Democrats Join Republicans In Bill Criminalizing Speech Critical Of Israel – HuffPost
With Trump as president, it is easy to forget how utterly hopeless many Congressional Democrats are, including many who look like progressives.
The best indicator of Democratic corruption is its slavishness toward the lobby that is to them what the National Rifle Association is to the GOP: the Israel lobby (the American Israel Public Affairs Committee and its satellite organizations).
The latest evidence of that slavishness comes in the form of growing support among Democrats in both Houses for legislation sponsored by Sen. Benjamin Cardin (D-MD) and co-sponsored by Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer that would make it a felony for Americans to support the international boycott against Israel, commonly known as BDS. Anyone guilty of violating the prohibitions will face a minimum civil penalty of $250,000 and a maximum criminal penalty of $1 million and 20 years in prison.
According to the ACLU, the Cardin legislation would bar U.S. persons from supporting boycotts against Israel, including its settlements in the Palestinian Occupied Territories (emphasis mine) conducted by international governmental organizations, such as the United Nations and the European Union. It would also... include penalties for simply requesting information about such boycotts. Violations would be subject to a minimum civil penalty of $250,000 and a maximum criminal penalty of $1 million and 20 years in prison....This bill would impose civil and criminal punishment on individuals solely because of their political beliefs about Israel and its policies.
Pretty amazing. Why would anyone support such a law? Yes, lots of people (including me) oppose boycotting Israel (although I certainly support boycotting the settlements) but how is it even possible to criminalize simply supporting a boycott to protest the occupation? After all, we boycott states and municipalities here at home to protest discrimination based on race, sexual identity or anything else. Most recently, the state of North Carolina was faced with a boycott to protest its policy against allowing transgender people to use public bathrooms. How can it be legal to refuse to do business with North Carolina but illegal to refuse to do business with Israeli settlements?
The answer is simple: AIPAC, which is the lobby few Democrats (let alone Republicans) are willing to cross. Here is its Call to Action sent to every member of the House and Senate telling them, in no uncertain terms, that the Cardin bill is a top priority of the lobby. As for Cardin, it is no surprise that he is the lead sponsor of the bill (1) because he never, if ever, deviates from doing what the Israeli government wants and (2) he is one of the top recipients of campaign contributions from AIPAC officers and associated donors. The same can be said of Schumer who has always carried water for the lobby. (Both senators opposed President Obamas bill to end sanctions on Iran in exchange for its terminating its nuclear weapons program.)
Am I being unfair to ascribe such venal motives to those Democrats who support this bill? (I dont mention Republicans because their support for it comports completely with their worldviews which is not the case with the Democrats). I dont think so because every single Democrat supporting this anti-free speech bill consistently opposes limits on free speech. Their support for this bill represents the only time they promoted legislation to curtail free speech. I cannot imagine any reason for this egregious offense against the First Amendment except to please AIPAC and their AIPAC associated donors.
Fortunately, this legislation can still be stopped. Here are lists of the Senate and House Democrats who are co-sponsoring this abominable bill. Let them know of your opposition. Just as important, if your legislator is not yet a co-sponsor, let him or her know that he or she better not become one.
Many years ago, the #2 man at AIPAC, Steve Rosen (later indicted under the Espionage Act of 1917 wrote me the following about AIPACs activities: A lobby is a night flower. It thrives in the dark and dies in the sun.
The same applies to those in Congress who, disregarding their constituents, take their marching orders from AIPAC. Its time to shine some sunlight on them.
The First Amendment does not include an exception stating does not apply to speech about Israel or its settlements. We cant allow a lobby and its Congressional cutouts to insert one. But, believe me, that is their goal and going after BDS supporters is just the beginning.
