Louie Gohmert
TEXAS' 1st DISTRICT
Gohmert Introduces The Armed Services Always Paid Act
Congressman Louie Gohmert (TX-01) released the following statement today on his bill, The Armed Services Always Paid Act (ASAP Act), which ensures that any time there is a government shutdown, all of the military continue to receive their pay without any stoppage:
“On behalf of our nation’s military, I have filed again in this session of Congress a bill that will make certain that any time there is a government shutdown, the pay of our military men and women will continue without any stoppage. It continues to force Congress members on both sides of the aisle to consider the situation of our defenders.
The Armed Services Always Paid Act (ASAP Act) puts military pay on automatic pilot like our seniors’ social security payments. It would mean that when our heroes are in life or death situations fighting for our country, they do not have to be distracted by whether or not their loved ones will have money that month. In the current shutdown, most of the military is getting paid, but this would ensure that all of the military are paid timely.
“It is important to protect those who fight so fearlessly to protect us.”
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Read MoreGOHMERT: Trump’s Courageous Stand On Border Security Once Again Proves He’s No Ordinary Politician
President Trump is taking a courageous and necessary stand by insisting on border security, and he needs to be able to count on Republicans in Congress to stand by him until Democrats end their obstruction.
Two years ago, the American people sent a clear and resounding message to Washington: fix our broken immigration system, and fix it now.
Demonstrating once again that he’s nothing like typical establishment politicians, President Trump has taken that responsibility seriously by putting his foot down for the border wall that he promised on the campaign trail.
Illegal immigration has become a serious humanitarian and national security crisis, and as immigration enforcement professionals have repeatedly affirmed, there is no effective solution to that crisis that doesn’t include a physical barrier along at least part of our southern border.
When Congress passed a spending bill last year that, yet again, did not include funding for even a portion of the wall, President Trump made clear that he was not signing another spending bill after that one without the protection of a wall Americans desperately needs for protection. Yet, we now have Democrat leaders who previously voted for wall funding saying that there is no need for a border wall, and instead demanding a “virtual wall” utilizing technologies such as drones and TV cameras even though they didn’t make a peep when Obama’s Homeland Security Secretary declared that we didn’t need the billions appropriated for that very system.
Many of these same people have themselves lived in homes with walls or fences, like the 10-foot wall that President Obama built around his Washington home. They make sure their homes are locked and secured at night, even though a skilled burglar could get around their locks or security systems. They don’t do that because they hate everyone outside their home; they do it, as the president memorably explained during his Oval Office address because they love the people on the inside.
Democrats decided to play a game of chicken with President Trump, naively expecting him to follow the script written by conventional politicians and “mainstream” media’s self-appointed experts who care more about political consequences than doing what’s right for the country.
But Donald Trump has never been conventional, and he genuinely cares about achieving true border security. That much was certainly evident from his willingness to remain at his post while opponents of making America safe were away on Christmas vacation.
Apart from visiting with troops in Iraq the day after Christmas, President Trump stayed at the White House over the holidays, canceling plans with his family so that he could be on standby in case the Democrats wanted to save American lives instead of playing politics. Not once over that two week period did Nancy Pelosi or Chuck Schumer reach out to accept the President’s outstretched hand or even indicate any desire to compromise in the least. Instead, Representative Pelosi vacationed in Hawaii while Minority Leader Schumer schemed for a way to blame the President for mayhem in America including lost lives caused by Democrat recalcitrance.
As soon as Representative Pelosi got back to Washington, she was appointed Speaker of the House and passed legislation that includes billions of dollars in aid for foreign countries. Yet she still refuses to offer more than a single dollar for even part of a wall that would protect America.
Instead, she demands a return to the failed strategies of the Obama years, when the federal government was more concerned with giving money to the largest funder of international terrorism than protecting Americans. If Pelosi and Schumer could just see their way clear to allowing President Trump to protect America with less than 4 percent of the cash they approved of President Obama giving to Ayatollah Khamenei and Iran, we could save American lives instead of mourning their loss.
