Rep. Donna Edwards: Gaza has opened up the conversation in Congress

by on April 23, 2009 5

Scott McConnell reports:
I went to a Nation event on Obama's first 100 days. A pretty smooth show-- generally they're disappointed with Geithner, Summers, mildly optimistic about other stuff. Was curious about how they'd treat I-P, and was ready to ask about it during question period. But progressives have so many other issues, that after an hour and a half I resigned myself to no comments at all on the subject from the panelists--save for Ari Melber's snarky crack that "We may discover that Jane Harman is not really a terror suspect". But finally, during the questions, John Nichols said that "very many" Nation readers (from the website, apparently) had asked about the Mid East, and directed the question to Donna Edwards, the new congresswoman from Prince Georges county who arrived late at the panel. And she gave an excellent answer, saying the bombing of Gaza had really opened up the conversation "among members of Congress"--and that many were confident that O would push for a solution fair to the Palestinians "and good for Israel as well." There wasn't thunderous applause, but it was ample. Ms. Edwards struck me as absolutely terrific, very savvy and well modulated.

About Philip Weiss

Philip Weiss is Founder and Co-Editor of Mondoweiss.net.
Posted in Gaza, Israel Lobby, Israel/Palestine

{ 5 comments... read them below or add one }

  1. Chris berel says:
    April 23, 2009 at 8:40 pm

    Yes, Congress is talking about restricting the islamic fascists in Gaza even more than before. they now realize that nothing will temper the genocidal fantasies of hamas.

  2. Oscar says:
    April 23, 2009 at 10:14 pm

    Great, Chris. And if only we can get Congress talking to restrain the 120-to-1 ethnic cleansing, hasbara-spouting, DIME-using, white-phosphorus-deploying, land-stealing, child-butchering tendencies of the IDF, maybe there would be peace in the Middle East.

  3. codepink says:
    April 23, 2009 at 11:35 pm

    If we can see the situation first hand, we can talk to congress as well!

    Partner with our Israeli sisters and brothers to break the siege of Gaza
    Join a delegation to Israel/Gaza, June 5-14

    For the first time ever, Americans are partnering with Jewish and Arab Israelis to demand that the Israeli government end the siege. Join CODEPINK: Women for Peace and the Coalition of Women for Peace (Israel) as we organize a rally, conference and encampment at the Erez border.

    For more information and to sign up, email gaza.codepink@gmail.com, call 415-558-5700 or go to http://www.codepinkalert.org/gaza

  4. chris "tukas" berel says:
    April 24, 2009 at 3:25 am

    Ok, who did it? Who hit me on the head with my cast iron dreidel?

  5. Mark says:
    April 24, 2009 at 10:54 am

    We'll see how she fares in 2010. I assume the lobby will ramp up an effort to run someone at her in the primaries. No republican can win this district.

    Minor correction – she's also from Montgomery County. Her district crosses over the county border.

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