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As Expected, Florida Gov. Rick Scott Annouces U.S. Senate Run against Bill Nelson

Florida’s Highly Successful Gov. Rick Scott finally announced his long-awaited plan to challenge Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson. Now that the Republican governor is officially in, the Sunshine State is poised to host an expensive race with national implications.

This race is unlike any other that Sen. Nelson has faced. Scott, who is personally wealthy, could not only invest tens of millions of dollars of his own money into the campaign, but also utilize national fundraising contacts as former chairman of the Republican Governors Association.

In his previous two elections, Nelson was the beneficiary of some fortunate conditions and circumstances. In 2006, he came in as part of a Democrat wave election, and in 2012, President Barack Obama had his re-election machine running full throttle.

Nelson has also benefited from facing two weak opponents. In 2006, Katherine Harris was infamously polarizing for her role as Florida secretary of state in the 2000 presidential election, and 2012 opponent Connie Mack, IV never received the outside Republican support he was planning for.

On the pro-Israel front, Gov. Scott has done more to develop business, healthcare and technology ties with Israel than any other Governor in the country, and has also signed a series of bills to counter anti-Semitism, participation in BDS (the anti-Israel Boycott, Divest and Saction movement), and investment in terror-finance leader Iran.

Sen. Nelson, on the other hand, has duped some Jewish supporters into believing that he is an Israel supporter, yet when “push came to shove”, in spite of Florida’s 500,000+ Jewish population, he voted with President Obama for the disastrous JCPOA, aka the “Iran Deal”. He has also cozied up with representatives of Muslim Brotherhood’s U.S. political/lobbying arm CAIR (Council on American Islamic Relations).

American Principles will be “all-in” on this one to make sure that “Space Cadet” Bill Nelson (he is a former astronaut, after all) is headed to the Moon, or at least to the dust bin of political history.

READ MORE FROM ROLL CALL HERE

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American Principles Congratulates Caroline Glick on her Latest Move to Breitbart News

We are pleased to report that the incomparable Caroline Glick, the conservative American-Israeli columnist invaluable for her powerful criticisms of the Middle East peace process, has joined Breitbart News.

Glick, the long-serving senior contributing editor and chief columnist for the Jerusalem Post, is one of the world’s most widely-read commentators on Israel and international affairs. She also writes about American politics from a staunchly pro-Israel perspective.

She is the author of several books — including, most recently, The Israeli Solution: A One State Plan for Peace in the Middle East (2014), which calls for Israel to annex the West Bank.

Glick, a graduate of Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government and a veteran of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), was Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s Assistant Foreign Policy Advisor in 1997 and 1998. In 2003, she covered the Iraq War from the front lines as a journalist embedded with the U.S. Army’s 3rd Infantry Division, and was the first Israeli journalist to report from liberated Baghdad.

READ THE ENTIRE PRESS RELEASE HERE

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Democrats (Once) Supported Jerusalem As The Capital of Israel

In advance of and following today’s historic policy announcement by President Donald J. Trump, Democrats have been endlessly parroting the same tired talking points about the recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s Capital (it’s not Haifa) and the planned Embassy relocation to its rightful situs in Israel’s capital. The charade of weak objections range from the announcement’s impact on the regional stability (that’s right, the entire “otherwise stable” Gulf and Middle East areas) to concerns about an unprecedented wave of violence by Arab fighters who call themselves Palestinians, as if they have not been engaging in real or attempted acts of terror for decades, to the death of the Israeli-Palestinian peace process (because of all the progress that has occurred to date…not).

Time will prove that while there may be a short-term uptick in some violence, for which the IDF, Israeli police and Mossad are prepared, not only will today’s moves not have any negative impact with regard to the areas previously mentioned, but rather may actually accelerate the pace of negotiations now that this “monkey is off Israel’s back”.  As for impact on the region, there is zero evidence to suggest that proper recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and an ensuing embassy relocation has anything to do with anything.

This is somewhat hard to believe, given that many prominent Democrat legislators including (now) Senators Dianne Feinstein and Joe Biden, as well as Rep. Nancy Pelosi, voted for the 1995 Jerusalem Embassy Act that is the legal basis for the Embassy’s relocation. In addition, check out the numerous affirmations of Jerusalem’s status made y so many of them who are now speaking a different language.

