When the "Water's Edge" Standard Disappears

[one...two...tree 2,762]

If our political system made more sense, this would be an astounding scandal that would dominate the discourse.

Rep. Eric Cantor (R-Va.) told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday during a meeting in New York that the new GOP majority in the House will "serve as a check" on the Obama administration, a statement unusual for its blunt disagreement with U.S. policy delivered directly to a foreign leader.

"Eric stressed that the new Republican majority will serve as a check on the Administration and what has been, up until this point, one party rule in Washington," read a statement from Cantor's office on the one-on-one meeting. "He made clear that the Republican majority understands the special relationship between Israel and the United States, and that the security of each nation is reliant upon the other."

This just isn't normal. Laura Rozen called the meeting itself "unusual, if not unheard of." But it's what Cantor said that's astounding.

We're talking about a powerful member of Congress engaged in foreign policy, vowing to a foreign government to oppose the administration's policies regarding that government. Ron Kampeas from the Jewish Telegraphic Agency news agency said he can't remember any U.S. official ever doing this. "[T]o have-a-face to face and say, in general, we will take your side against the White House -- that sounds to me extraordinary," Kampeas said this week.

It is that and more. Cantor not only met in private with a foreign leader to undercut the foreign policy of the elected American president, he proceeded to brag about it.

Also keep in mind, a few years ago, Speaker Nancy Pelosi traveled to Syria and met with Bashar al-Assad. At the time, none other than Eric Cantor personally accused Pelosi of possibly violating the Logan Act, "which makes it a felony for any American 'without authority of the United States' to communicate with a foreign government to influence that government's behavior on any disputes with the United States."

As Adam Serwer noted yesterday, "Based on Cantor's own standard, he's just committed a felony."

In 2007, John Bolton, the former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, insisted, "I would simply hope that people would understand that, under the Constitution, the president conducts foreign policy, not the speaker of the House."

OK, but can we apply that same standard to the House Minority Whip?

Remember, Republican standards in this area seem to vary widely based on the president's party.

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/

[Danno 1,228]

Of course it's different when it comes to Israel because we have a "special relationship" with them.

(whatever that means)

[luckytxn 2,265]

So Congressman and Senators are not allowed to meet with foreign leaders?

[one...two...tree 2,762]

So Congressman and Senators are not allowed to meet with foreign leaders?

Meeting with foreign leaders is one thing. Trying to shape foreign policy that is in opposition to the sitting President is a violation of the law (see Logan's Act).

[Obama 2012 1,714]

Meeting with foreign leaders is one thing. Trying to shape foreign policy that is in opposition to the sitting President is a violation of the law (see Logan's Act).

Certain Dems were doing this all the time during Bush's presidency.... Some were even saying things that might as well have been treason. Of course, I'm sure you ignored all of that.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Certain Dems were doing this all the time during Bush's presidency.... Some were even saying things that might as well have been treason. Of course, I'm sure you ignored all of that.

Ah, nice little slick move there, willy, but the OP was about the hypocrisy of House Minority Whip, Eric Cantor, who expressed outrage over Pelosi's mere meeting with foreign officials, meanwhile taking it a step further and telling the Prime Minister of Israel that the Republicans won't let President Obama set his own Foreign Policy agenda.

[Ban Hammer 13,664]

Ah, nice little slick move there, willy, but the OP was about the hypocrisy of House Minority Whip, Eric Cantor, who expressed outrage over Pelosi's mere meeting with foreign officials, meanwhile taking it a step further and telling the Prime Minister of Israel that the Republicans won't let President Obama set his own Foreign Policy agenda.

until we have the text of nancy's time over there, it's difficult to say cantor took it a step further, given we don't have anything to compare it to.