Democrats Split, Confused, and Dazed Over Israeli Counterattacks on Hamas

Ok, get your scorecards ready, and try to determine WHERE the Democratic Party, America’s Congressional leaders, America’s incoming President, and his administration stand on this issue.

Pres-elect Obama (long labeled as indecisive by his detractors) has not commented on Israel’s counterattacks against Hamas in Gaza. Before being elected he was both an advocate of peace and a supporter of Israel’s right to defend itself. The rocket attacks that preceded Israel’s counterattack have been going on since 2002, and talks have never prevented them.

Senator Clinton (D) (Obama’s pick for Secretary of State) backs Israel’s counterattacks and dismissed diplomatic talks with Hamas.

“negotiating with Hamas is unacceptable for the United States.”

Fmr CENTCOM commander and failed Mideast envoy, Gen. Anthony Zinni thinks she’s wrong, and he says Obama’s Admin should start talks asap.

“The old way of using envoys and summits and us putting plans on the table — that has never worked. I think we need a fresh start, more involved, a greater presence on the ground and a commitment to do it throughout the term of an administration,” Zinni said.

Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D) blames Israel for the violence, ignores Hamas’ thousands of rocket attacks, and calls for a U.N. investigation.

“All this was, and is, disproportionate, indiscriminate mass violence in violation of international law,” Kucinich said in a statement. “Israel is not exempt from international law and must be held accountable.”

Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D) does recognize the thousands of Hamas rockets that have been launched into civilian areas in Israel, and thus does not blame Israel.

Pelosi and other Democrats have refrained from criticizing Israel’s government, which has responded to the Hamas attacks with a rocket assault on Gaza. “Peace between Israelis and Palestinians cannot result from daily barrages of rocket and mortar fire from Hamas-controlled Gaza,” Pelosi said in a statement posted on the Speaker’s website on Monday.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D) agrees that the onus for the past 4 days of violence rests w Hamas-NOT Israel.

Reid said he “strongly” supported Israel’s right to defend its citizens from the Hamas rocket attacks and to restore its security. He also blamed Hamas for any humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip. “Hamas’s failure to stop these attacks only exacerbates the humanitarian situation for the residents of Gaza and undermines efforts to attain peace and security in the region.”

Rep. Howard Berman (D) (chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee) also blames Hamas-not Israel.

“The loss of innocent life is a terrible tragedy, and the blame for that tragedy lies with Hamas.”

Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D) also blames Hamas.

“Hamas is abusing the people of Gaza by using their homes as a base for terror operations,” he said. “The world should no longer tolerate a terrorist government in the Gaza Strip.”

Former Congresswoman and renown police slapper, Cynthia McKinney (D) took a different approach. She loaded up a yacht w supplies and tried to help out the Palestinians. Unfortunately for her and her friends, the boat was stopped by the Israelis.

4 days into the Israeli air campaign+blockade, and President-elect Obama STILL hasn’t made a comment in support of Israel’s right to defend itself against Hamas’ rocket attacks, in favor of talking with the political arm of the terrorist group, or in against Israel and in support of a U.N. investigation into Israel’s alleged violation of international law and genocidal war. Foreign affairs legend, Vice President-elect Joe Biden (D), has also been silent on the matter (though with his tendency to gaffe, this might have saved lives).

He hasn’t even voted PRESENT. The Democrats’ Congress is clearly split. Policy advisors and leaders are confused as to whether or not to even talk w Hamas, and President-elect himself is apparently dazed and unable to lead or even make a statement while on vacation.

Apparently THIS is leadership.
THIS, is the 21st Century Democratic Party.