Meanwhile, the problem of illegal immigration continues to fester. Of the female children lured to the U.S., over one-third are sexually assaulted at least once on the journey through Mexico, with a significant number of the boys molested as well during the arduous trek. Some never make it to America alive. That is just one part of the human tragedy caused by luring people illegally into this country with lax border security. There was also enough fentanyl trafficked into the United States last year to kill every single American citizen.
In American jurisprudence, we developed a legal doctrine called “Attractive Nuisance.” If a person responsible for a piece of property has something like a swimming pool that attracts people onto the land, and there is no wall or fence to prevent them from coming in, the person responsible for that land is held legally liable for money damages if someone is harmed, for example by drowning. Isn’t it time to hold the Democrats who are keeping America’s borders unsecured at least politically liable for the lost lives that their lack of walls or fences is causing?
President Trump is doing everything in his power to address this crisis. But it is now up to the Democrat leaders in Congress to stop trying to politically bludgeon this President simply fulfill their oaths so we can finally secure the safety of our country.
The President’s willingness to put his own political future on the line for the sake of the American people should inspire elected officials from both parties to do the same. It remains to be seen whether the Democrats will ultimately compromise and allow the President to secure our border. He certainly should not have to wonder, however, whether the vast majority of Congressional Republicans will stand with him. We will.
The bird flu was a problem during the Obama years. But make no mistake, the loss of lives, damage, and destruction that Americans endure daily due to the lack of sufficient border walls and protection is a national emergency many times more severe than when President Obama declared a “National Emergency” over the bird flu in 2009.
President Trump is demonstrating political courage of the sort that is rarely seen in our capital, and his cause here in the D.C. swamp is thoroughly just.
Gohmert vows to 'stand firm' for wall funding
U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert was preparing for a showdown on President Donald Trump’s border wall proposal as the House’s new Democratic majority took power Thursday.
“We’ve got to stand firm on getting money for the wall. We have got to stand firm on that. We have got to protect America,” the Republican from Tyler told conservative radio host Sebastian Gorka before the new House session began.
Congress has balked at paying billions of dollars to build a wall along the U.S. border with Mexico. The funding feud has led to a partial government shutdown that stretched into its 13th day Thursday. Congressional leaders are expected to meet with Trump today to try for a resolution.
Gohmert was highly critical of Republicans whose support for Trump has wavered and took to task junior Utah Sen. Mitt Romney — the GOP’s 2012 presidential candidate — over recent remarks about the president’s character and policies.
“We can’t give up hope. These clowns that think yapping and backstabbing President Trump, they’re nuts. It’s not going to help. Romney is one of those. He seems to want to make a living out of bashing Trump at every turn,” Gohmert said.
Members of the House selected Nancy Pelosi as speaker. She’s the only woman who has held the office and now one of the few elected officials who will be returning to it.
The California Democrat has spent her political career being underestimated, only to prove the naysayers wrong. In this case, it was by winning back the Democratic majority and amassing the votes for the speaker’s job.
In accepting the gavel, Pelosi will give a nod to the new era of divided government with a pledge to “reach across the aisle in this chamber and across the divisions in this great nation,” according to her prepared remarks.
“The floor of this House must be America’s Town Hall: where the people will see our debates and where their voices will be heard and affect our decisions,” she said.
Gohmert warned that Pelosi might have trouble reining in the Democrats who were joined by two new socialist-leaning House members — Rashida Tlaib and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Thursday. Congress’ last socialist member retired in 1950.
“She’s going to have her hands full. We have so many people coming in who think socialism is a good idea,” Gohmert said. “It’s unbelievable there’s that much ignorance to elect socialists. That’s how you bring down freedom.”
But it wasn’t all partisan politics for Gohmert going into the new session. He said he was throwing his support behind a Democrat Ron Kind’s campaign finance reform bill that would require identities of all political donors to be disclosed.
