There is legitimate policy disagreement on a number of issues and Democratic officeholders have both the right and duty to vote and speak their consciences, even if their Democratic President disagrees with the positions. To me that is a given.
But when a Democratic Representative engages in a demogogic attack on a Democratic President, that crosses a line.
Rep. Robert Andrews (D-N.J.) said Tuesday that Obama is "tilting toward Hamas" – a reference to the Palestinian group the United States and Israel consider a terrorist organization. He emphasized that Congress would never base its approach to Israeli aid on such a position.
"A majority of the Congress disagrees with him,” Andrews said of Obama.
The Hill
From the Jerusalem Post (and quoted in my diary earlier this week)
Opposition leader Tzipi Livni slammed Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Friday for "harming the relationship" between Israel and the US.
"Netanyahu spoke about consensus," Livni said, "and if there is a consensus in Israel, it's that the relationship with the US is essential to Israel, and a prime minister that harms the relationship with the US over something unsubstantial is harming Israel's security and deterrence."
snip
Livni added that such a prime minister should resign. "I am saying this loud and clear."
snip
"An American president that supports the two-state vision is representing Israeli interests and is not anti-Israel," Livni said.
Israeli Opposition Leader Backs President Obama, Criticizes Netanyahu
So Mr. Andrews demogogues while a good portion of Israel opinion actually is just fine with President Obama and his speech.
It's legitimate to disagree and Mr. Andrews could have said so. He could have said that he disagrees with the 67 borders plus land swaps. He may well support no peace at all, but instead the continued "settlements" of Judea and Samaria, the Greater Israel belief of Likud. Or maybe he just thinks that Isreal security requries keeping the West Bank. All are positions one can take. I don't agree with them, but they are positions that are legitimate in the sense they are not demogoguery.
But when Mr. Andrews essentially accuses President Obama, in the immortal words of Sarah Palin, of "palling around with terrorists," he's gone too far.
Obama voters need to send Mr. Andrews a message next spring in a primary (and perhaps in the election).
President Obama does not "tilt" toward Hamas. If Mr. Andrews has questions about President Obama's tiltings, perhaps he should remember who got OBL.
Primary Andrews. Dry up his funding. The man deserves to lose office.