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Puppies and rainbows: How the bipartisan invitation to the leader of Israel threatens to divide the Democrats

Puppies and rainbows: How the bipartisan invitation to the leader of Israel threatens to divide the Democrats

All four Congressional leaders extended an invitation to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to speak to a Joint Meeting of Congress. “I am very moved to have the privilege of representing Israel before both Houses of Congress and to present the truth about our just war against those who seek to destroy us to the representatives of the American people and the entire world,” Netanyahu said in accepting the invitation. But the decision to invite Netanyahu is anything but puppies and rainbows on Capitol Hill. EMBATTLED SEN. BOB MENENDEZ TO DITCH THE DEMOCRATS IN REELECTION BID One party is squarely behind Netanyahu. And one is not. In fact, Democrats who oppose bringing Netanyahu to Capitol Hill to deliver the address even accused House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., of trying to divide Democrats by extending the invitation. But the war in the Middle East has already cleaved Democrats. It’s a fracture between progressives and supporters of Israel which could split the Democratic coalition – conceivably costing President Biden the election if liberals stay home. “This is probably one of the most disturbing things I can think Congress can do is to have Netanyahu come,” said Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., one of the first Muslim women ever elected to Congress. “It’s just unconscionable. His crimes are about to be prosecuted by the ICC (International Criminal Court). The international community is talking about him starving the population of Gaza,” continued Omar. “I don’t think any leader should allow this to happen.” Yet House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., signed on to the invitation. “The divide is overstated. The Republicans have repeatedly tried to make Israel a partisan, political issue and divide Democrats. And they have failed,” replied Jeffries when asked about consternation surrounding a Netanyahu address. The Brooklyn Democrat then proceeded to explain how his caucus held together to lift the debt ceiling, avert multiple flirtations with a government shutdown, and aid Ukraine. However, Jeffries did not cite the vote on the bill to aid Israel in April. The House adopted that package 366 to 58. But 37 Democrats voted nay. REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK: THERE’S LITTLE CHANCE THAT LAWMAKERS WILL KISS – AND ‘MAKEUP’ However, unlike the majority party, Democrats have not tried to unseat two different Speakers this Congress. Politics is about contrasts and perspectives. And perhaps that’s how Jeffries attempted to offer a pollyannish view of his party compared to the routine, internecine fisticuffs which paralyzed the majority. “It’s nothing but puppies and rainbows on the House Democratic Caucus side,” said Jeffries, drawing laughter from the Capitol press corps. But it’s far from it when it comes to tensions among Democrats about the Middle East and the speech to the Joint Meeting of Congress by Netanyahu. The easy thing for Democrats who disagree with Netanyahu or view him as a threat is to hold a press conference or two, sit out the speech and maybe stage a counterprotest of some type. House Democratic Caucus Chairman Pete Aguilar, D-Calif., says he wants Congress to “bring the temperature down.” But it’s hard to keep the thermometer in check if everything isn’t puppies and rainbows. “Everybody who comes on that House floor should be respectful of the gathering that is happening, whether we are voting or whether someone is speaking to us. That’s the overwhelming feeling of Democratic leadership,” said Aguilar. Netanyahu last spoke to Congress in the fall of 2015. And Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., says an appearance by Netanyahu fails to lower the temperature. “I do think that (his speech) is unconstructive and his attendance is unconstructive of the U.S. goal of trying to establish a ceasefire,” said Ocasio-Cortez. “I don’t think that we should be rewarding individuals who are not as focused or committed to that aim (of a ceasefire) as the U.S. administration is.”  “She’s wrong,” said Rep. Brad Schneider, D-Ill., when asked about the remarks of Ocasio-Cortez.  So much for puppies and rainbows. NYC JEWISH, MUSLIM, CHRISTIAN LEADERS RESPOND AFTER MORE HOSTAGES FOUND DEAD IN GAZA Schneider is Jewish and one of the most-ardent supporters of Israel in Congress. “Israel’s our most important ally in the Middle East. One of our best allies in the world. And it’s important for all Members of Congress – Democrats and Republicans – come to hear what the Prime Minister has to say. There’s a lot of things I disagree with. The specifics of Prime Minister Netanyahu’s politics. His policies. And I’ve been open about those. But I have no space between my commitment to support the US-Israel relationship,” said Schneider. On Ocasio-Cortez’s comments, Schneider said that “too many people in Congress will close their minds on a whole number of issues.”  Schneider cited the April roll call vote to send assistance to Israel. “They were wrong for that vote. I believe they vote their conscience. I respect that. And I continue to try to persuade them as to why I think that was a bad decision,” said Schneider. “Hopefully the next time something like this comes up, I can win the argument.” There will be another time for that. Perhaps this fall when Congress tries to fund the government. Or maybe early next year when a new Congress is in place, President Biden is entering his second term or former President Trump is entering his second term.  But one thing is for certain, it’s not all puppies and rainbows when it comes to the Middle East for Democrats. And the chasm is deep enough that this issue alone could block Democrats from picking up the House and re-electing President Biden. Sure. Republicans suffer their divides, too. But an even deeper schism for Democrats lurks around the corner if Democrats fail to flip the House after the performance of Republicans over the past two years. That’s to say nothing of a possible repeat of former President Trump. If Democrats stumble at the polls this fall, they will tear at each other like limbs from a ragdoll.