“The law right now is you contribute less than $200 you don’t have to report who it came from. That opens the doors to billionaires sitting there and sending $50 contributions nonstop,” Gohmert said.
Read MoreGohmert Introduces Bill That Removes Liability Protections for Social Media Companies That Use Algorithms to Hide, Promote, or Filter User Content
Rep. Louie Gohmert (TX-01) released the following statement regarding the introduction his bill, H.R.7363, that amends section 230 of the Communications Act of 1934:
“Social media companies like Facebook, Twitter, and Google are now among the largest and most powerful companies in the world. More and more people are turning to a social media platform for news than ever before, arguably making these companies more powerful than traditional media outlets. Yet, social media companies enjoy special legal protections under Section 230 of the Communications Act of 1934, protections not shared by other media. Instead of acting like the neutral platforms they claim to be in order obtain their immunity, these companies have turned Section 230 into a license to potentially defraud and defame with impunity.”
“Representatives of social media companies have testified in Congressional hearings that they do not discriminate against or filter out conservative voices on their platforms. But for all their reassurances, the disturbing trend continues unabated. Employees from some of these companies have communicated their disgust for conservatives and discussed ways to use social media platforms and algorithms to silence and prevent income to conservatives.”
“In one hearing, one of the internet social media executives indicated a desire to be treated like Fox News. Fox News does not have their immunity and this bill will fulfill that unwitting request. Since there still appears to be no sincere effort to stop this disconcerting behavior, it is time for social media companies to be liable for any biased and unethical impropriety of their employees as any other media company. If these companies want to continue to act like a biased medium and publish their own agendas to the detriment of others, they need to be held accountable.”
Congressman Gohmert is the Vice Chair of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security, as well as the Vice Chairman of the Natural Resources Committee. Prior to being elected to serve in Congress, he was elected to three terms as District Judge in Smith County, Texas and was appointed by then Texas Governor Rick Perry to complete a term as Chief Justice of the 12th Court of Appeals.
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Read MoreDHS: Jesus, Mary and Joseph could have earned asylum in U.S.
Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen assured members of Congress Thursday that Jesus, Mary and Joseph would have qualified for asylum in the U.S. as they fled King Herod.
That turned out to be a point of contention as Ms. Nielsen testified to the House Judiciary Committee, fielding angry questions and denunciations from Democrats who say the Trump administration has been cruel to migrants.
Rep. Luis V. Gutierrez, Illinois Democrat, was the most pointed, saying a Trump administration transported back to biblical times would have left Jesus to his death.
“A Jesus Christ who had to flee for his life, with Mary and Joseph,” Mr. Gutierrez said. “Thank God there wasn’t a wall that stopped him from seeking refuge in Egypt. Thank God that wall wasn’t there, and thank God there wasn’t an administration like this or too would have perished on the 28th, the day of innocents, when Herod ordered the murder of every child under two years of age.”
The Feast of the Holy Innocents, celebrated on Dec. 28, commemorates the events recorded in the Book of Matthew describing in which Herod the Great, fearing the prophesy of the rise of a King of the Jews, has children executed. Joseph, warned in a dream, had fled with his family to Egypt.
Rep. Louie Gohmert, Texas Republican, was indignant at that Mr. Gutierrez’s denunciation, saying it was part of an overall campaign of “slander” against Ms. Nielsen and other administration officials.
Mr. Gohmert asked Ms. Nielsen to alleviate Mr. Gutierrez’s worries over the Holy Family, saying Herod’s persecution of children seemed like a reason for asylum.
“Wouldn’t they be eligible for asylum in the United States?” he wondered.
“Yes,” Ms. Nielsen assured him.
Read MoreLouie Gohmert Slams Google for Making the SPLC a 'Trusted Flagger' on YouTube
On Tuesday, multiple Republican congressmen ripped into Google for listing the far-Left Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) as a "trusted flagger" on its platform YouTube. Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.) and Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) ripped into Google CEO Sundar Pichai for trusting an organization that brands conservative and Christian groups "hate groups" along with the Ku Klux Klan.
