By COLlive reporter
Jewish community activists in Brooklyn reacted with shock, dismay, hurt and anger after Congresswomen Yvette Clarke voted Tuesday against a pro-Israel bill.
Clarke, representative of New York’s 11th congressional district including Crown Heights and Flatbush, voted against a resolution calling on the U.S. to oppose the Goldstone report on the Gaza war.
While Clarke told COLlive in May of 2009 she “strongly supports Israel’s right to self-defense,” Clarke was one of the 23 members of the House who opposed the bill.
The resolution (H. Res. 867), sponsored by Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) and Howard Berman (D-CA), was supported by 344 members.
It called the Goldstone report “irredeemably biased” and notes that it “is being exploited by Israel’s enemies to excuse the actions of violent militant groups and their state sponsors.”
Chanina Sperlin, Vice Chairman of the Crown Heights Community Council who has close ties to Clarke, sad he was furious and disappointed.
“Coming from her, I am very shocked,” Sperlin, who traveled with Clarke to Israel in 2001, told COLlive. “She should know better after serving as our representative in the city council.”
Clake was said to have been notified of the Jewish community’s feelings towards Goldstone.
Michael Miller, Executive Director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater New York, told COLlive he had requested a meeting about this matter weeks ago, but did not receive a reply.
“Frankly, this is a message to the Jewish community to connect to elected officials and let them know how we feel about issues. Otherwise there might be others who will do so,” Miller added.
NYS Assemblyman Dov Hikind of Brooklyn said he does not understand Clake’s motives.
“90 percent of members of the congress did the right thing,” he told COLlive. “The Obama Administration and Hillary Clinton are opposed to this report for its bias.
“She has no excuse for this and owes the Jewish community an explanation,” Hikind said.
Eli Slavin, a resident of Crown Heights and an advisor to Rep. Clarke, declined comment.
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+ Clarke Speaks at Drimmer Home
+ Clarke Supports Chabad Pre-School
+ Clarke’s Town-Hall at JCM
+ Clarke and Halberstam Meet
+ Clarke Meets Crown Heights Heads
RE COMMENT # 43
Bibi’s making offers to the US administration which instead of satisfying them, as he hopes, will only stimulate their appetite more and more for ever increasing concessions on matters of Pikuach Nefesh!!
To quote her own statement: “• The numbers of my constituents that contacted my office overwhelmingly voiced their opposition to the resolution, with those in favor being very few and far between.” That says it all. The very same thing happens time and time again, especially in Israel, regarding the unending tragic decisions that the government there makes. We always tune out the “behind the scenes” machinations and scheming that go on for many long months, and wake up only after those deals or decisions have been done or made and are ready to be announced! Let us finally learn… Read more »
ALL I CAN SAY IS B’H I NEVER VOTED FOR HER. I’VE ALWAYS MAINTAINED THAT A GOY IS A GOY IS A GOY. THEREFORE YOU CAN’T RELY ON THEM NOR TRUST THEM.
“write” not “wright”.
i sent her this e-mail threw her web site: i was shocked to the core to read that you voted against The resolution (H. Res. 867), meaning you voted against Israel! the partnership between the US and Israel (the only real ally the US has in the middle east), in my eyes is a security matter not a political matter. contrary to what you wright on your website, your vote is translated to mean you believe Israel committed “war crimes” and “acts against humanity”, thus emboldening its enemy’s and our enemies to continue there war, knowing full well that they… Read more »
Not a valid excuse, she could have abstained, guess we know who you are supporting.
she unmasks herself in her explanation first she wrights: “The numbers of my constituents that contacted my office overwhelmingly voiced their opposition to the resolution, with those in favor being very few and far between.” simple as that the Muslims and jew haters called in more then we did! she can now go claim there vote for being anti Israel! then to patch things up with the Jews she wrights: “Unfortunately, H.Res. 867, in its current form, does nothing to further these goals [of peace]. For that reason…I opposed the resolution.” in other words “i support israel but the will… Read more »
this is the same with all politicians
you can never trust
Please, my friends ,now “to vote” becomes a mitzvah, just register to vote ,just to vote against her
so you see politics will always remain politics. there are no friends in politics.
What are any of you really going to do about it?
no, for real ?
You all seem so shocked! Yvette did not change, she is the same, do you not follow the bills she is voting on, such as spear heading the gay marriage bill, healthcare, ect. ect, these things also will effect your life, she knows you have all sold your souls for a few photo ops, a smile and a pat on the back, I am sure she also has a good laugh at the thought of this community, wow they have such a difficult time with the Christians holding on to their values and belief in G-d not so with the… Read more »
i will never vote for an anti-israel person which she has shown herself to be!!!!!!!
OUt with her!!!!!!!!!!!!!