The rest is here:
Democrats Join Republicans In Bill Criminalizing Speech Critical Of Israel - HuffPost
- Exclusive | Democrats Get Lowest Rating From Voters in 35 Years, WSJ Poll Finds - The Wall Street Journal - July 27th, 2025 [July 27th, 2025]
- Democrats' 2028 presidential race is going fast and furious - Axios - July 27th, 2025 [July 27th, 2025]
- Democrats rally in Texas over Trump order to redraw districts: The only way they can keep power is to cheat - The Guardian - July 27th, 2025 [July 27th, 2025]
- Democrats Fight Against Republican Funding Bill that Raises Utility Bills and Energy Prices, Slashes Resources for the Arts and National Parks -... - July 27th, 2025 [July 27th, 2025]
- Elon Musk is threatening to put third-party candidates on the ballot. Democrats are giddy. - Politico - July 27th, 2025 [July 27th, 2025]
- Can Texas Democrats Stop the Redistricting By Breaking Quorum? - Democracy Docket - July 27th, 2025 [July 27th, 2025]
- Texas Democrats Confer With California and Illinois Governors on Redistricting - The New York Times - July 27th, 2025 [July 27th, 2025]
- Rep. Ro Khanna thinks the Epstein files could help Democrats 'fight Trump effectively' - NBC News - July 27th, 2025 [July 27th, 2025]
- Iowa Democrats kick off canvassing campaign ahead of upcoming elections - KTIV - July 27th, 2025 [July 27th, 2025]
- Democrats request copy of Epstein birthday book that reportedly contains Trump poem - The Guardian - July 27th, 2025 [July 27th, 2025]
- Texans, Democrats condemn GOP redistricting plans at first public hearing - The Texas Tribune - July 27th, 2025 [July 27th, 2025]
- Are the Democrats Getting Better at the Internet? - newyorker.com - July 27th, 2025 [July 27th, 2025]
- Scoop: Democrats think they can get their hands on Epstein's birthday book - Axios - July 27th, 2025 [July 27th, 2025]
- Former Governor Roy Cooper speaks to NC Democrats during annual Unity Dinner ahead of likely 2026 Senate run - ABC11 - July 27th, 2025 [July 27th, 2025]
- An early report on the Kansas governor's race: Heavyweight Republicans and low-key Democrats - Kansas Reflector - July 27th, 2025 [July 27th, 2025]
- Wave of young Pa. Democrats engaging in politics as party debates its future - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - July 27th, 2025 [July 27th, 2025]
- Democrats Chances of Flipping the Senate Just Went Up - New York Magazine - July 27th, 2025 [July 27th, 2025]
- Democrats Should Use Shutdown Threat as 'Leverage' to Oppose Cuts, Says Rep. Subramanyam - Bloomberg.com - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- In Epstein, Democrats Find Weapon Against Trump and Republicans - The New York Times - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- Wisconsin Democrats launch push to take the majority in the Senate after years in the shadows - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- Two Democrats Are Bolting From a Bipartisan Governors Group - The Atlantic - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- Democrats Are Running Circles Around Republicans on Epstein - Politico - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- Democrats Have Few Tools to Counter G.O.P. Redistricting - The New York Times - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- We learned some lessons: How Chuck Schumer and Democrats are gearing up for the next funding fight with Trump - CNN - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- Some Democrats may finally be ready to play dirty over redistricting - vox.com - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- Democrats Havent Failed to Fight Trump. Theyve Failed to Win. - New York Magazine - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- VIDEO: Blackburn Slams Democrats for Obstructing President Trumps Agenda and Will of the American People - Senator Marsha Blackburn (.gov) - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- NCUA Meeting Seats In Limbo: Will Reinstated Democrats Show Up Or Sit Out? - CU Today - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- Senate Democrats agree to advance military construction, VA spending bill - The Hill - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- 2024: How Trump Retook the White House and the Democrats Lost America - KALW - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- Opinion | Are the Democrats Dead or Alive? - The New York Times - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Opinion | James Carville: My Fix for the Confused and Leaderless Democrats - The New York Times - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- One year after Biden's unprecedented exit from 2024 race, Democrats poll numbers at rock bottom - Fox News - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- US protesters call for Democrats to face Trump and fight, fight, fight with every tool available - The Guardian - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- 'Flood' of ICE agents is coming to cities run by Democrats, according to the White House - USA Today - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Pennington County Democrats host town hall discussing veterans issues - kotatv.com - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- These Democrats could be targeted in the GOP's Texas redistricting push - Houston Chronicle - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Republicans and Democrats Call for More Information on Epstein Case - The New York Times - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Opinion | There Is Hope for Democrats. Look to Kansas. - The New York Times - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- 'Flood' of ICE agents is coming to cities run by Democrats, White House warns - USA Today - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Day 1 of Texas special session starts