"You have a trusted flagger, you had indicated, called the Southern Poverty Law Center," Gohmert told Pichai. "The Southern Poverty Law Center really has stirred up more hate than about any other group I know."
Gohmert referenced the 2012 terrorist attack against the Family Research Council (FRC), in which a man used the SPLC's "hate map" to target the FRC's office in Washington, D.C. He showed up with semi-automatic weapons and a bag of Chick-Fil-A chicken sandwiches to kill everyone in the building and place a sandwich by their heads.
The SPLC "stirred up one guy to the point that he went to the Family Research Council and I know those people," the congressman said. "And they're Christians. And they believe — and I believe — that Christianity is really more based on love than about any other religion in history. God so loved the world, He sent His Son, His Son so loved the world, He gave His life."
"Yet [the SPLC] stirred up hate against the Family Research Center [sic] and a guy goes in shooting," Gohmert added.
The congressman also referenced the case of Maajid Nawaz, a Muslim reformer the SPLC falsely branded an "anti-Islamic extremist." The SPLC settled a defamation lawsuit from Nawaz, paying him and his Quilliam Foundation $3.375 million.
"Now, you consider them a trusted flagger, yet they keep creating problems for people that are not haters," Gohmert said. "They had to pay out $3.375 million. My problem is, when you put your moniker on them of trusted flagger, why aren't you paying $3.375 to Mr. Maajid Nawaz? That's my problem."
"You trust people that have stirred up a lot of hate," the congressman alleged.
He further argued that Google's leadership is blind to its own liberal bias. "You're so surrounded by liberality that hates conservatism, hates people that really love our Constitution and the freedom it's afforded people like you, that you don't even recognize it," Gohmert said. "It's like a blind man not even knowing what light looks like, because you're surrounded by darkness."
The congressman concluded by referencing a video of Google's leadership lamenting Donald Trump's victory in the 2016 election. "Your cofounder, Mr. [Sergey Mikhaylovich] Brin said, quote, 'Most people here are pretty upset and pretty sad.' A lot of us have seen the video. We saw how upset the top people at Google were."
Read MoreZOA to ADL: Apologize/Retract ADL’s “Abhorrent” Attack Against Pro-Israel Cong. Gohmert
Morton Klein, President of the Zionist Organization of America (ZOA), released the following statement defending Congressman Louie Gohmert (R-TX) and his statements criticizing George Soros on the Fox Business Network, and urging ADL to apologize for ADL’s “abhorrent” attack on Congressman Gohmert:
It is not antisemitic to point out that Soros funds attacks on Israel and failed to feel remorse or guilt. ADL should apologize to Congressman Louie Gohmert.
Congressman Louie Gohmert is one of Israel’s best friends in Congress, a stalwart defender of the nation of Israel, an outspoken critic of Iran, and a great man of principle who regularly speaks at ZOA Washington Mission luncheons. He has demonstrated his abiding love for the Jewish nation repeatedly: Congressman Gohmert clearly articulates the Jewish people’s rights to Jerusalem and the land of Israel. He opposes sending U.S. tax dollars to those who seek to destroy Israel, including by objecting to packages that tie funding to Israel to funding to Israel’s enemies. He opposes creating a Palestinian state (which would promptly become an Iranian-Hamas-Fatah terror state) in Israel’s midst.
It was wrong and deeply offensive for ADL to call Congressman Gohmert’s remarks criticizing extremist Israel-basher George Soros on Fox TV “abhorrent” and “antisemitic” and “conspiracies.” (Incidentally, ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt previously worked for the Soros-funded Aspen Institute.)
ZOA calls upon ADL to retract and apologize for ADL’s “abhorrent” attack on the Jewish people’s great friend, Congressman Louie Gohmert.
Congressman Gohmert stated: “George Soros is supposed to be Jewish but you wouldn’t know it from the damage he inflicted on Israel and the fact that he turned on fellow Jews and helped take the property that they owned.” Gohmert’s statement was essentially correct.
