described
in the May/June issue of the Washington Report. Prior to the Memorial
Day recess, Democratic Sens. Dianne Feinstein (CA), Lautenberg, and
Paul Wellstone (MN) all took to the floor to express their support for
the administration's efforts to further the peace process, while at
the same time emphasizing their own unquestioned pro-Israel
credentials. The one lone voice criticizing Israel was that of Sen.
Robert Byrd (D-WV), who expressed his support for the administration
and questioned the accusations that the U.S. was applying strong-arm
tactics on Israel. Byrd said, "If there has been coercion and
strong-arming or unreasonable tactics on the matter of negotiations
between Israel and the Palestinians over the last year or so it has
not been on the part of the United States. The unfortunate reality, as
I view it, is that the Israeli prime minister has pursued a policy of
paralysis in the peace process."
Perhaps the most interesting aspect of this whole spectacle was that
the mainstream media, which is normally gleefully eager to criticize
Gingrich, was largely silent about his performance in Jerusalem.
However, syndicated columnists Thomas L. Friedman in The New York
Times and Richard Cohen of The Washington Post, both Jewish but no
fans of Netanyahu and surely no fans of Gingrich, were scathingly
critical of Gingrich. In The Washington Post on May 28, Cohen said
that Gingrich should keep his mouth shut, "especially when abroad." He
accused Gingrich of demonstrating a clear "anti-Palestinian bent" by
declaring "Jerusalem to be the now-and-forever capital of Israel when
that, as he knows, is a passionate issue yet to be negotiated." Cohen
pointed out, as did the APN in a letter of protest to Gingrich, that a
majority of American Jews supports the administration's approach.
Friedman, in The New York Times on June 2, called Gingrich's
performance "pathetic" but typical, because in Gingrich's opinion "the
illusion is widespread that the peace process is just about domestic
U.S. politics, and who can mobilize Congress and the Jews the best."
As Gingrich well knows, a huge majority of Jews also votes for and
contributes to the Democratic Party. Does Gingrich really believe that
he can convince enough of them to switch their allegiance, and their
money, to him, or perhaps to the Republicans?
Shirl McArthur, a retired foreign service officer, is a senior
consultant with Bruce Morgan Associates, an international research and
consulting firm in the Washington, DC area.
236 Representatives Sign Letter to Clinton Supporting Israel
After circulating in the House for more than a month, a letter to
President Clinton criticizing the administration for planning to make
public its proposal for further steps to advance the peace process,
managed to garner 236 signatures:
Reps. Neil Abercrombie (D-HI), Gary Ackerman (D-NY), Robert Aderholt
(R-AL), Robert Andrews (D-NJ), Richard Armey (R-TX), Spencer Bachus
(R-AL), Scott Baesler (D-KY), Richard Baker (R-LA), Cass Ballenger
(R-NC), Bob Barr (R-GA), Charles Bass (R-NH), Ken Bentsen (D-TX),
Howard Berman (D-CA), Brian Bilbray (R-CA), Michael Bilirakis (R-FL),
Rod Blagojevich (D-IL), Thomas Bliley (R-VA), Roy Blunt (R-MO), John
Boehner (R-OH), Robert Borski (D-PA), Allen Boyd (D-FL), Kevin Brady
(R-TX), Corrine Brown (D-FL), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Jim Bunning
(R-KY), Dan Burton (R-IN), Ken Calvert (R-CA), Dave Camp (R-MI),
Charles Canady (R-FL), Chris Cannon (R-UT), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Michael
Castle (R-DE), Steve Chabot (R-OH), Saxby Chambliss (R-GA), Jon
Christensen (R-NE), Bob Clement (D-TN), Howard Coble (R-NC), Tom
Coburn (R-OK), Mac Collins (R-GA), Merrill Cook (R-UT), John Cooksey
(R-LA), Jerry Costello (D-IL), Chris Cox (R-CA), William Coyne (D-PA),
Bud Cramer (D-AL), Michael Crapo (R-ID), Barbara Cubin (R-WY), Randy
Cunningham (R-CA), Jim Davis (D-FL), Tom Davis (R-VA), Nathan Deal
(R-GA), Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Tom DeLay (R-TX),
