Senator Schumer: "Peter King stood head & shoulders above everyone else"

[Dennis Donovan]

Link to tweet

Chuck Schumer ✔ @SenSchumer

Peter King stood head & shoulders above everyone else

He’s been principled & never let others push him away from his principles

He’s fiercely loved America, Long Island, and his Irish heritage and left a lasting mark on all 3

I will miss him in Congress & value his friendship

The Hill ✔@thehill

#BREAKING: Longtime GOP Rep. Peter King won't seek reelection: report http://hill.cm/ZqP3Npp

7:50 AM - Nov 11, 2019

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. He loved his Irish heritage so much

that he supported the IRA. Apparently he was opposed to terrorist organizations only if they are Muslim.

[H2O Man]

10. Sinn Fein

He supported Sinn Fein. I still never liked him.

On edit: He did speak at what was called a pro-IRA rally in 1982.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

15. Sinn Fein was the political wing of the IRA. King spoke out in favor of the IRA itself

on a number of occasions.

For Representative Peter T. King, as he seizes the national spotlight this week with a hearing on the radicalization of American Muslims, it is the most awkward of résumé entries. Long before he became an outspoken voice in Congress about the threat from terrorism, he was a fervent supporter of a terrorist group, the Irish Republican Army.

“We must pledge ourselves to support those brave men and women who this very moment are carrying forth the struggle against British imperialism in the streets of Belfast and Derry,” Mr. King told a pro-I.R.A. rally on Long Island, where he was serving as Nassau County comptroller, in 1982. Three years later he declared, “If civilians are killed in an attack on a military installation, it is certainly regrettable, but I will not morally blame the I.R.A. for it.”

As Mr. King, a Republican, rose as a Long Island politician in the 1980s, benefiting from strong Irish-American support, the I.R.A. was carrying out a bloody campaign of bombing and sniping, targeting the British Army, Protestant paramilitaries and sometimes pubs and other civilian gathering spots. His statements, along with his close ties to key figures in the military and political wings of the I.R.A., drew the attention of British and American authorities.

A judge in Belfast threw him out of an I.R.A. murder trial, calling him an “obvious collaborator,” said Ed Moloney, an Irish journalist and author of “A Secret History of the I.R.A.” In 1984, Mr. King complained that the Secret Service had investigated him as a “security risk,” Mr. Moloney said.

https://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/09/us/politics/09king.html

[H2O Man]

22. Yes, I'm quite

familiar with Sinn Fein. And I have relatives who were associated with the IRA. I keep in touch with one cousin in particular -- when he was a teen, the British military entered the family's house and murdered his brother in front of the family. I'm also friends with a NYC resident who assisted John Lennon with sending the money from his song "Luck of the Irish" to Sinn Fein. Had another cousin who was friends with Bobby Sands.

I favor non-violent resolutions to conflicts, of course. But I do not blame the IRA for the Troubles.

[OnDoutside]

35. The IRA have a lot of blood on their hands and have to share the

blame for continuing the Troubles.

[H2O Man]

42. Yes, I agree

that the IRA had blood on their hands. That's the horror of war. And so many innocent people were killed or seriously injured. It was terrible, and it didn't have to happen. Hopefully, this Brexit business doesn't result in a return of tensions.

My father was a first generation citizen of the US. Relatives fought in WW1, WW2, Korea, and Vietnam. I know that military conflicts take an ugly toll on those who live through them as participants. Likewise, wars take a terrible toll on non-participants that live through them.

I'm not an advocate of violent conflict.

[emmaverybo]

37. Great song. Only recently ran into it and shared with my partner raised in Ireland. I don't

at all like the violence, but for many the IRA was the epitome of the saying that one person’s
terrorist is another’s freedom fighter.

[H2O Man]

43. Right.

It's interesting to note that two men, from different countries, went from being explosives handlers as young men, to statesmen when they were older: Nelson Mandela and Martin McGuinness. It's a shame that the world community doesn't learn from these and numerous similar examples. We would all be better off resolving conflicts with non-violent means.

[emmaverybo]

48. Yes. Go straight to the non-violent, no passing "explosives." Bu5 it seems that in most dire

situations it takes years of violence, horrible personal tolls,,mass horror, until opposing sides are pressed into peace to stop it.

In the case of the IRA, years of grievance. But I could tell my partner that the IRA did inexcusable things. He truly hasn’t a violent bone and would not join them. But it is hard to find an Irish Catholic that would disavow their cause. I missed that Mandela had handled explosives.

[whathehell]

56. Sinn Fein was legal..

Under British rule, the IRA was not, but some of their grievances were legitimate.

[RandiFan1290]

2. lol

[tman]

3. Pathetic

[tblue37]

4. Schumer sometimes acts like a Quisling. nt

[Dennis Donovan]

9. He's getting raked over the coals on Twitter - so much so his name is trending.

https://www.newsweek.com/chuck-schumer-criticized-peter-king-praise-retirement-announcement-1471070?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter&utm_campaign=NewsweekTwitter

CHUCK SCHUMER CRITICIZED FOR PRAISING PETER KING AFTER RETIREMENT ANNOUNCEMENT

BY JENNI FINK ON 11/11/19 AT 1:10 PM EST

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer faced criticism for praising Republican Representative Peter King after news broke of the senator's decision to not seek re-election in 2020.

