Nancy's right

Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has fanned the flames of the internal Democratic battle over Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coming speech to Congress, questioning the wisdom of the invitation just days after it was endorsed by Democratic leaders in both chambers.

Pelosi’s comments — and her decision to air them on national television — have struck a nerve with some rank-and-file Democrats, who are voicing concerns that she’s made it only more difficult for her successor, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), to steer the caucus through a stormy debate on a hot topic that’s divided the party with increasing intensity amid Israel’s war with Hamas.

[...]

“Israel is an ally, and many of us support Israel without supporting Netanyahu. And I think that’s the basis upon which Mr. Jeffries made his decision. This was a courtesy to an ally, and not anything more,” [Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.), who is leaning toward boycotting Netanyahu’s speech] said. “Obviously, she’s the former Speaker of the House, and I think comments like that are not helpful to the cohesion of the party.”

  The Hill

But it may well be a reason for people thinking about not voting (because of the Biden administration's lack of forceful opposition to Netanyahu) to go ahead and vote for him in November.

The pushback arrives as Democrats are jousting over Israel’s military response to Hamas’s terrorist attacks last October, which led to the death of roughly 1,200 people and the kidnapping of 250 more. In the eight months since then, more than 35,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli strikes, infuriating liberal Democrats who have accused Netanyahu of doing far too little to avoid civilian casualties.

Or outright war crimes.

[I]n an appearance on CNN earlier in the month, she said plainly that the decision to invite Netanyahu was “wrong,” warning that it would only fuel the already heightened domestic unrest surrounding the Israel-Palestine conflict.

“I feel very sad that he has been invited,” she told the network.

[...]

On the left, the comments energized some liberals, especially the most vocal Netanyahu critics who are planning to boycott his speech next month. Those lawmakers are cheering her pronouncement, saying it gives voice and gravitas to sentiments held by a large faction of the caucus. Also, they add, it was no accident.

“Nancy Pelosi is very strategic in everything that she does, and she’s also very discreet in everything that she does,” said Rep. Hank Johnson (D-Ga.), who is boycotting the speech. “And so for her to come forward, I think she’s expressing what a lot of members feel. And she is giving cover to members who might be in tight positions who feel the way that she does.”

Rep. John Larson (D-Conn.), a former head of the Democratic caucus, expanded on that argument, saying Pelosi was “sending several different messages” to several different audiences. They include liberal lawmakers, but also liberal voters infuriated over the soaring number of Palestinian deaths, as well as her allies in the White House who have been rebuffed by Netanyahu throughout the war in Gaza.

[...]

“And she’s especially upset with the way he’s treated Biden and [State Secretary Antony] Blinken.”

Other Democrats, however, are warning that anything less than a strong show of support for Netanyahu’s visit undermines the chances that Hamas will be defeated, the hostages rescued and a peaceful resolution achieved.

Pipe dreams. That's not going to happen as long as Netanyahu is in charge.

Pelosi, for her part, is making no apologies, amplifying her opposition to Netanyahu’s address in a brief interview last week.

[...]

Rep. Gregory Meeks (N.Y.), senior Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, also dismissed the clashing approaches to Netanyahu’s visit, saying Pelosi was simply asked a question on TV and “she just answered it honestly.”

[...]

Pelosi made a point not to criticize either Jeffries or Schumer, with whom she speaks frequently and has close ties, saying they had little choice but to endorse the invitation once Johnson had drafted it.

[...]

“And I said on CNN, I said I don’t agree, but I respect that they made their own decision.”

[...]

“I think that it’s going to be very provocative, and he shouldn’t be invited,” she said. “I don’t know what he’s going to say, but it’s going to provoke — protesters anyways.”

Yes, it is. Right at the capitol, too.

...but hey, do what you want...you will anyway.

UPDATE 08:34 am:  Preparing for the visit...

UPDATE 06/20/2024: