🚀 go-pugleaf

Anonymous <nobody@nox.lemuria.org> wrote:

>Sen. Lieberman's Zionist Connections - 
>A Conflict Of Interest?
>By William Hughes
>9-27-2
>
>"No special foreign-based interest, like Zionism, should ever be placed
>above the interest of our Republic. Lieberman must be forced to come clean
>with the Senate about all his Zionist connections. Senate Rule 37 requires
>it and so does the future security of our nation."  
>
>On May 2, 2002, the Senate of the U.S. passed a notorious pro-Israel
>Resolution (S. Res. 247), with respect to the Mid-East controversy. Its co
>author was Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman (D-CT). In pushing the measure, he
>barked, "You are either with us or the terrorists" (Washington Times, May
>3, 2002). 
>
>Who is this "us" he is talking about?  The measure falsely equated the
>U.S.'s post-9/11 fight against terrorism with Israel's brutal occupation of
>the Palestinian people in the occupied West Bank and Gaza. It also condoned
>Israel's vicious military attacks on Jenin, Ramallah and Bethlehem.  
>
>Black's Law Dictionary (5th Ed.) defines a conflict of interest as a "Term
>used in connection with public officials and their relationship to matters
>of private interest or gain to them."  The Senate Code of Official Conduct,
>"Conflict of Interest," Rule 37, Par. 2, states:  "No Member...shall engage
>in any outside business...which is inconsistent or in conflict with the
>conscientious performance of official duties."  The legislative history of
>this provision says, "It should be read to prohibit any outside activities
>which could represent a conflict of interest or the appearance of a
>conflict of interest (See, Senate Ethics Manual, Select Committee on
>Ethics, United States Senate, p. 66).  

What part of belonging to organizations that reflect one's
philosophies is in conflict with one's performance of one's official
duties? When Bob Barr or Trent Lott belongs to conservative Republican
organizations, does it conflict with their being conservative
Republican senators?

>
>The Congressional Directory, (107th Congress, 2001-2002), list the official
>biography for Lieberman. 

The Congressional Directory is a commercial product sold by a private
company.

>It is silent about his membership or association
>with any Zionist organizations or his adherence to a Zionist political
>ideology.  

I just looked at the biographies of eight senators, mostly
Republicans, from their own Senate websites, and not one of them
mentions any outside organizations they belong to. So? If you're going
to make accusations, you should make sure that there's actually
something wrong with the behavior you're claiming. If you're going to
make revelations, you should make sure there's something that your
target would have any reason to hide.

>
>Lawmaking is built on trust. Lieberman has an obligation to his fellow
>senators to disclose fully his agenda to the members of the Senate.

??? Every lawmaker has an agenda. It's what motivates them to run for
office. If they don't make their agenda clear during their campaign,
either they don't get elected, or it winds up becoming clear as their
voting record builds. What are you talking about?

> Almost
>all elected political entities abide by these ethical rules, which are
>centered on revealing any conflict of interest, appearance of a conflict of
>interest, prejudice, or bias.  
>
>Like all members of the Senate, Lieberman is required to file an annual
>"Financial Disclosure Statement" with the Secretary of the Senate. In his
>May 15, 2001 submittal, he again failed to mention any official membership
>in any Zionist organizations. 

Why would a list of organizations in which one holds membership show
up on one's financial statement? Do you include your resume on your
tax return?

>
>Although, he does disclose his significant connection, as an advisory board
>member, to three Israeli-based non-profit organizations: "The Peres Center
>for Peace" at Tel Aviv; "Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies" at
>Bar-Ilan University, and the "Natural History Museum," located in
>Jerusalem.  

Oh, so you're complaining that he doesn't disclose his connections--
except that he does. What the f*** is the matter with you?

>
>Lieberman's membership in these Zionist affiliated groups does raise, on
>its face, an appearance of a conflict of interest on his part with respect
>to an issue, like S. Res. 247, since it advances the cause of Zionism
>and/or Zionist Israel. If he is in fact a Zionist, then the conflict
>between his public duties and his private interests becomes even more
>pronounced.  

Did you imagine that most legislators wake up each morning and shake a
magic 8-ball to decide how they will vote on the issues of that day?
That they keep their votes separate from their personal political
goals? What the f*** is the matter with you? Is Orrin Hatch or Jesse
Helms ethically compromised when he votes conservatively?

[Remaining bullcrap snipped]


-- 
Harlan Messinger
Remove the first dot from my e-mail address.
Veuillez �ter le premier point de mon adresse de courriel.