"Peter King stood head [and] shoulders above everyone else ... I will miss him in Congress [and] value his friendship," Schumer wrote on Twitter.

On Monday morning, King announced on Twitter that he would be retiring from Congress after 28 years when his term concludes in 2020. The New York congressman called not seeking reelection a "difficult decision" and noted that the years he spent fighting for his constituents were "extremely fulfilling."

King is the latest Republican congressman to announce that their name would not be on the upcoming election's ballot. To date, four Republican senators and 17 Republican representatives publicly said they would not seek reelection, according to Fox News. Some speculated Republicans deciding to leave Washington, D.C., could make their seats vulnerable to a Democratic successor, thereby enabling the Democratic Party to increase their presence in Congress.

Schumer, who also represents New York in Washington, D.C., credited King with being principled and a person who never let "others push him away from his principles." He added that King left a "lasting mark," on America, Long Island and his Irish heritage, which he "fiercely loved."

</snip>

[tblue37]

11. Good. Our Dem honchos need to learn not to suck up to the worst jerks on the GOP side. nt

[Wawannabe]

32. Seriously??

quis·ling
/ˈkwizliNG/

noun
a traitor who collaborates with an enemy force occupying their country.

Seriously?? You are calling Schumer a traitor????

[tblue37]

5. As George Carlin said, it's a *club*--and we aren't in it. nt

[Kurt V.]

28. +1 this

[UniteFightBack]

44. And things are not black and white. nt

[LeftInTX]

47. Yep

What's Schumer supposed to say?
"Good Riddance"?

TBH, he could have opted not to say anything, but maybe they're friends in real life.

[lindysalsagal]

51. All hail, the great Carlin.

One of my personal prophets. Right up there with Mr. Rogers and Dr. Seuss. If only we had him around now.

[hlthe2b]

6. I guess he was so elated King was leaving that he lost his mind...

[RKP5637]

7. What a bizarre tweet by Schumer. n/t

[tblue37]

13. And there was no need, no pressure to tweet about it at all. It was entirely gratuitous. nt

[PCIntern]

8. Another reacharound

Jesus. Next he will be composing odes to Jesse Helms.

[dsc]

41. As much as I hate Helms I will give him one thing

he wouldn't be laying down for Trump's love of Russia and his treatment of Ukraine. He would be standing up for Congressional perogatives.

[question everything]

12. He did. I remember his anguis when Cruz would not sign on funds after one of the floods

that hit the Wast Coast, but then - Cruz, that is - expected similar funds for Texas.

Also, he was one of the few Republicans objecting to the "tax reform" because, yes, it would penalize his constituents.

Everything is relative, but I think with the bunch of hypocrite self serving Rs now in Congress, he actually looked decent.

More or less

[Garrett78]

14. I look forward to the day Schumer retires.

https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/evjwbz/chuck-schumer-peter-king-islamophobia

[Glimmer of Hope]

16. Ugh.. Why?

[gratuitous]

17. When you're standing on a pile of bodies, Senator

Yes, it can look like someone standing head and shoulders above everyone else.

Maybe Peter King is looking forward to a re-establishment of the hard border between Ireland and Northern Ireland? Might be good times again for his terrorist pals.

[lunatica]

18. Schumer is too old school

I remember when being cordial was a thing, but that was long, long, ago, in a galaxy far, far away.

[TheCowsCameHome]

21. Cordiality has to be a two way street.

The Right has ripped up that road.

[lunatica]

23. There are young adults today who have only experienced

Our government as a bizarre bad dream. Of course, President Obama was the saving grace, but the opposition, led by Moscow Mitch, wallowed in their cesspool. That’s really sad.

[ChubbyStar]

29. Absolutely, Here I will share a story

I have wealthy family, I am not real close but I go to functions, when I am asked (required). I always make sure to bring my smiley face, and my barf bag for when I leave. There was this one friend of the family, she was totally odious, a RW con woman, married a much older very wealthy man, vapid and real vindictive. I met her 20x, yet she NEVER remembered my name, and she couldn't even talk to me for 10 seconds without saying, in a very dismissive tone, "oh there's Bill, gotta go." In short a total DOUCHE.

The last time I spoke to Dore, last Christmas, I was very abrupt and excused myself quickly, she stopped me and asked if I was "speaking rudely to her?" I said "hell no Dore, I'm just speaking to you like you always speak to me."

Two way street, and they have done the damage, time for them to get out of the fucking way.

[TheCowsCameHome]

19. Another of his "Friends from across the aisle"

Screw that.

This is war.

[BeyondGeography]

20. Your Democratic Senate Leader, folks

[democrank]

24. Comity is one thing

Ass-kissing is something else.

[NRaleighLiberal]

25. this is why we get the shit kicked out of us so often.