In 2008, Senator Barack Obama: “Jerusalem Will Remain The Capital Of Israel, And It Must Remain Undivided.” “The morning after claiming the Democratic nomination, Senator Barack Obama to skeptical members of a pro-Israel lobby and made a pledge that some of them found pleasantly surprising: ‘Jerusalem will remain the capital of Israel, and it must remain undivided.’” (Larry Rohter, “Obama’s Comments On Israel Stir Criticism in U.S.,” The New York Times, 06/07/08)

In 2012, President Obama Directed The Democratic Party To Restore Language From The 2008 DNC Platform Declaring Jerusalem The Capital Of Israel. (The New York Times, 09/05/12)

President Bill Clinton: An Undivided Jerusalem Was “Israel’s Eternal Capital.” “Clinton, who, as a presidential candidate declared that an undivided Jerusalem was ‘Israel’s eternal capital,’ officially invoked that clause last week. To justify the legally required national-security threat, he claimed that moving the embassy now might subject U.S. diplomatic personnel to terrorist attacks.” (“Clinton’s Jerusalem Cop-Out,” The New York Post, 06/22/99)

Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY) In 2008 Policy Paper Called For “An Undivided Jerusalem” As The Capital Of Israel. “Clinton was elected to the Senate in 2000 and struck a tone that was in sync with the Bush administration, which had aligned itself with the Israeli right. In 2007, she went further than the administration when she released a position paper calling for ‘an undivided Jerusalem’ as the capital of Israel. In 2008, as a presidential candidate, she warned Tehran that America would ‘totally obliterate’ Iran if it attacked Israel.” (Jason Horowitz, “Can Liberal Zionists Count On Hillary Clinton?” The New York Times, 12/17/14)

Representative Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) Was An Original Cosponsor Of H.Con.Res.60 Calling Upon The President And The Secretary Of State To “Affirm Publicly As A Matter Of U.S. Policy That Jerusalem Must Remain The Undivided Capital Of Israel. Urges U.S. Officials To Refrain From Any Actions That Contradict This Policy.” (H.Con.Res.60, Roll Call Vote 176, Passed 406-17-11, 6/10/1997)

Minority Leader Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY): “As Someone Who Strongly Believes That Jerusalem Is The Undivided Capital Of Israel, I Am Calling For The U.S. Embassy In Israel To Be Relocated To Jerusalem.” (Press Release, “Schumer Calls For U.S. Embassy In Israel To Be Moved To Jerusalem; Senator Says We Have Waited Too Long; Urges Action To Make Clear The U.S. Commitment To Move Embassy,” Sen. Chuck Schumer, 10/10/17)

In 1995, Rep. Schumer Stated “It Was Embarassing” To Have To Go To Tel Aviv To Reach The U.S. Embassy And That It Is A Sovereign Nation’s Right To Choose Their Own Capital And That “It Is About Time The United States Went Along” And Recognized That. (Rep. Chuck Schumer, Congressional Record, 10/24/95, p. H10683)

Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) In 1995: “We Will Send Word That Israel, Like Every Country In The World, Has The Sovereign Right To Designate Its Capital And To Have That Capital Recognized By The Nations Of The World.”  (Sen. Dianne Feinstein, Congressional Record, 10/24/95, p. S15520-15521)

Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH): “The Democratic National Convention Made The Important Move To Reaffirm Our Belief That Jerusalem Is The Capital Of Israel.” (Press Release, Senator Sherrod Brown Statement Applauding Announcement That Democrats Will Update Party Platform To Include A Reference To Jerusalem Being The Capital Of Israel, Sen. Sherrod Brown, 2012)

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member Ben Cardin (D-MD): “Jerusalem Is The Undivided Capital Of The State Of Israel.” (Press Release, “Cardin Calls Uproar Over Construction An Excuse To Delay Negotiations, Urges Abbas To Return To Direct Talks With Israel,” Sen. Ben Cardin, 11/10/10)

Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV): “This Resolution Reaffirms The Unwavering Support For One Of Our Greatest Allies By Recognizing Jerusalem, A United City In Which All Religions Are Respected And Valued, As The Capital Of The State Of Israel.” (Press Release, “Manchin Cosponsors Resolution Recognizing The 50th Anniversary Of The Unification Of Jerusalem,” Sen. Joe Manchin, 06/05/17)

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y) Noted That In 2012 Democrats Were Wrong To Omit Mention Of Jerusalem As Israel’s Capital In The First Draft Of The Party Platform. (Joseph Spector, “Sen.Kirsten Gillibrand: Democrats Wrong To Omit Line About Jerusalem As Israel’s Capital,” The Journal News, 9/06/12)

Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT): “Jerusalem Is The Capital Of Israel. Ultimately, I think We Should Have Our Diplomatic Presence There.” (“The 2012 Election: The Race For The Senate,The Connecticut Jewish Ledger, 8/07/12)

New York Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo: “Jerusalem Is The Capital Of Israel.” (Jacob Kornbluh, “Cuomo’s Encore In Israel,” Mishpacha, 3/08/17)

Former Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL): “Jerusalem Is And Will Remain The Capital Of Israel.” (Julian Pecquet and Pete Kasperowicz, “After Three Votes, Dems Put Jerusalem, God Back Into Party Platform,” The Hill, 09/05/12)

Then Newark Mayor Cory Booker (D-NJ) In 2012: Jerusalem As Israel’s Capital Is “Not A Controversial Issue.” (David Giambusso, “Booker Downplays Platform Omissions Jerusalem As Isareli Capital Is Reinstated,” The Star-Ledger, 9/07/12)

Senator Joe Biden (D-DE) On Recognizing Jerusalem As Israel’s Capital: “To Do Less Would BeTo Play Into The Hands Of Those Who Would Deny Israel The Full Attributes Of Statehood.” (Helen Dewar, “Congress Approves Move Of U.S. Embassy To Jerusalem By Mid-1999,” The Washington Post, 10/25/99)

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Attention “Old School” Democrats. Your Party Has Gone AWOL!

Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill (D).

In yet another indication of just how far left today’s Democratic Party and voter “base” have moved, consider Missouri’s so-called “moderate” senior Senator Claire McCaskill, a seasoned politician with an extensive resume of State- and Federal-level offices held.
McCaskill is now serving her second term in the U.S. Senate, courtesy of former Rep. Todd Akin (of “Legitimate Rape” fame) who not only potentially handed the Missouri senate seat to McCaskill and the Dems, but he may indeed have cost Mitt Romney an opportunity to relocate to 1600 Pennsylvania, as well as several other U.S. Senate victories around the country.
The Senator has effectively supported the Obama/Reid/Pelosi agenda in its entirety throughout her tenure. Highlights include a Yea vote on Obamacare in 2009, supporting the disasterous #IranDeal in 2015, and of course opposing the recent efforts to even “skinny repeal” Obamacare.
Though considered by some to be a “moderate”, McCaskill’s voting record on the left’s key legislative initiatives would certainly suggest otherwise. Even more astonishing, and further suggesting that she is NO moderate and perhaps even a fearless liberal ideologue, is the fact that she continues to support that agenda in spite of the fact that she is up for reelection in 2018 in a state that President Trump won by more than 18%!
In spite of the above facts and circumstances, an unkown challenger has emerged from the left. Former health care marketplace worker Angelica Earl is challenging Sen. McCaskill for the Democratic nomination in 2018, calling the incumbent “too conservative.” A political novice, the recently laid off verification specialist for insurance applicants is the first Democrat to challenge the two-term senator. She rejects McCaskill’s push for a bipartisan solution to health care supports “single-payer health care for all,” the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.
One must wonder if simply calling for a two-party solution in today’s world is what makes a liberal Democrat a moderate. Our money is on the newly-found bipartisanship being in response to a looming 2018 loss in a state so heavily supportive of President Trump.
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Members of Congress Express Staunch Opposition to U.N. Res. 2334

Misguided United Nations Resolution includes Language attempts to dispossess Israel from Biblical and Historic Sites that are Clearly Jewish

The Leadership and Members of American Principles extend our deepest gratitude to so many of our endorsed and supported Congressional candidates for their condemnation of the awful United Nations Resolution 2334 and the UN’s continued history of Israel bashing.

