White House criticizes Netanyahu invite as breach of protocol

[babylonsister]

Good. Boehner sucks for taking this upon himself.

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2015/01/21/253891/white-house-criticizes-netanyahu.html

White House criticizes Netanyahu invite as breach of protocol

By Lesley Clark
McClatchy Washington Bureau
January 21, 2015 Updated 4 hours ago


House Speaker John Boehner said today he’s invited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to address a joint session of Congress next month, but the White House calls the invite a breach of protocol.

Typically, a foreign leader contacts the leader of the country when he plans to visit, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said Wednesday, adding that the courtesy is “how President Obama’s trips are planned when he travels overseas.”

But the White House hadn’t heard from the Israelis about the trip and was only notified about Netanyahu this morning before Boehner’s announcement, Earnest said.

“This particular event seems to be a departure from that protocol,” he said.

Obama and Netanyahu have a famously frosty relationship, but Earnest said the two speak regularly, and he insisted the White House was not annoyed. But he said it would “reserve judgment” on the trip until it’s had an opportunity to speak to the Israelis about the visit.

Boehner’s invite comes as a rebuff to Obama, who in his State of the Union address Tuesday repeated his call for lawmakers to hold off on imposing new sanctions against Iran as negotiators continue talks on its nuclear program.

Netanyahu, who calls preventing Iran from securing a nuclear weapon “the greatest challenge” for Israel, has sharply criticized the negotiations as a “historic mistake” and said they’ve done nothing to roll back Tehran’s ability to produce a nuclear weapon.

Boehner said he’s invited Netanyahu to deliver his third address to a joint meeting of Congress on Feb. 11, saying the invite “carries with it our unwavering commitment to the security and well-being of his people.”

[octoberlib]

1. They just do what they want, don't they? How disrespectful. Assholes.

[Fred Sanders]

2. More respect for Bibi than Obama, no wonder Obama fucked them up last night....

Israel is not a part of America, last I checked, any more than France.

[babylonsister]

4. Yes-that's their point, and it's ignorant. nt

[babylonsister]

3. Cantor would go over to Israel regularly

and trash this President. I guess Boehner learned something from him.

[Fred Sanders]

5. The lesson could not have been about being a hypocrite and two faced fascist, he was that all along.

[yeoman6987]

8. I hope this causes the President to issue even more EOs

If Congress doesn't respect rules, why should he?

[Chellee]

12. The president issuing Executive Orders is not against the rules.

nt

[yeoman6987]

15. Ok you are right

But it steams the Repugs and that alone is worth it.

[Chellee]

20. I don't think he's doing it to tick them off.

Admittedly, that is a side benefit.

But the republicans won't do their job and congress is not functioning. He's doing what he's legally able to do to get something, anything done.

[SickOfTheOnePct]

16. Agree 100%

And neither is Boehner inviting Netanyahu without letting the White House know ahead of time.

[Chellee]

21. Maybe, but the president is simply doing his job.

Mr. Boehner is being discourteous and rude. There are no rules that says he has to be a decent person, but it would nice to see republicans behaving as if they respected the office of the president at the very least.

[drray23]

6. of course the president could play hardball and ask the state department to deny his visa. nt

[MohRokTah]

22. Diplomatic visa.

The only way to deny entry is accusation of spying etc.

[malaise]

7. one of these day one of them will commit

TREASON oh wait.,,are they enemies of the state yet?

[babylonsister]

9. I think they are. Why hasn't this ever been made

an issue?

No one ever used to consider this level of disrespect; and to go overseas and trash talk the Prez? That has always pissed me off to infinity. And it doesn't matter whether I like the president or not; respect.

[malaise]

14. Seriously this is scary

ReTHUGs are racist scumbags - they would not dare this with a white man in the WH.

[dhill926]

17. I believe you are correct.....

one of the more shameful episodes in our history....

[spanone]

10. boehner tries to play the middle. he's a first-rate asshole.

[Avalux]

11. It certainly gives the appearance that Boehner is more loyal to Israel than the US.

Yes, I said it. What an asshole he is.

[SickOfTheOnePct]

13. Yes, Boehner is an asshole

But how exactly does this demonstrate that he's more loyal to Israel than to the U.S.? Foreign leaders speaking to Congress is not a new thing.

[Avalux]

23. Did you not read the OP? n/t

[SickOfTheOnePct]

24. Yes, I read it, and so what?

A breach of protocol now means that someone isn't loyal to the U.S.? Hyperbole much?

Congress isn't obligated to ask or even notify the White House when they want to invite someone to speak.

[LeftOfWest]

26. You have hit a nerve.

[Recursion]

18. That's a huge HUGE breach of protocol

Could you imagine if the Israeli Labor party invited Obama to speak and didn't tell the PM and cabinet?

[NCjack]

19. State Dept can refuse to issue him a visa; arrest and U-turn him if he appears at airport. nt

[SickOfTheOnePct]

25. Good idea

Don't you think that's a bit of an overreaction? Or do you want the President to look as petty as Boehner?

[HeiressofBickworth]

27. I think a proper and yet not hostile approach

would be for Pres. Obama to be out of town (or country) when Bibi comes to speak to Congress. Bibi has been invited as a guest of Congress, not the President/White House. Pres. has no obligation to make nice-nice with Bibi during a visit that was not initiated by the White House. He could claim a scheduling conflict.

[ucrdem]

29. This should be good.

[riversedge]

30. 1st-Boehner's office "unintentionally" censors Obama's speech on climate change: Now

he goes behind Pres. Obama's back to invite the Israel PM to speak to both Houses of Congress! It is disrespect to the office of the Presidency--not only public (worldly) disrespect of Pres. Obama himself. Then Boehner yells constantly about working together!!