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Visit to Schumer's office

Reader comment on item: The Hagel Nomination: An Open Letter to Sen. Charles E. Schumer

Submitted by Lori Sousa (United States), Feb 20, 2013 at 01:41

Dear Dr. Pipes,

Thank you for calling upon Senator Schumer to change his vote on the Hagel Nomination. Myself and a delegation of 7 NYS CUFI members met with the senators staff on Jan. 30th to make our concerns known. At that meeting Hana Greenberg gave the following reasons for Schumer's endorsement:
1. The president's right to appoint a cabinet of his own choosing.
2. The 90min meeting he had with Hagel

We countered these arguments with the fact that:

1. Hagel's 12 year history is dominated by a foreign policy statement and actions that are well-outside of mainstream U.S. ideas (at best) and at times racist, disturbing and dangerous (at worse), not just with Israel. Therefore, the checks and balance system we have created allows for the blocking of nominations for such cases like this.

2. Schumer is the single most influential Senator when it comes to Hagel's nomination. He is a senior senator who knows that in Washington, actions speak louder than words. Hagel's record speaks loud and clear. Schumer is wise enough to know that a 90 min meeting held for the purpose of winning a nomination endorsement should be seen in that light.

Greenberg responded by saying, "I want to be very clear in letting you know that the book is not closed on this. We will be watching the nomination hearings very closely." We again reminded the Greenberg of the opportunity Schumer has to express concerns and withdraw support as disturbing information emerges hearing....In addition, we made it clear that as Schumer's constituents (who have consistently supported him in his position in the Middle East) we will hold him accountable for Hagel's actions if he is nominated.

Two years ago when I was in D.C .with a delegation of 70 NYS CUFI members, Senator Schumer personally told me about the "shomer" origins of his name, about his ancestors and said (exactly as you mentioned) : "I believe HaShem [God], actually, gave me my name, as one of my roles that is very important in the United States Senate is to be a shomer for Israel. I will continue to be that with every bone in my body."

It is ironic that the vote for Hagel's nomination will now fall on the heels of Purim (this weekend). Perhaps, as occurs in the book of Esther, Senator Schumer will recall the noble position he has been called to, not merely as a U.S. Senator, but as a Watchman named by " HaShem" for such a time as this!

Thank you again for your letter. I pray Senator Schumer will take a stand.

Submitting....

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".

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Reader comments (33) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
1Obama's obedient nominees [59 words]BenFeb 23, 2013 16:22203808
Hagel's statements [112 words]NickFeb 23, 2013 05:21203797
SCHUMER THE SHOMER [67 words]JACQUES HADDAFeb 21, 2013 12:41203751
1If sanctions fail? [40 words]JDMFeb 21, 2013 08:56203745
Why using our dirty laundry as flag? [72 words]batya daganFeb 21, 2013 01:30203731
Have I Got A Bridge For You! [96 words]DaveFeb 20, 2013 22:08203729
Thank you for trying [75 words]Max MannFeb 20, 2013 17:57203721
Schumer is a [Fake] [41 words]AmericanInfidelNYCFeb 20, 2013 17:55203720
The perfect triangle really [80 words]saraFeb 20, 2013 17:53203719
Hagel and Schumer - same difference, both politicians [71 words]stanley bFeb 20, 2013 17:48203718
Does this surprise you? [53 words]lucretiusFeb 20, 2013 16:47203716
Israel's Next Battle Front [260 words]M. ToveyFeb 20, 2013 15:53203714
1Hagel Appointment [21 words]Bob HeltmanFeb 20, 2013 15:20203713
1An Open letter to Senator Charles E. Schumer [113 words]JudithFeb 20, 2013 14:38203712
A Shomer or a KAPO? [15 words]Richard LowensteinFeb 20, 2013 14:08203710
Can You Say "Lost Cause" in Hebrew? [9 words]DonFeb 20, 2013 13:48203709
I'm in! [136 words]john w mcginleyFeb 20, 2013 13:04203706
1Hagel Nomination [90 words]Joyce BarrieFeb 20, 2013 12:31203702
2Excellent letter [9 words]vivartoFeb 20, 2013 11:26203700
1The Hagel Nomination: An Open Letter to Sen. Charles E. Schumer [18 words]Mark GilstonFeb 20, 2013 09:37203698
2Thank you so much [103 words]Jon, a Brit in EurolandFeb 20, 2013 09:37203697
1The Hagel nomination. An open letter to Senator Schumer. [112 words]AnneFeb 20, 2013 07:55203693
2Hagel: could he have alzheimers? [54 words]Barbara HoshikoFeb 20, 2013 06:50203688
1Requesting Schumer to reconsider on Hagel--article by Daniel Pipes [385 words]Penina SarahFeb 20, 2013 04:27203683
2Schumer The Hypocrite. [51 words]JugglerFeb 20, 2013 02:57203681
2Visit to Schumer's office [435 words]Lori SousaFeb 20, 2013 01:41203677
1History repeats itself [89 words]PhilFeb 20, 2013 00:15203674
2Chuck Schumer [77 words]Irwin GraulichFeb 19, 2013 23:26203671
What everybody knows [125 words]DanFeb 19, 2013 23:22203670
2hagel and schumer [160 words]Steven LFeb 19, 2013 23:15203669
2Even more concerns vis a vis the Saudis [72 words]Michael Hanni MorcosFeb 19, 2013 23:14203668
2Sorry, but President Obama has the same anti-Jewish thoughts as Chuck Hagel ! [42 words]Phil GreendFeb 19, 2013 22:14203667
1Chuck "Shomer:" [23 words]Ron GerskupFeb 19, 2013 22:04203666

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Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".

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