ZOA points to the following facts:
Soros Extensively Funds Virulent Anti-Israel Groups: It is a well-documented fact that Soros undercuts Israel at every turn by funding organizations that demonize, defame, and propagandize against Israel, promote anti-Israel boycotts and anti-Israel UN actions, and engage in lawfare against Jews and the Jewish state.
NGO Monitor ‘s detailed 2013 report documents how Soros, through Soros’ “Open Society Foundations” (OSF), funds twenty-six (26!!) organizations that are at the forefront of undermining, delegitimizing, spreading false stories about Israel and virulently attacking Israel in every conceivable forum. These Soros-funded anti-Israel groups include Adalah, B’tselem, Breaking the Silence, Yesh Din, Mossawa, the so-called Center for Constitutional Rights, etc. NGO Monitor’s report also documents OSF’s direct programs harming the Jewish state. (See “Bad Investment: The Philanthropy of George Soros and the Arab-Israeli Conflict: How Soros-funded Groups Increase Tensions in a Troubled Region,” by Alexander H. Joffe & Professor Gerald M. Steinberg, NGO Monitor, May 1, 2013.)
In addition, DC Leaks uncovered Soros/OSF documents that reveal that Soros/OSF made large grants to additional anti-Israel organizations, for stated purposes such as “Garner Israeli public and political support against settlements”; “support to grantees’ advocacy missions to the US and EU with the support from OSF’s DC and Brussels offices,” (meaning defaming Israel in the U.S. and in Europe); and “strategic litigation” (meaning abusing the legal system to harass Israel). (See OSF: “Arab Regional Office (ARO)-Presidential Portfolio Review, Palestinian Citizens of Israel-List of Portfolio Elements,” 6 August 2015.) These documents also reveal that Soros/OSF has been focused on this since 2001 (which happens to be the time of the Durban meeting condemning and strategizing against Israel); and that these Soros/OSF grants are approximately $4.6 million per year. The documents also reveal that while seeking to conceal its involvement and “maintaining a low profile,” Soros/OSF funds and otherwise assists a bevy of groups to “maintain sustained and targeted international advocacy” against Israel (which is also referred to in OSF documents as “Occupied Palestinian Territories”) (See “Open Society Foundations Arab Regional Office, Portfolio Review Document, Palestine/Israel International Advocacy Portfolio,” March 25, 2014; and “Soros Hack Reveals Evidence of Systemic Anti-Israel Bias: Millions clandestinely funneled to organizations dedicated exclusively to opposing the Jewish state,” by Liel Leibovitz, Tablet Mag., Aug. 14, 2016.)
In addition, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu noted that Soros-funded NIF (New Israel Fund) “endangers the security and future of the State of Israel as the nation state of the Jewish people. . . . For decades, the Fund contributes to anti-Zionist, pro-Palestinian organizations, including ones that slander IDF soldiers, such as Breaking the Silence and B’Tselem, and those fighting for Palestinian terrorists, such as Adalah.” (See “Netanyahu: Soros-Backed New Israel Fund Seeking to ‘Erase’ Israel’s Jewish Character,” by Aaron Klein, Breitbart, Apr. 16, 2018.)
SOROS: I Am Not a Zionist, Hamas Has a Moderate Wing: In a 2007 article, Soros admitted “I am not a Zionist,” criticized Israel and the U.S. for not recognizing a Hamas government, falsely claimed that Hamas has a “moderate” political wing, and demanded that Israel should accept Hamas and agree to a Hamas-Fatah Palestinian state in Israel’s midst, among other things. (“On Israel, America and AIPAC,” by George Soros, The New York Review of Books, April 12, 2007.) The U.S., Egypt, Canada and the European Union all designate Hamas as a foreign terrorist organization, and Jordan bans Hamas. Shortly after Soros published this article, Soros-funded J Street was formed and began promulgating Soros’ dangerous views.