She is not stupid. She can see which neighborhoods vote and which don’t, and Crown Heights doesn’t vote. She is up for re-election in one year from today. That gives everyone in crown heights enough time to register to vote, and to get involved with either party whether republican or democrat it doesn’t matter, what matters is that they – the political class – should see that wee – the regular people class – care and we will stand up to them when we disagree.
Is her personal Jewish liaison and HE should be held responsible for her vote….
Eli you relay let us down……
she does not know better. the ones to blame are her jewish lubavitcher confidants. the disgrace is on them they should be ashamed of themselves what a chilul hashem!
its all a big joke anyways. ch will continue to support those who are in favor of big government ie social programs etc. dont be surprised when these candidates dont support Israel
When is her seat up for election?
She doesn’t like Jews. WOW! What a surprise.
and stop listening to askanim etc who think they know who is best for us/ Don’t you get it? If we can’t trust each other, how on earth can we trust Goyim?
Let’s show Yvette Clarke she’s out.
I think the reason for her voting no is:
The bill before congress wouldn’t allow ANY close examination and studies of the UN report, NOT EVEN TO SAY WHY IT WAS SO ONE SIDED AGAINST ISRAEL.
The intention was well mented but the perception is not well takin.
it will be much easier for me to send an email then calling. thanks
Her office addresses and phone numbers are:
District Office
123 Linden Boulevard
Fourth Floor Suite 200
Brooklyn, NY 11226
T: (718) 287-1142
F: (718) 287-1223
Washington Office
1029 Longworth HOB
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-6231
Fax: (202) 226-0112
Constituents can contact her through a form on her website at:
http://clarke.house.gov/contact/contact-us-form.shtml
um, did anyone actually read her reasons for voting against the resolution ( posted in post 3)? Or why mix up the facts with a good story.
http://clarke.house.gov/contact/contact-us-form.shtml
if the new reps. of our community (the new vaad?) had any back-bone at all, they would release a public statement articulating what the community they represent thinks of what this shameless woman did.
you must comment on this one. parnosoh is certainly a major concern for us all. however, this woman must be condemned and removed by those who have been scorned and double crossed by her.
Didn’t vote for Bloomberg, didn’t vote for Thompson. Will most certainly vote for Clarke’s opponent next year.
Seems to me the wrong People Are infuencing her;
Example those who Like to Be in Pictures To give the impression that they accomplished some thing;
Wake up people
i predict she will be in CH and Flatbush within the week, to try to clean up this mess she made
WE MUST SENT HER FLYING!
we have to get her out of office, so everyone please sign up to vote so it will be possible.
I hope she has a noce retirement home in Barbados.
who only wants handouts not hard work or values
she is up for election next year .lets vote her out .eli slavin why dont we hear from u . whenever there is a photo op. u are ALWAYS there .how come u are so silent now . we must put up a winning candidate to oppose her in 2010 . we can get rid of her but sadly our so called leaders are a bunch of…………………….. OTE HER OUT IN 2010 .YES WE CAN
I lost my confidence ad trust in you.
There are times when you need to do what right and not outweigh “the numbers of my constituents”
A voter from 11225
she voted the way she did for a simple reason
she got the jews in the bag in the last elections and she knows that all she needs to do next time is to kiss up to a few Chanina shperlings durring the next elections and she will be alright
I never Trusted her and I don’t trust most such politicians
I can’t belive someone who visits and talks to us regularly would d something like that
this is more then a punch in the face
Can you post her office phone number and address so that the community can let they’re feelings be known.
Give a phone number, or an address, or her email, so we can let her know that her opinion does not represent her constituents.
This method has been used before effectively, and should make her apologize verbally, and actively in the future.
next time she comes to visit. Don’t kiss and make up. You fool us once shame on you, fool us twice shame on us. I never trusted her. Get rid of her at the next election.
Anyone who is willing to give a public address about health care on behalf of Obama, loses my vote.
Last night I walked into the voting booth, saw her name, and thought, should I vote for her opponent of just not vote at all…I decided, although her opponent had no chance, I will still vote for him.
I am very happy now that I voted against her and would encourage the rest of the community to vote against her in the future. This type of behavior is inexcusable and has no place in our community.
Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke Votes Against H. Res. 867 November 4, 2009 5:55 PM Washington DC- Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke voted against H. Res. 867 “calling on the President and the Secretary of State to oppose unequivocally any endorsement or further consideration of the Report of the United Nations Fact Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict in multilateral fora.” She released the following statement: “I have long supported, and continue to unequivocally support, Israel’s right to exist and to defend itself from the aggression of those that would seek to destroy this nation. Ultimately, it is in all of our… Read more »
if we had a little self respect we would oppse her and put up a diff. candidate that could win and get rid of her .she is too liberal and thats what happenes .