GOP, placeholders, to ensure Netanyahu gets full house for divisive speech

    

House Speaker John Boehner gets a 'twofer' this morning. In the most villainous action he and his anti-Obama, pro war buddies have taken in their disreputable control of Congress, Boehner welcomes Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu to speak before Congress without the protocol of presidential approval. It simultaneously undermines presidential authority in foreign affairs while working to sabotage the delicate administration negotiations to prevent war with Iran over their nuclear programs. It is such and unprecedented and reckless action that 53 congressmen, 10% of the entire Congress, will boycott Netanyahu's speech. That number is sure to swell by "kick off Obama" time takes place. But don't look for any empty seats if you tune in. Taking a cue from the Oscars, Speaker Boehner has supposedly arranged placeholders to fill the seats of the principled congressmen who still put America first when preserving presidential authority and preventing war.

One of those placeholders will hold the seat of Jan Schakowsky, the only Jewish American member of the Illinois delegation. If she was giving a speech she'd reprise what she said when announcing her boycott:

"As a Jew, support for Israel is in my DNA", but... "This is not the first time that the Republicans have tried to divide the Democrats and paint themselves as the only true supporters of Israel. The reality is that, when it comes to tangible deliverables, the Obama administration has been unfailing in its cooperation with Israel — more so than most, if not all, administrations over the last 40 years."