Prime Minister Netanyahu’s speech last week to Congress was eloquent and impassioned, and was interrupted repeatedly by cheers and standing ovations.
But not everyone applauded or appreciated Netanyahu’s message. In fact, several dozen Democrats did not even attend. Vice President Biden, Secretary of State Kerry and, of course, President Obama were also no-shows.
A number of Democrats criticized and even ridiculed Netanyahu’s warnings of Iran’s genocidal intentions. A reaction that really stood out came from House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi.
“I was near tears…saddened by the insult to the intelligence of the United States…and saddened by the condescension toward our knowledge of the threat posed by Iran and our broader commitment to preventing nuclear proliferation,” she said.
I must admit I laughed when I heard Pelosi’s remarks. I laughed that she was “near tears” and at her contention that Netanyahu’s speech was “an insult to the intelligence of the United States.” I’m still giggling.
This is the same Nancy Pelosi who demanded that Republicans stop bickering over Obamacare and who pushed for its passage with her now famous statement that “we have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it.”
Insulting the intelligence of the United States? You bet.
After the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese premier Rafik Hariri, Pelosi defied the wishes of the Bush administration and traveled to Syria to meet with Syrian President Bashar Assad. At a press conference afterward she told reporters she had delivered a message to Assad from Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert saying that Israel was ready to negotiate. Olmert’s office disputed that claim, saying that “although Israel is interested in peace with Syria, that country continues to be part of the axis of evil and a force that encourages terror in the entire Middle East.” The Prime Minister’s Office later said that “Pelosi took part of the things that were said in the meeting [with Olmert] and used what suited her.”
Insulting the intelligence of the United States (and Israel)? Sure seems that way.
For years Pelosi questioned the integrity of Republicans who, she alleged, were unduly beholden to donations and perks from lobbyists. Then ABC News uncovered the interesting fact that she had her own “Pelosi 100,” an elite group of donors, lobbyists, and political action committee members who “contribute and raise $100,000 or more each in personal funds” for Pelosi and her colleagues. During the August 2008 Democratic Convention, the Pelosi 100 attempted to quietly run an elaborate VIP program that rewarded wealthy contributors with luxury perks, back stage access to the convention, and insider access to key elected officials, all part of what Democratic Party Chairman Howard Dean called the “business plan.”
Insulting the intelligence of the United States? You be the judge.
But when it comes to insulting our intelligence, Pelosi can still learn a thing or two from the White House. In objecting to Majority Leader John Boehner’s invitation to Netanyahu to address Congress, the administration did everything it could to discredit Netanyahu, including making the claim that the speech would be devoid of any meaningful content because Israel didn’t know the details of the emerging deal with Iran. Yet when Israel responded that it in fact knew the details, the White House warned Netanyahu not to reveal any of them.
Insulting the intelligence of the United States? Certainly.
One wonders whether Pelosi is still “near tears.”