In response, the House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed as one of its earliest acts in the 115th Congress, H. Res. 11 condemning U.N. 2334. While we are generally opposed to the continued mention of a two-state solution (which, while unfortunately incorporated into H. Res. 11, has been rejected by the most recent Republican policy platform) on the grounds that it would lead to the creation of another Islamic terrorist state on Israel’s borders, we commend our friends in Congress for standing with Israel during a time when she needs her allies the most.

Below are some of the statements issued by Senators and House members and condemning the Obama Administration’s shameful actions. To add insult to injury, the White House oversaw this process during its last few days, in a clear break with historic precedent and giving new meaning to the term “lame duck”.

Sen. Ted Cruz (TX): “Every Obama foreign policy official should be ashamed of today’s UN resolution, and any official who disagrees with or hopes to avoid the anti-Israel legacy of this Administration should resign on principle today.” Watch the Senator’s speech on the Senate Floor, as well as his Press Release.

Sen. Marco Rubio (FL): “Efforts to delegitimize Israel have been underway a long time at the United Nations and have now sadly been aided by the outgoing administration, but the time has come to turn back the tide and renew America’s commitment to the Jewish state.” Read the Senator’s Full Press Release here.

Rep. Ed Royce (CA-39), Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs: “The Obama Administration broke with longstanding U.S. policy by failing to veto UN Security Council Resolution 2334. This dangerous resolution effectively states that the Jewish Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem and the Western Wall – Judaism’s holiest site – are “occupied territory.” Read the Chairman’s Press Release here.

Rep. Ron DeSantis (FL-06): “The UN has become a hotbed of anti-Israel activity where all these tin pot countries get together and rail against the world’s only Jewish State. They did 20 resolutions against Israel at the UN in 2016 and 4 against the rest of the world. We need to take our power of the purse and defund the UN until resolution 2334 is revoked”. The Congressman made some floor statements on this issue, sternly criticizing the Obama Administration for its betrayal of Israel and harm done to U.S. National Security. The remarks can be seen here and here.

Rep. Louie Gohmert (TX-01): “I have filed today a bill, H.R. 373, that would force the suspension of any payments whatsoever by the United States to the United Nations or any of its associated agencies or entities, until U.N. Security Council Resolution 2334 is rescinded or withdrawn by the U.N. Security Council”. Read the Congressman’s Press Release here.

Rep. Dennis Ross (FL-15): “Over the recent weeks, I have been appalled at what has taken place under the direction of President Obama, Secretary Kerry, and others within the administration. In response, I also introduced a resolution condemning these intolerable actions. By failing to direct the United States to veto the one-sided, anti-Israel UN Security Council Resolution, the president turned his back on Israel and, as a result, turned his back on America.” Refer to the Congressman’s Press Release here.

Rep. Doug Lamborn (CO-05), Co-Chair of the bipartisan Israel Allies Caucus: “I supported House Resolution 11 objecting to UN Security Council Resolution 2334 although …this measure did not go far enough. …. We must do more to defend our greatest ally in the region. I have gone a step further by introducing H.R. 263, a bill to render United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334 null and void as a matter of United States law. This legislation would ensure that the United States is not bound by any provision of UNSCR 2334 and denies the UN Security Council Resolution from being used U.S. Courts. Finally, I introduced H.R. 264, which would restrict all UN funding until we have more transparency on how much US taxpayer money is being contributed to the UN and how it is being used.” Read the Congressman’s Press Release here.

Rep. Matt Gaetz (FL-01): “Calling Israel an “occupier” is ridiculous. Jews have a right to live in their ancestral homeland and the territory that Israel captured in 1967 was lawfully captured in a war of justified self-defense… The American taxpayer funds 22 percent of the UN budget. It is time to send a message by defunding this bastion of anti-Semitism and anti-Americanism that continues to work against our interests and castigate our allies.” See the full Op-Ed here.

 

 

 

 

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