Soros’ funding of J Street is telling: J Street repeatedly sides with Israel’s enemies, including by demonizing Israel on campuses and conferences, promoting anti-Israel UN resolutions and boycotts, lobbying for the catastrophic Iran deal, lobbying against pro-Israel U.S. government appointments, lobbying against moving the U.S. embassy to Israel’s capital Jerusalem, and raising funds for anti-Israel Congressional candidates – to name just a few. (See ZOA’s Special Report: “J-Street Sides with Israel’s Enemies & Works to Destroy Support for Israel.)
Incidentally, during his speech at J Street’s annual conference, ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt wrongly praised J Street as “the front line of defense against BDS and delegitimization.” In fact, J Street honors leaders of the BDS movement, brings BDS leaders to its conferences and college campuses, and supports BDS against the 650,000 Jews living in the Jewish homeland beyond the green line. In his J Street speech, ADL’s Greenblatt also supported the anti-Israel Black Lives Matter, wrongly accused fellow Jews of “Islamophobia” and “marginalizing Palestinians” and claimed that the “Palestinian narrative” is “legitimate” – and more. See “ADL Speech to J St. Wrongly Casts “Equal” Blame on Israel, Promotes Pro-BDS “Black Lives Matter,” Complains about Jewish “Islamophobia,” May 13, 2016.)
Soros admitted to his lack of guilt about accompanying Jewish property confiscations: Soros admitted that at age 14, he accompanied his godfather, a Nazi official, while his godfather was involved in seizing other Jews’ property in Hungary in 1944, and that Soros felt no guilt about this.
Soros stated during his 60 Minutes Interview (video):
Q: My understanding is that you went out with this protector of yours, who swore that you were his adopted godson.
Soros: Yes, yes.
Q: Went out in fact and helped with the confiscation of property from the Jews.
Soros: That’s right, yes.
Q: That sounds like an experience that would send lots of people to the psychiatric couch for many, many years. Was it difficult?
Soros: Not at all. Not at all. Maybe as a child you don’t see the connection. But it created no problem at all.
Q: No feeling of guilt?
Soros: No.
In sum, Congressman Gohmert’s critique of George Soros was amply justified. It is not antisemitic to point out that Soros funds attacks on Israel and failed to feel remorse or guilt. ADL should apologize to Congressman Louie Gohmert.
ADL Recently Wrongly Attacked Other Staunch Pro-Israel Officials and Groups: Sadly, ADL’s attack on Republican Congressman Gohmert follows other ADL attacks on other strong pro-Jewish, pro-Israel officials and organizations.
Governor Greg Abbott: Last year, ADL unfairly attacked Texas’s Republican Governor Greg Abbott, who is another great supporter of the Jewish people and state. In May 2017, Governor Abbott proudly signed an anti-BDS law and proclaimed: “Anti-Israel policies are anti-Texas policies.” A few months later, ADL distorted and condemned Governor Abbott’s apt and accurate reflection, regarding the fatal shooting at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, that evil has always been with us. (“Abbott puts church shooting in context of evil from Bible to Hitler,” by Jonathan Tilove, The Statesman, Nov. 6, 2017.) ADL twisted the Governor’s apt reflection into a false claim and false accusation that Governor Abbott “diminished the value of the innocent lives lost in the church shooting in Sutherland Springs, Texas.” ADL wrongly called Governor Abbott’s remarks “deeply insulting and irresponsible,” and “deeply offensive and an insult to the memories of those killed in Sutherland Springs.”
Sec’y of State Pompeo, ACT for America and the Center for Security Policy: This past April, ADL wrongly maligned strong pro-Israel then-CIA-Director Mike Pompeo, in a lengthy letter to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, just before Pompeo’s confirmation hearing to become Secretary of State. ADL’s letter wrongly maligned Director Pompeo for raising real concerns regarding Islamist terrorism in the aftermath of the Boston Marathon bombing; wrongly criticized Director Pompeo for describing the obligation to speak out about evil and suspicious activity that one observes; and wrongly branded pro-Israel anti-terrorism experts and organizations (including ACT for America, the Center for Security Policy, and their officials) as “Islamophobes,” etc., and then essentially accused Director Pompeo of “guilt by association” for speaking with the experts whom ADL had wrongly labeled. See “ZOA Letter to Sen. Foreign Relations Committee Endorsing Mike Pompeo for Secretary of State,” April 11, 2018.)