Peter Deutsch (D-FL), Norman Dicks (D-WA), John Doolittle (R-CA),
David Dreier (R-CA), Jennifer Dunn (R-WA), Robert Ehrlich (R-MD),
Eliot Engel (D-NY), Phil English (R-PA), John Ensign (R-NV), Thomas
Ewing (R-IL), Bob Filner (D-CA), Vic Fazio (D-CA), Mark Foley (R-FL),
Michael Forbes (R-NY), Harold Ford, Jr. (D-TN), Vito Fossella (R-NY),
Tillie Fowler (R-FL), Jon Fox (R-PA), Bob Franks (R-NJ), Rodney
Frelinghuysen (R-NJ), Martin Frost (D-TX), Greg Ganske (R-IA), Dick
Gephardt (D-MO), Jim Gibbons (R-NV), Ben Gilman (R-NY), Newt Gingrich
(R-GA), Bill Goodling (R-PA), Bart Gordon (D-TN), Lindsay Graham
(R-SC), Kay Granger (R-TX), Gene Green (D-TX), Jim Greenwood (R-PA),
Luis Gutierrez (D-IL), Gil Gutknecht (R-MN), Jane Harman (D-CA),
Dennis Hastert (R-IL), Alcee Hastings (D-FL), Doc Hastings (R-WA),
J.D. Hayworth (R-AZ), Maurice Hinchey (D-NY), David Hobson (R-OH),
Tim Holden (D-PA), Steve Horn (R-CA), Steny Hoyer (D-MD), Asa
Hutchinson (R-AR), Henry Hyde (R-IL), Bob Inglis (R-SC), Sheila
Jackson-Lee (D-TX), Nancy Johnson (R-CT), Walter Jones (R-NC), John
Kasich (R-OH), Sue Kelly (R-NY), Patrick Kennedy (D-RI), Barbara
Kennelly (D-CT), Ron Kind (D-WI), Jack Kingston (R-GA), Gerald Kleczka
(D-WI), Ron Klink (D-PA), Scott Klug (R-WI), John LaFalce (D-NY), Ray
LaHood (R-IL), Nick Lampson (D-TX), Steve Largent (R-OK), Tom Latham
(R-IA), Steve LaTourette (R-OH), Rick Lazio (R-NY), Jim Leach (R-IA),
John Lewis (D-GA), Ron Lewis (R-KY), John Linder (R-GA), William
Lipinski (D-IL), Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ), Nita Lowey (D-NY), Frank Lucas
(R-OK), Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), Jim Maloney (D-CT), Thomas Manton
(D-NY), Don Manzullo (R-IL), Bob Matsui (D-CA), Carolyn McCarthy
(D-NY), Jim McCrery (R-LA), Bill McCollum (R-FL), Joseph McDade
(R-PA), Jim McGovern (D-MA), Paul McHale (D-PA), Scott McInnis (R-CO),
David McIntosh (R-IN), Buck McKeon (R-CA), Michael McNulty (D-NY),
Martin Meehan (D-MA), Greg Meeks (D-NY), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Jack
Metcalf (R-WA), Dan Miller (R-FL), Connie Morella (R-MD), Sue Myrick
(R-NC), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Richard Neal (D-MA), George Nethercutt
(R-WA), Mark Neumann (R-WI), Anne Northup (R-KY), Eleanor Holmes
Norton (D-DC), Jim Nussle (R-IA), Major Owens (D-NY), Frank Pallone
(D-NJ), Mike Pappas (R-NJ), Mike Parker (R-MS), Bill Pascrell (D-NJ)),
Ed Pastor (D-AZ), Bill Paxon (R-NY), Joseph Pitts (R-PA), Richard
Pombo (R-CA), John Porter (R-IL), Glenn Poshard (D-IL), Deborah Pryce
(R-OH), Jim Ramstad (R-MN), Charlie Rangel (D-NY), Silvestre Reyes
(D-TX), Frank Riggs (R-CA), Bob Riley (R-AL), Ciro Rodriguez (D-TX),
Tim Roemer (D-IN), Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Steve Rothman (D-NJ),
Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA), Ed Royce (R-CA), Bobby Rush (D-IL), Jim
Ryun (R-KS), Martin Sabo (D-MN), Matt Salmon (R-AZ), Loretta Sanchez
(D-CA), Max Sandlin (D-TX), Jim Saxton (R-NJ), Charles Schumer (D-NY),
Jose Serrano (D-NY), Pete Sessions (R-TX), John Shadegg (R-AZ), Clay
Shaw (R-FL), Christopher Shays (R-CT), Brad Sherman (D-CA), John
Shimkus (R-IL), Norman Sisisky (D-VA), Joe Skeen (R-NM), Ike Skelton
(D-MO), Louise Slaughter (D-NY), Adam Smith (D-WA), Chris Smith
(R-NJ), Lamar Smith (R-TX), Linda Smith (R-WA), Vince Snowbarger
(R-KS), Gerald Solomon (R-NY), Mark Souder (R-IN), Debbie Stabenow
(D-MI), Cliff Stearns (R-FL), Ted Strickland (D-OH), Bart Stupak
(D-MI), James Talent (R-MO), John Tanner (D-TN), Ellen Tauscher
(D-CA), W.J. Tauzin (R-LA), John Thune (R-SD), Bill Thomas (R-CA),
Karen Thurman (D-FL), Todd Tiahrt (R-KS), Esteban Torres (D-CA), Ed
Towns (D-NY), Jim Turner (D-TX), Nydia Velasquez (D-NY), Peter
Visclosky (D-IN), Zach Wamp (R-TN), J.C. Watts (R-OK), Curt Weldon
(R-PA), Dave Weldon (R-FL), Jerry Weller (R-IL), Robert Wexler (D-FL),
Robert Weygand (D-RI), Rick White (R-WA), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Frank
Wolf (R-VA), Lynn Woolsey (D-CA), Al Wynn (D-MD), and Sidney Yates
(D-IL).
