House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) clasped hands with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA), and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), in a display of bipartisan support at Tuesday’s March for Israel.
The act was meant as a moment to show that both parties are fully behind Israel as they fight to eradicate Hamas terrorists who attacked innocent Israeli civilians early last month.
The March for Israel saw an estimated 200,000 people in attendance, a counter to the numerous pro-Palestinian protests that have cropped up across America in recent weeks.
As Johnson, Ernst, Jeffries, and Schumer clasped hands and raised their arms to the sky, they began a chant at the direction of the top Senate Democrat, who began saying: “We stand with Israel!”
Journalist Michael Tracey described the scene as “a glorious display of bipartisan exultation.”
In a glorious display of bipartisan exultation, Chuck Schumer, Mike Johnson, Hakeem Jeffries, and Joni Ernst held hands and chanted “We Stand With Israel” together pic.twitter.com/o0DXjySdH7
— Michael Tracey (@mtracey) November 15, 2023
Johnson Joins Democrats Including Schumer At March For Israel
While there is very clear bipartisan support for providing aid to Israel in its time of need, some conservatives believe there should not be an open-ended blank check to any foreign nation.
Johnson was chosen to replace former Speaker Kevin McCarthy specifically because of the latter’s penchant for working arm-in-arm with Democrats, whether it be in raising the debt ceiling or continuing to fund Ukraine’s war with Russia.
If McCarthy had been seen clasping hands with Democrats at the March for Israel, there is a high likelihood those same “America First” politicians would have vocally criticized the stunt. Will they do the same with Johnson?
They especially would have been outraged when one considers Schumer’s words during his speech at the rally.
“We in America have your back. America feels your pain. We ache with you,” he said. “We stand with you. And we will not rest until you get all the assistance you need.”
America does have their back. America does feel their pain. That said, does America have the resources to provide unlimited assistance to Israel when they’ve already provided nearly unlimited assistance to Ukraine?
Chuck Schumer, alongside Speaker Mike Johnson and others, delivers a rousing speech at the “March for Israel” today in DC. Leads bipartisan chants of “We Stand With Israel,” “USA! USA!” and “Never Again!”
“We will not rest until you get all the assistance you need!” Schumer vows pic.twitter.com/mu7UAT6nwz
— Michael Tracey (@mtracey) November 15, 2023
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Only One Republican Opposed Open-Ended Support For Israel
Johnson also addressed the crowd at the March for Israel rally in Washington, D.C.
He suggested any calls for a ceasefire are “outrageous” and noted lawmakers were tasked with screening footage of the Hamas terror attacks and many “couldn’t sit through” the “unspeakable” horror.
Johnson said the United States “stands unequivocally” with Israel.
At the “March for Israel” today in Washington DC, new House Speaker Mike Johnson reiterates his pledge that the US will “unequivocally” back Israel
“No ceasefire! No ceasefire!” the crowd chants. “We stand with you in that,” Johnson says pic.twitter.com/iSbomm9LBC
— Michael Tracey (@mtracey) November 15, 2023
Would these four politicians dare to clasp hands at the southern border, chanting about how they stand with America? Pledging unlimited assistance to border states and towns being overrun by illegal immigrants marching through open borders?
When a vote came up late last month regarding a resolution backing Israel and condemning Hamas, only one Republican voted against it, citing an open-ended declaration of military support and unaffordable foreign aid commitments.
The resolution, which was Johnson’s first order of business as Speaker, passed with overwhelming support.
“It contains an open-ended promise of military support that is so broad that it could be interpreted to commit US soldiers to the conflict. US troops should not be engaged in this conflict,” Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) said in voicing his opposition.
I condemn the barbaric attack on Israel and I affirm Israel’s right to defend itself.
However, I will not be voting for House Resolution 771 today because:
1) It calls for sanctions on a sovereign country. Sanctions are a prelude to war and hurt the citizens of the country more…
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) October 25, 2023
The measure also contained, Massie explained, promises of more foreign aid that the American people can no longer afford to sacrifice.
“It asserts the necessity of foreign aid commitments which I have voted against,” he wrote. “Our country is going bankrupt and we can’t afford to borrow money to send overseas, yet this resolution states that we should.”
Our country is going bankrupt, and Schumer just promised Israel “all the assistance you need.”
The United States committed over $3.3 billion in foreign assistance to Israel in 2022. They have received over $260 billion since World War II.
Earlier this week, Senate Democrats blocked an aid bill for Israel that passed the House in a bipartisan vote. Why did they block it? Because it didn’t also include more aid to Ukraine.
Imagine if either party fought this hard for the American taxpayer.
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