Why does the United States allow Israeli citizens to sit in Congress?

by Scarecrow Sun Apr 01, 2012 1:24 am

Firstly I am not anti semitic in any way, I have researched the dual citizenship situation regarding the USA senate and house of representatives as a matter of interest to establish the facts , not hearsay. Very Happy

I include the first sentence so as not to predicate the readers moral view of myself, I have no axe to grind with any religion or creed. I do like facts .

How many Americans in the Israeli knesset - 0. in the Russian parliament -0. in British parliament -0.

I hope the post derives some serious debate.

OK, I just spent almost four hours of my Friday night trying to find confirmation of who has dual citizenship with Israel in the congress.
My first task was to understand Israel's Law of Return, in which a person can go to Israel and claim citizenship only if they have Jewish blood, from at least the mother, father, grandmother or grandfather on either side. This gives them the right to get citizenship with Israel and not have to renounce their American citizenship.

I then went through that long list of senators and congressmen and women , and individually checked their biographies. Each and every one of them has the right by blood to become an Israeli citizen, and each and every one of them is a practicing Jew.

Now, just on the law of averages, the percentage of Jews in the US is 1.7% of the entire population, a rather small number indeed. The average number of Jewish people in congress is 7.3%.

Out of all the religions listed, Judaism is the only religion which has over three times the amount represented in congress than there are in the general population of the US. Every other religion in congress had a lower representation than in the general population

http://www.pewforum.org/Government/Faith-on-the-Hill--The-Religious-Composition-of-the-112th-Congress.aspx

Although it is not a stretch to see that Jews in congress who are more than able to have dual citizenship with Israel probably did get it, I cannot get absolute proof that this is so. However, if you look at their voting record, it shows who they support.

Eighty one members of congress last August were given all-expense paid trips to Israel and stayed there for a week being politically indoctrinated. It doesn't even seem legal to remove that many lawmakers out of the country and have them kow-tow to Israelis, but it was done:

http://jewishpeacenews.blogspot.com/2011/08/josh-ruebner-exposes-illegality-of.html

A 2012 list of the Senate and House of Representatives with dual citizenship:

THE SENATE

Richard Blumenthal (D-CT)
Barbara Boxer (D-CA)
Benjamin Cardin (D-MD)
Dianne Feinstein (D-CA)
Al Franken (D-MN)
Herb Kohl (D-WI)
Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ)
Joseph Lieberman (Independent-CT)
Carl Levin (D-MI)
Bernard Sanders (Independent-VT)
Charles Schumer (D-NY)
Ron Wyden (D-OR)
Michael Bennet (D-CO)

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Gary Ackerman (D-NY)
Shelley Berkley (D-NV)
Howard Berman (D-CA)
Eric Cantor (R-VA)
David Cicilline (D-RI)
Stephen Cohen (D-TN)
Susan Davis (D-CA)
Ted Deutch (D-FL)
Eliot Engel (D-NY)
Bob Filner (D-CA)
Barney Frank (D-MA)
Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ)
Jane Harman (D-CA)
Steve Israel (D-NY)
Sander Levin (D-MI)
Nita Lowey (D-NY)
Jerrold Nadler (D-NY)
Jared Polis (D-CO)
Steve Rothman (D-NJ)
Jan Schakowsky (D-IL)
Allyson Schwartz (D-PA)
Adam Schiff (D-CA)
Brad Sherman (D-CA)
Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL)
Henry Waxman (D-CA)
Anthony Weiner (D-NY) This one is gone now.
John Yarmuth (D-KY)

by astra Fri Jun 15, 2012 11:23 pm

This could be an interesting discussion, but the moderators will have to be on the ball.

It seems, mention Judaism, or any other group, and time wasters jump in with their ill founded judgements on people they have never met.
The internet at it's annonymous worst IMO.

The Jew - very clever, very intelligent and very shrewd have ever been in bother with other races from the 12th century and before. Even Shakespear had to have a go.

Mention the people above,, or Einstein and things are ok, but stay clear of the Stern Gang. I just do not know how to address the subject I am afraid.

by oftenwrong Sat Jun 16, 2012 6:55 am

There is a simple rule-of-thumb indicator which operates in such circumstances.

As soon as someone denies being anti-semitic, you know that they are.

Truly neutral feelings don't need to be expressed, they become evident.

by tlttf Sat Jun 16, 2012 8:41 am

Surely in the land of the free, anybody is able to become a congressman/woman. Is it simply a concern because the Jews believe their religious teachings whilst most spout whatever the voter wants to hear?

by oftenwrong Sat Jun 16, 2012 11:09 am

It's always such a shame to hear people belittling other people because that's the only way they can get to feel good about themselves.

by ROB Sat Jun 16, 2012 4:09 pm

Pertinent portions of a certain document:

United States Constitution, Article I, Section 2, Paragraph 2:

No Person shall be a Representative who shall not have attained to the Age of twenty five Years, and been seven Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State in which he shall be chosen.

