Greta Van Susteren
22 mins · Edited ·
LIKE and SHARE this post if you agree this is bad behavior.
I was stunned by Leader Pelosi's conduct today at Prime Minister Netanyahu's speech. This Facebook post in not about whether you should agree or not agree with the Prime Minister or whether he should give a speech or not -- this is about how one should behave when one is a leader and makes the decision to attend the speech.
I went to the speech and, from my seat in the press balcony, I had a direct line of vision to Leader Pelosi for the entire speech.
Her behavior was so obvious that it was hard to take your eyes off her. She was rude...very rude.
For example, when others (BOTH Republicans and Democrats) stood and clapped, she was about the last to stand and then when she did stand, she turned her back on the Prime Minister and spoke to the person behind her. It was obvious what she was doing and what message she was sending. This happened multiple times. I am not saying she had to stand and clap even when her fellow Democrats were -- but if she was going to stand, she should not have demonstrated her disdain by turning her back.
I realize this is politics and politics are different than the law, but if you acted like this in the courtroom, a judge would hold you in contempt.
By the way, she was the only one I saw doing anything remotely like this -- the other Democrats were polite and clapping, maybe not enthusiastically clapping, but dignified and polite to the Prime Minister.
I know Leader Pelosi is furious that the Prime MInister spoke today (she has made that plain) but she should have stayed in her office instead of attending the speech and showing such disdain for a Head of State of an ally in such a public way. As a Leader in the House of Representatives, she does represent all of us.
And yes, people can have very different and very strong views -- these are tough issues and serious times - but , when you are a leader representing others at a public forum with a Head of State from an ally, either be polite or just don't go. Her behavior was juvenile. She should have skipped it.
Note that she issued a statement after the speech and here it is is:
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Pelosi Statement on Prime Minister Netanyahu’s Address to Congress
Washington, D.C. – Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi released the following statement regarding Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address to the Joint Meeting of Congress:
“The unbreakable bonds between the United States and Israel are rooted in our shared values, our common ideals and mutual interests. Ours is a deep and abiding friendship that will always reach beyond party. Americans stand shoulder to shoulder with the Israeli people. The state of Israel stands as the greatest political achievement of the 20th century, and the United States will always have an unshakable commitment to Israel’s security.
“That is why, as one who values the U.S. – Israel relationship, and loves Israel, I was near tears throughout the Prime Minister’s speech – saddened by the insult to the intelligence of the United States as part of the P5 +1 nations, and saddened by the condescension toward our knowledge of the threat posed by Iran and our broader commitment to preventing nuclear proliferation.
“Today, Prime Minister Netanyahu reiterated something we all agree upon: a nuclear armed Iran is unacceptable to both our countries. We have all said that a bad deal is worse than no deal, and stopping the spread of nuclear weapons is the bedrock of our foreign policy and national security. As President Obama has said consistently, all options are on the table for preventing a nuclear-armed Iran.”
