Rep. Traficant Crosses the Wrong Line at the Wrong Time by Scapegoating Israel
Listed in: Israel, Other Domestic Policy, NJDC News, Press Releases
Washington, DC: During a speech before the House of Representatives on Wednesday, Rep. James Traficant (D-OH) blamed the Congress itself and past US support for Israel for the tragic terror attacks Tuesday against Washington and New York City.
According to Thursday's edition of Roll Call newspaper, "Traficant, perhaps the most ardent House critic of Israel who has accepted more than $20,000 in campaign contributions since 1996 from a group the State Department has called a terrorist organization, blamed a 'one-sided' policy in the Middle East for the terrorist attack. 'The sad truth is that Congress must look in the mirror. Congress has allowed it,' said Traficant, who has accepted donations from the People's Mujahedin Organization of Iran. 'It may be unpopular to say, but I believe that America's foreign policy in the Middle East is so one-sided that we endanger now American citizens.'"
"Representative Traficant is right about one thing - that his words are unpopular. But they're unpopular for one simple reason: such language is muddle-headed and disgraceful, particularly at a time such as this," said National Jewish Democratic Council Executive Director Ira N. Forman. "We condemn in the strongest possible terms his placing the blame for this crime on American support for Israel. Representative Traficant is an embarrassment to the Congress, and his congressional colleagues should marginalize him as much as possible and say publicly that his words are beyond the pale. It is wholly unacceptable to try to scapegoat Israel, our one Democratic ally in the Middle East, at this tremendously difficult time. And it is even lower to try to blame this unprecedented catastrophe on our partnership with Israel - a partnership which enjoys overwhelming American support, regardless of political party.
"Representative Traficant has built a career upon saying the outrageous. But scapegoating in such a shameful, simple-minded way in this moment of national tragedy and mourning is one step too far, even for him."