United States Constitution, Article I, Section 3, Paragraph 3:

No person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty Years, and been nine Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State for which he shall be chosen.

United States Constitution, Article I, Section 5, Paragraph 1:

Each House shall be the Judge of the Elections, Returns and Qualifications of its own Members, and a Majority of each shall constitute a Quorum to do Business; but a smaller number may adjourn from day to day, and may be authorized to compel the Attendance of absent Members, in such Manner, and under such Penalties as each House may provide.

United States Constitution, Article VI, Paragraph 3:

The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.

There are five hundred thirty-five legislators elected by We the People of the several sovereign states to the Congress of the United States of America; one hundred United States Senators, and four hundred thirty five United States Representatives (commonly called United States Congresspersons, Congressmen, or Congresswomen).

Each meets the qualifications, including United States citizenship, specified in the United States Constitution, each has been elected by majority vote of We the People of her/his respective state or district, and each has been found qualified by her/his respective body. End of story.

by **astradt1** Sat Jun 16, 2012 5:06 pm

So in theory some one who is a citizen of any country of the world including Afghanistan, Russia, Iran or Iraq, may become a US senator or congressman or woman so long as they are also a US citizen......and are voted in by 'we the people' citizens of the United States of America......

by oftenwrong Sat Jun 16, 2012 5:19 pm

astradt1 wrote:So in theory some one who is a citizen of any country of the world including Afghanistan, Russia, Iran or Iraq, may become a US senator or congressman or woman so long as they are also a US citizen......and are voted in by 'we the people' citizens of the United States of America......

.... and had access to tens of thousand dollars in campaign funds.

by ROB Sat Jun 16, 2012 5:39 pm

astradt1 wrote:
Re: Why does the United States allow Israeli citizens to sit in Congress?
by astradt1 on Sat 16 June 2012 - 17:06

So in theory some one who is a citizen of any country of the world including Afghanistan, Russia, Iran or Iraq, may become a US senator or congressman or woman so long as they are also a US citizen......and are voted in by 'we the people' citizens of the United States of America......

RockOnBrother wrote:
Re: Why does the United States allow Israeli citizens to sit in Congress?
by RockOnBrother on Sat 16 June 2012 - 16:09 (First repost)

United States Constitution, Article I, Section 2, Paragraph 2:

No Person shall be a Representative who shall not have attained to the Age of twenty five Years, and been seven Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State in which he shall be chosen.
United States Constitution, Article I, Section 3, Paragraph 3:

No person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty Years, and been nine Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State for which he shall be chosen.
United States Constitution, Article I, Section 5, Paragraph 1:

Each House shall be the Judge of the Elections, Returns and Qualifications of its own Members, and a Majority of each shall constitute a Quorum to do Business; but a smaller number may adjourn from day to day, and may be authorized to compel the Attendance of absent Members, in such Manner, and under such Penalties as each House may provide.
United States Constitution, Article VI, Paragraph 3:

The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.

https://cuttingedge2.forumotion.co.uk/t440-why-does-the-united-states-allow-israeli-citizens-to-sit-in-congress#21833

by **astradt1** Sat Jun 16, 2012 6:41 pm

Nice duck of answering the question............

If in doubt re-post earlier post......

by ROB Sat Jun 16, 2012 6:59 pm

astradt1 wrote:
Re: Why does the United States allow Israeli citizens to sit in Congress?
by astradt1 on Sat 16 June 2012 - 18:41

Nice duck of answering the question............

If in doubt re-post earlier post......

RockOnBrother wrote:
Re: Why does the United States allow Israeli citizens to sit in Congress?
by RockOnBrother on Sat 16 June 2012 - 16:09 (Second repost)

United States Constitution, Article I, Section 2, Paragraph 2:

No Person shall be a Representative who shall not have attained to the Age of twenty five Years, and been seven Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State in which he shall be chosen.
United States Constitution, Article I, Section 3, Paragraph 3:

No person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty Years, and been nine Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State for which he shall be chosen.
United States Constitution, Article I, Section 5, Paragraph 1:

Each House shall be the Judge of the Elections, Returns and Qualifications of its own Members, and a Majority of each shall constitute a Quorum to do Business; but a smaller number may adjourn from day to day, and may be authorized to compel the Attendance of absent Members, in such Manner, and under such Penalties as each House may provide.
United States Constitution, Article VI, Paragraph 3:

The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.

https://cuttingedge2.forumotion.co.uk/t440-why-does-the-united-states-allow-israeli-citizens-to-sit-in-congress#21833

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