Canary Mission: Also last April, ADL wrongly defamed the pro-Israel Canary Mission, by accusing Canary Mission of engaging in “Islamophobic and racist” rhetoric. In fact, Canary Mission exposes and combats antisemitism and anti-Israel activities on U.S. college campuses – and surely did not deserve ADL’s attack. (See, “ZOA to ADL: Stop Attacks on Pro-Israel Groups/Leaders Who Combat Radical Islamists/Anti-Semites – Don’t Promote Groups Hostile to Israel,” Apr. 27, 2018. In this instance, ADL later announced that it regretted its attack on Canary Mission.
ADL needs to likewise apologize for wrongly attacking Congressman Gohmert.
Capital Research Report regarding ADL and ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt: A recent Capital Research Center report discusses ADL’s “leftward mission shift,” and “antisemitism double standard” – how ADL focuses on antisemitism from the right (some of which – e.g.., neo-Nazis, is surely real, while sometimes ignoring the real problem of antisemitism from the left and Islamists. An article cited in the report notes that “under its new president, Jonathan Greenblatt, the ADL had moved ‘onto a partisan course at odds with [its] core mission’.” The report also cites World Jewish Congress President Ron Lauder’s critique that “ADL play[s] politics” and ADL’s “manufactured outrage” …reduces ‘public sensitivity to the real dangers of anti-Semitism’ that confront the Jewish community.” The report also discusses ADL’s “promot[ion] of the Black Lives Matter movement […] despite BLM’s support for [Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions against Israel] and open hostility toward Israel”; ADL’s “partisan liberal political and policy positions similar to that of . . . J Street”; and that “Greenblatt [had] accused American Jews of living with ‘white privilege.’” (See also “Jonathan Greenblatt is Destroying the Anti-Defamation League,” by Alex VanNess, New York Post, Dec. 9, 2016, noting, among other things, that “ADL has also promoted the Black Lives Matter movement, for example, by creating school lesson plans that promote it, despite BLM’s support for BDS and open hostility toward Israel.”)
Inappropriate criticism against great friends of the Jewish people such as Congressman Gohmert is counterproductive and deeply troubling. ZOA urges ADL to retract/apologize for ADL’s wrong and unfair accusations against a great Zionist and friend of the Jewish people Congressman Louie Gohmert.
Gohmert Response To Letter From Mr. Gaspard of the “Open Society Foundation” re: Mr. George Soros
In response to a letter from Mr. Gaspard of the “Open Society Foundation” regarding Mr. George Soros (attached below), Congressman Louie Gohmert issued the following statement:
“Mr. Gaspard, with the misnamed Open Society Foundation, has been very diligent to condemn opinions or allegations about Mr. Soros’ activity. Yet, he surely knows that in his interview with Steve Kroft on December 20, 1998, Mr. Soros as a mature adult verified that he had no sense of guilt about the role he played in Nazis’ confiscation of property from the Jewish people during the Holocaust. As a very mature adult, if Mr. Soros had deep regrets about what he did when he was 14 years old and apologized, I would have nothing but sympathy and admiration. Were he ever to do that in the future, I would still have those same warm, respectful feelings.
“Instead, Mr. Soros statement went on to say that if he weren’t there, someone else would have been in his role. Those are things HE said, that HE admitted as an adult. Any person with any sense of empathy for his fellow human beings would regret the part they played in assisting the Nazis.
“Mr. Soros also admitted in that same interview regarding his financial dealings that, ‘I cannot and do not look at the social consequences of what I do.’ That’s breathtaking.
“My remarks were not anti-Semitic; the Israeli government itself stated last year that it did not mean to ‘delegitimize criticism of George Soros, who continuously undermines Israel’s democratically elected governments by funding organizations that defame the Jewish state and seek to deny it the right to defend itself.’