Republican lawmaker’s son steals spotlight by making silly faces during speech on House floor

Republican lawmaker’s son steals spotlight by making silly faces during speech on House floor

Despite Rep. John Rose’s impassioned speech Monday decrying last week’s conviction of former President Trump, all eyes were on the show behind him.   As the Tennessee Republican spoke on the House floor, his son, 6-year-old Guy Rose, looked directly into the cameras, smiling mischievously from ear to ear.  The younger Rose appeared to fidget a bit then, after looking bored, stuck out his tongue and made a series of silly faces and hand gestures as his father plowed ahead with his speech, railing against the “weaponization of our justice system.”   It wasn’t long before the youngster became a social media star and a new meme — at age 6.   SOME FORMER ‘NEVER TRUMP’ VOTERS NOW SAY THEY’RE BACKING GOP NOMINEE AFTER HIS CONVICTION “He knows something,” Doug Andres, the spokesman for Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell, tweeted on X with a caption of the young Rose. “So sorry I was slow responding to your email, I was tied up watching this over and over again,” tweeted Aaron Fritschner, the communications director for Rep. Don Beyer, D-Va.  Rose himself, seemed to take the incident in stride, joking in an online post: “This is what I get for telling my son Guy to smile at the camera for his little brother.”  Guy Rose just graduated from kindergarten last week and is with his dad for the week. Rep. Rose’s youngest son, Sam, 3, and his wife, Chelsea, are back in Tennessee.

Republican Vince Fong sworn into Kevin McCarthy’s old House seat

Republican Vince Fong sworn into Kevin McCarthy’s old House seat

Republican Vince Fong of California was sworn into Congress on Monday after winning a special election to complete the remainder of the term of deposed former U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Fong was a member of the California State Assembly before running for the House. He was backed by former President Donald Trump and McCarthy, who watched the ceremony in person from the House floor. Fong’s swearing-in gives Republicans a 218-213 majority. KEVIN MCCARTHY’S GHOST IS HAUNTING HOUSE GOP’S NEXT BIG LEGISLATIVE FIGHT Fong said that as he has traveled his Central Valley-based congressional district, he heard that Congress must do more to address the U.S.-Mexico border, stop the rising cost of everyday essentials and work to keep communities safe, among other priorities. “I know that our concerns are very familiar with the concerns that all of you have heard,” Fong said. “We must do more to find solutions and deliver results.” Fong defeated fellow Republican and Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux in a special election last month in the 20th Congressional District, in the state’s farm belt. McCarthy is the only speaker in history to be voted out of the job. About two months after that historic vote, he opted to resign rather than serve out the remainder of his term. He has worked behind the scenes to promote Fong’s candidacy — a political action committee linked to McCarthy steered over $700,000 into the 20th District contest to boost Fong’s campaign. Fong said he wanted to especially thank McCarthy, calling him a mentor and friend and saying “he has worked tirelessly for decades on behalf of the constituents of the Central Valley of California and our nation.”

Embattled Sen. Bob Menendez files to run for reelection as Independent candidate

Embattled Sen. Bob Menendez files to run for reelection as Independent candidate

Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., has filed a petition with nearly 2,500 signatures, to run for reelection as an Independent, despite being on trial for federal bribery charges. The New Jersey Division of Elections lists Menendez as a candidate in the Nov. 5 election, after he submitted a petition with 2,465 signatures. In order to make it onto the ballot, Menendez was required to collect 800 signatures. Menendez has served three terms as a senator and is now seeking a fourth. After much speculation over whether Menendez would run for re-election — given the various criminal charges he faces of conspiracy, obstruction of justice, bribery, acting as a foreign agent, extortion and honest services fraud — he revealed in March that he would not be filing for the Democratic Senate primary. REPUBLICANS SEE EMBATTLED MENENDEZ’S POTENTIAL INDEPENDENT BID AS CHANCE TO FLIP SENATE SEAT Instead, Menendez proclaimed at the same time, his desire to run as an independent if he is exonerated during his summer trial. He did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment on his bid for reelection. Menendez and his wife, Nadine, have both pleaded not guilty to bribery and obstruction of justice charges. They are accused of accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes in the form of cash, gold bars and a Mercedes-Benz, for the benefit of various business persons and the Egyptian government. The senator’s trial kicked off in May. SEN BOB MENENDEZ MAY BLAME HIS WIFE NADINE DURING FEDERAL CORRUPTION TRIAL: COURT DOCS Jurors will be expected to discern whether evidence against Menendez and two New Jersey businessmen, Fred Daibes and Wael Hana, shows they were part of a bribery scheme, including meddling in criminal investigations and taking actions benefiting the governments of Egypt and Qatar.  All three have pleaded not guilty. Co-defendant Jose Uribe has pleaded guilty and agreed to testify against the other defendants. A trial for the senator’s wife is delayed until at least July for health reasons.  This is the second time in a decade that Menendez has been accused in a federal corruption case.  SEN MENENDEZ CHARGED WITH OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE IN ANOTHER SUPERSEDING INDICTMENT Menendez was charged by federal prosecutors with obstruction of justice in another superseding indictment unsealed in March relating to a multiyear alleged bribery scheme involving the Egypt and Qatar governments. The 18-page indictment is wrapped into Menendez’s existing charges already against him and his co-defendants – including his wife, Nadine – for allegedly acting as a foreign agent and accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes to benefit the Egyptian government through his power and influence as a senator. The indictment comes after Uribe accepted the plea deal and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors. The charges also alleged Menendez committed conspiracy, bribery, acting as a foreign agent, extortion and wire fraud. Earlier in April, Nadine’s attorneys requested to postpone her trial after an “unexpected medical development” arose. She was diagnosed with a “serious medical condition” on Apr. 9, her lawyers said. Republicans in New Jersey welcomed the embattled senator’s potential independent re-election bid in 2024 as they look to break the party’s decades-long hold over the state’s U.S. Senate delegation.  Fox News Digital’s Julia Johnson and Jamie Joseph contributed to this report.