[Garrett78]

53. Sad but true.

And a batshit insane political party has far more power nationwide than the Democratic Party does.

We're not soft on crime; we're soft on Republican crime.

[Fiendish Thingy]

26. Schumer should be dumped as leader nt

[doc03]

27. Am I missing something I don't see where King

Had the courage to say anything about Trump?

[Rhiannon12866]

31. WTF, Chuck?

He's my senator.

[WePurrsevere]

62. I'm certainly no fan of King as a politician...

and cringed a bit at Schumer's praise but I also get that he had to say something and, if nothing else, Schumer is the quintessential 'keep it classy' type of politician.

IDK... I figure both men are from NYC and have probably interacted in a "friendly opposition" way for decades. While I have always struggled with separating my political beliefs in relationships, I learned long ago not to be shocked (too often) by politicians/pundits being able to do so and maintain, to us, oddly friendly relationships. Now that I'm in a position where I have to sometimes bite my tongue and pick my arguments again, this time in order to gain info, etc for my personal well being as an adoptee in reunion, I must admit that I rather envy the ease some seem to have with this.

[MyNameGoesHere]

33. Must support Democrats

Must support Democrats
Must support Democrats
Must support Democrats
Must support Democrats
Must support Democrats

Whooo that was close, I had to reset my brain for a second.

[Recursion]

34. Chuck is playing a game, people. Give him some slack (nt)

[TheCowsCameHome]

36. No, he is not.

He pulls this crap all to often.

Enough.

[dalton99a]

60. +1. Peter King is a racist asshole:

[uponit7771]

67. +1, they value relationships with republicans too much

[melman]

38. Unbelievable

Peter King is one of the absolute worst.

[spanone]

39. No he didn't, Chuck.

No he didn't.

[Maru Kitteh]

40. Head and shoulders

[UniteFightBack]

45. I guess they were friends. I imagine they saw and dealt with each other quite a bit. Just like

Cummings was friends with that Meadows fellow..things in life are not always in stark black and white terms.

[emmaverybo]

50. Politics makes strange bedfellows. Many defense and prosecuting attorneys are friendly

howse the family before they go to,war. We don’t know. I have no desire to control them or force them to insult or ignore each other. May be a political,game, friendship, how it’s done. As long as they do for us what they promise.

[Liberal In Texas]

46. What Chuck? You guys drinking buddies or something?

King is an ass.

[sprinkleeninow]

55. At this moment in time with what's unfolding, that lovey dovey sentiment was not needed.

Whiskey Tango Alpha Foxtrot

[dalton99a]

49. Words are cheap. But who are you gonna praise next?

WTF

[liskddksil]

52. Chuck praises this guy but dumped on Beto O'Rourke for his bold leadership on guns.

Real profile in courage.

[dalton99a]

54. +1. Beto's reply:

“Ask Chuck Schumer what he’s been able to get done,” O’Rourke, a former member of the House of Representatives from Texas, told reporters. “We still don’t have background checks. Didn’t have them when he was in the majority, either. So the game that he’s played, the politics that he’s pursued, have given us absolutely nothing, and have produced a situation where we lose nearly 40,000 of our fellow Americans every year.”

[Miguelito Loveless]

57. This why I have no use for Schumer

He spouts horseshit like this. Too many in the Democratic leadership share this same idiotic/suicidal belief that conservatives are “honorable/ethical/principled” when they would slit their throat given half a chance.

[dalton99a]

59. Harry Reid picked Schumer because of his fundraising prowess

I believe he made a huge mistake

[Progressive Jones]

58. Applying Occam's Razor...

This whole thing looks to me to be Schumer, a New Yorker, acknowledging King, another New Yorker.
There is no doubt they've had a lot of contact over the years, politically and socially. It's political glad handing.
I'm from Chicago. Political enemies praise each other all the time here. It's old school, but it's still a thing.

Of course, as an American, I'm very happy to see King go, but I'm not about to condemn Schumer as a traitor,
as an earlier poster did.

I don't see why this is such a big deal.

Be happy. Another seat that a Dem can have is opening up.

[WePurrsevere]

63. Well said! nt

[NCLefty]

61. Mayyybe... he means King was exactly one bottle of Head & Shoulders taller than the other people.

[GoCubsGo]

64. Well, you can miss him for the rest of us, Chuck.

I know I speak for many of us when I say that I will not miss him at all.

[theaocp]

65. I'd prefer he said, "Good riddance."

He didn't have to do or say anything. Stop fucking painting Republicans as anything less than the scum they are or shut your mouth. This is not complicated, but folks bend themselves into pretzels to defend it. Lunacy. Unity in a party comes from LACK of unforced divisive stuff like this. Schumer's old school? Make a phone call instead of announcing to the world how great Republicans are.

[Hotler]

66. I worked in a steel shop many years ago and next to the time clock....

was a sign that read "Silence is the only substitute for brains." jeez Chuck.

[MurrayDelph]

68. Proposed text for King's farewell address:

"...And if I achieved any success in life, it's because I stood on the necks of giants."