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On Capitol Hill With The National Women's Committee Of The Republican Jewish Coalition
By Helen Freedman The National Women’s Committee of the Republican Jewish Coalition held its 2nd annual Day on the Hill, Sept. 14, at the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center, Washington, DC. Diane Sembler-Kamins, NWC Chair, welcomed the thirty-some dynamic women who traveled from Texas, Florida, Virginia, Georgia, Ohio, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Vermont and New York to meet, listen, and talk to a host of Senators and Congress people, and Congressional candidates – all Republicans. The day proved to be fascinating, but not that ‘Jewish’. The prestigious list of speakers were asked to cover the “2010 Florida landscape”, and update on the Georgia 4th District race, Obamacare, Sudan, the Congo, the Tea Party Movement, National Security-the Iran Threat and the Threat of Homebased Terrorism and Islamist Extremism. The $13.5 trillion debt and $200 billion interest that the Obama administration has created drew lots of attention also. Illegal immigration issues were addressed. Fortunately, most of the speakers were able to introduce Israel into their talks – or during the Q&A – so that those seeking the Republican ‘Jewish’ component had some satisfaction. Senator Sam Brownback of Kansas, serving his 3rd term in the Senate, has been a strong supporter of Israel from the beginning. He said he is eager to host a huge event in Kansas for PM Netanyahu so that Bibi could see the strong support he has in America’s heartland. This should signal that President Obama’s treatment of Israel’s Prime Minister is not indicative of the way the nation feels about Israel. Senator Susan Collins from Maine, also serving her 3rd term in the Senate, spoke about home-grown terrorism, nurtured in the U.S. prison system, or on the internet training programs. She emphasized her frustration with the Obama administration and the Department of Homeland Security that refuses to name Islamic extremism as being responsible for terror attacks. On the Saudis, to whom Obama wants to sell millions of dollars of weaponry, she accuses them of playing a double game – pretending friendship with the U.S. while it remains the epi-center of terrorism financing. Senator Jim DeMint (SC) serving his first term, believes it would be a huge mistake to force Israel to ‘go it alone’ in attacking Iran. He sees the U.S. being involved if Israel acts. Senator George Le Mieux (FL), appointed by Florida Governor Charlie Crist and sworn in on Sept. 10, 2009 to fill out the remainder of Senator Mel Martinez’s unexpired term, declared his support for Jerusalem as Israel’s capital; however, his talk concentrated on the danger of Hezbollah and Hamas in Venezuela, Cuba and Mexico. While Latin America seems to be below the radar screen for most Americans, Le Mieux stresses that the growing rise of extremism and anti-Americanism in Venezuela is especially dangerous since Venezuela is only 2-1/2 hours from Miami. Cuba is 90 miles away. An alliance between Venezuela and Cuba brings Hamas and Hezbollah into South America. The narco-terrorism in Mexico is murderous and the FARC, still present in Colombia, is working with Hamas and Hezbollah – which means that Iran’s surrogates are menacingly close to the U.S. Congresswoman Sue Myrick (NC-09), serving her 8th term in the House, is on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. She believes that Hezbollah is in Mexico, replicating activities seen in Israel. A cell-phone detonated car bomb was set by a suicide bomber, and tunnels are being built from Mexico to the U.S., similar to the tunnels being built from Gaza into Israel. The Congresswoman believes there are moderate Muslims who can be mobilized. As founder and leader of the 120 member bi-partisan Congressional Anti-Terrorism Caucus, she tries to educate the public about the dangers of Islamofascism. She’s asked Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano to investigate the ties to Hezbollah of the Central and South American drug cartels. Myrick is frustrated by the political correctness which permitted the Fort Hood shooting and she is suspicious about Ground Zero’s Imam Rauf and his State sponsored trip through the Middle East. She asserts there is a difference between legal and moral correctness. Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins (KS-02) made a clear statement about Israel’s right to defend itself in the flotilla fiasco. She asked President Obama to pledge to veto any UN resolutions condemning Israel for defending itself against the Hamas weaponry build-up that would be used to kill innocent Israelis. Her mantra is a revised version of Obama’s campaign slogan. She asks for “change that believes in YOU”. More information about NWC of the RJC can be found at http://RJCWOMEN.ORG Helen Freedman is Executive Director of Americans for a Safe Israel/AFSI. |