with Democrats signaling they could flee over redistricting - ABC13 Houston - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Trump blames Epstein files on Democrats and Comey but the timeline tells a different story - Poynter - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Democrats oppose move to house immigrant detainees at Fort Dix - New Jersey Monitor - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- The 2026 Senate map is tough for Democrats, but Republicans have their own headaches - AP News - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Democrats in South Carolina are barely pretending they're not already running for president - Politico - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- Democrats 2024 Autopsy Is Described as Avoiding the Likeliest Cause of Death - The New York Times - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- Scoop: Why Democrats didn't make Trump miss his deadline to cut $9 billion from PBS, NPR - Axios - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- How can Democrats win back working-class voters? Change their tune | Joan C Williams - The Guardian - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- 'Dear God': Democrats storm out of vote on controversial Trump nominee - Fox News - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- POLITICS: Door Open For Democrats To Win In City Of Celina Elections - Mercer County Outlook - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- Weeks After a Heat Wave Baked the US, Democrats Push to Declare Heat a Major Disaster - Inside Climate News - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- Opinion | Can Anything Save the Democrats? - The Wall Street Journal - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- President Says Epstein Critics Are Being Used by Democrats - The New York Times - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Mamdani charms national Democrats. But N.Y. Dems are just meh. - The Washington Post - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Trumps New Strategy on Epstein Fallout: Blame the Democrats - The New York Times - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Talking Trump accounts and mocking Democrats, Vance offers preview of how GOP will message the 'big, beautiful bill' - Politico - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Thank Fairfax County Democrats for your higher tax bill this year - Fairfax Times - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- E&E News: Youth fighting Trump on climate get boost from Democrats - POLITICO Pro - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Democrats walk out of Emil Bove judicial confirmation hearing - CBS News - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- John Fetterman's Approval Rating With Democrats Hits Record Low - Newsweek - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Opinion | Democrats risk taking the wrong lessons from Trumpism - The Washington Post - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Democrats Storm Out of Vote on Trumps Judicial Nominee, Emil Bove - The Daily Beast - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Democrats and Republicans in Congress are working together to pass sanctions on Russia - 90.5 WESA - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Opinion | Democrats finally found an anti-Trump argument that works - The Washington Post - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Cook County Democrats mostly sticking with incumbents on primary slate but Assessor Fritz Kaegi is in limbo - Chicago Sun-Times - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Democrats bill would require OSHA to issue worker heat protections - E&E News by POLITICO - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Trump tries to shift blame to Democrats for Epstein controversy - WGBH - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- WATCH: Democrats protest Bove nomination hearing with walkout before vote - NBC New York - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Hungary opposition figures urge Democrats to organize against autocratic takeover by Trump - The Guardian - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Hunter Biden says Democrats lost election for not staying loyal to his father - The Washington Post - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- 'The powerful protecting the powerful': Democrats see an opening on Epstein - Politico - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Democrats demand Pam Bondi and Kash Patel be summoned for Epstein hearing - The Guardian - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- As Trump looks to net five GOP seats through Texas redistricting, Democrats grasp for response - The Texas Tribune - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Democrats are trolling Trump and the GOP over the Jeffrey Epstein case - AP News - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Democrats Broach Potential Walkout to Block Texas Redistricting - The New York Times - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Democrats Are Workshopping New Tactics After Losses of 2024 - The New York Times - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Mamdani Goes to Washington With Key Democrats in Congress Still on the Fence - THE CITY - NYC News - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Hunter Biden says Democrats lost election because they werent loyal to his father - The Hill - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Democrats bash Trump over Texas redistricting: Act of desperation to cling to power - The Hill - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Democrats raked in money in the Michigan and Illinois Senate races - Politico - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]