A Jew And A Catholic Went To Congress....(Just Saying)

A Jew and a Catholic went to Congress kind of sounds like the beginning of a joke, but it is what will be played out over the next few months. The Jew of course is Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the Catholic Pope Frances. Each was invited to speak under the same circumstances, but the reaction to the invitations was totally different.

Speaker Boehner invited two people to speak to a joint session of congress. The speaker didn't check with the President before making either invitation (nor did he have to). Each of the two speakers has something important to say to the members of congress.

The Premier of the Jewish State didn't accept the invitation until the President was informed he was roundly criticized for accepting. The head of the Catholic Church was invited and when he accepted no one asked if the President knew...everyone just cheered.

Only the Jewish man's visit was criticized. I am not saying his visit was bashed only because he is Jewish---I'm just pointing out a fact.

When the Jewish man was invited without checking with the President even though Obama was informed before the Jewish man said yes, the White House called it a breach of protocol. On the day the head of the Catholic Church accepted the invitation the President didn't call it a breach of protocol, he said he was eager to welcome the pope to the U.S. "Like so many people around the world, I've been touched by his call to relieve suffering, and to show justice and mercy and compassion to the most vulnerable."

It was strange that he praised the leader of the Catholic Church but called the Jewish leader's acceptance a breach of protocol. I am not saying the Jew's visit was a breach of protocol only because of his faith; I'm just pointing out fact.

A few months ago the President blasted the same Premier of the Jewish State for allowing Jews to purchase homes in certain areas of Jerusalem. It was a very unique criticism. That President had never criticized people of any other faith for buying homes in any other spot in the world.

Now I am not saying the President hated the home sale because the buyers were Jewish---I'm just pointing out a fact.

On Thursday, Nancy Pelosi said that many members of her caucus would be too busy to show up when the Prime Minister of the Jewish State spoke before Congress. "I don't think anybody should use the word 'boycott,'" Pelosi said. "When these heads of state come, people are here doing their work, they're trying to pass legislation, they're meeting with their constituents and the rest. It's not a high-priority item for them." Just a few hours earlier when she heard that the leader of the Catholic Church was going to speak before congress Pelosi said in a written statement that she looks forward to "hearing his call to live our values, to protect the poor and the needy, and to promote peace."

Why was Pelosi's reaction different for the Jew and the Catholic? I am not saying it had anything to do with the Jew's faith; I'm just making a statement of fact.

Reps. John Lewis (D-GA), Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), and G.K. Butterworth (D-NC) all said they wouldn't attend the Jews speech because they were too busy. They haven't said whether they would attend the Catholic's speech.

Just because they will show up for the Pope plan to be too busy for the Jew, it doesn't mean they made they made the decision based on religion. I am just pointing out what is happening.

Essentially both leaders will be delivering a message about how we should be treating each other. The Pope is going to Congress to deliver a message of peace; his teachings are usually about how mankind should be nicer to each other no matter who they are. He speaks of a Savior who saves souls. The Jewish Premier is going to congress to talk about preventing one evil nation from creating a super weapon to kill millions of people, both in his country and in this country. People of both parties share his opinion.

One of the speakers is talking about saving souls; the other is talking about saving lives. But only the Jew's message is criticized in the mainstream media as a "slap" at the President. I am not saying its because he is Jewish, I am just point out a fact.

Two leaders invited to speak before a joint session of Congress, both were invited without first asking the White House, the president was aware of the invitations before each was accepted. Each of the leaders were close friends of the United States, each will deliver an important message designed to make this world a better place. But only the Pope is being welcomed.

I am not saying the Prime Minister visit is being criticized because he is Jewish and he leads the only Jewish country in the world, a country which is threatened by terrorists and by Iranian nuclear weapons, there must be a more logical reason---I just can't think of one right now.