There are 2 correct ways to hold politicians accountable.  Either with your votes or with your money.  I am not happy with President Obama’s approach towards Israel and its Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.  How could I be?  But I also maintain that we must not allow the cowardly politicians turning their backs on Israel to hide behind the president’s policies.  Criticizing the president is not only justified, but in the United States where we have freedom of speech it is proper and correct if and when we choose do so.  However, let us not allow that criticism to deflect responsibility away from all the other politicians that deserve criticism as well.

Next time someone criticizes all those turning their backs on Israel and we see all the blame being put on Barack Obama remember this very important fact. All of these individuals are grown men and women responsible for their own actions.  I agree that the example set by the White House is an awful one, but these individuals could have made the choice to stand behind their only reliable ally in the Middle East had they shown the character and or wisdom to do so. This president will be out of office in 2 years while many if not all of these other politicians still have ambitions moving forward.  We must not allow any of them to deflect responsibility for their actions and hide behind the president.  If we do so we are not using the power we have either as voters or contributors.

Hold ALL of these politicians responsible.  Hold back your money and hold back your vote.  And let them know you plan to do so.

The following list is courtesy of CNN.com

Many more have said they’re undecided on whether to attend, and more defections could emerge in the coming days. A full list of the Democrats who have confirmed they’re missing the speech follows:

SENATE – 4 members

Sen. Tim Kaine (Va.)

Sen. Patrick Leahy (Vt.)

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.)

Sen. Brian Schatz (Hawaii)

HOUSE – 30 members

Rep. Earl Blumenauer (Ore.)

Rep. G.K. Butterfield (N.C.)

Rep. Andre Carson (Ind.)

Rep. James Clyburn (S.C.)

Rep. Steve Cohen (Tenn.)

Rep. Peter DeFazio (Ore.)

Rep. Diana DeGette (Colo.)

Rep. Donna Edwards (Md.)

Rep. Keith Ellison (Minn.)

Rep. Raúl Grijalva (Ariz.)

Rep. Luis Gutiérrez (Ill.)

Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D.C.)

Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (Texas)

Rep. Barbara Lee (Calif.)

Rep. John Lewis (Ga.)

Rep. Betty McCollum (Minn.)

Rep. Jim McDermott (Wash.)

Rep. Gregory Meeks (N.Y.)

Rep. Beto O’Rourke (Texas)

Rep. Chellie Pingree (Maine)

Rep. Cedric Richmond (La.)

Rep. Jan Schakowsky (Ill.)

Rep. Bennie Thompson (Miss.)

Rep. John Yarmuth (Ky.)

Rep. Danny Davis (Ill.)

Rep. Elijah Cummings (Md.)

Rep. Jim McGovern (Mass.)

Rep. Kathleen Clark (Mass.)

Rep. William Lacy Clay (Mo.)

LIKE THIS POST? SHARE IT ON FACEBOOK OR TWITTER

HOW TO BUY THE BOOK

CLICK TO JOIN “THE GLOBAL COALITION FOR ISRAEL” ON FACEBOOK