“As for any attempt to invoke fear of violence or violence itself whether against Mr. Soros or anyone whomsoever, I have spent an adult lifetime working in our justice system to try to ensure that anyone who takes justice into his or her own hands must answer to that justice system. If a person who sent a bomb to anyone came before me as a judge for sentencing, I would have no problem assessing a significant time of incarceration. In that manner, the rest of us can maintain our freedom of speech, a God-given right enumerated in the very First Amendment to the United States Constitution. Freedom of speech should not be undermined by heavy-handed attempts to stifle criticism.”
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Gohmert Responds To George Soros Comments on Fox Business “Varney & Co”
“Soros himself admitted in a 60 Minutes interview with Steve Kroft on December 20, 1998 that he had no regrets whatsoever about assisting the Nazis in confiscating property from the Jewish people during the Holocaust. That is a fact. Any person with any sense of empathy for their fellow human beings would regret the part they played in confiscating Jewish property during the Holocaust. My remarks were not anti-Semitic. Even the Israeli government has condemned Soros. They were about the horror of his lack of remorse over his actions. It was a pro-Jewish statement on my part and supportive of the statement that the Israeli government made last year that anti-Soros statements are not anti-Semitic because George Soros ‘continuously undermines Israel’s democratically elected governments by funding organizations that defame the Jewish state and seek to deny it the right to defend itself.’”
George Soros Interview 60 Minutes [FULL]
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSyczwuTQfo (8:33)
Israeli Government Press Release [July 9, 2017]
In no way was the statement meant to delegitimize criticism of George Soros, who continuously undermines Israel’s democratically elected governments by funding organizations that defame the Jewish state and seek to deny it the right to defend itself.
Link: http://mfa.gov.il/MFA/PressRoom/2017/Pages/Foreign-Ministry-clarification-regarding-anti-Semitism-in-Hungary-9-July-2017.aspx
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Rep. Louie Gohmert lauds former President Bush as man of integrity, patriot
TYLER, Texas (KETK) - Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) has joined many other Texas officials in paying tribute to former President George H.W. Bush, who died November 30 at the age of 94.
In a statement issued by his office, Rep,. Gohmert lauded the 41st president as a man who "served this nation with dignity and strength" and who "displayed integrity in both his public and private life."
The statement in full reads:
"President George H.W. Bush served this nation with dignity and strength. Not only was he a decorated war hero at such a young age, he was a respected national leader who displayed integrity in both his public and private life. He was a patriot who dedicated his life protecting, preserving, perpetuating, and improving America.
It will be an honor to represent east Texans at his funeral at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday. My heartfelt prayers and condolences go out to the Bush family as they mourn the loss of a devoted father, grandfather and great grandfather. The United States will forever be impacted by his relentless lifetime of service."
Bush will lie in state in the U.S. Capitol rotunda Wednesday. He will be buried in College Station, Texas, behind the site of the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum, alongside his wife, Barbara, and their daughter, Robin, who died of leukemia at the age of 3.
Gov. Greg Abbott has declared Wednesday, December 5, an official Day of Mourning in Texas.
Read MoreGohmert Comments on Trip to U.S. -- Mexico Border
Gohmert on Hate Crime, Border Wall Funding & Drug Cartels
Gohmert on Border Security: "Walls Work"
Gohmert on Border Barrier: "It's Time To Do The Right Thing By The People of The United States"
Gohmert Speaks on House Floor on Dangers of Illegal Immigration
Gohmert: "The Bigger Problem For Our Country is Securing the Border"
Gohmert on Trump Border Address & Meeting on Capitol Hill
Gohmert on Border Wall & Shutdown: "There is Nothing More Important Than Our Nation's Security"
Gohmert on Reports Dems Are Powering Up For More Trump Investigations
Gohmert Weighs in on Government Shutdown & Border Wall Funding
Gohmert: "Mr. Obama, Tear Down YOUR Wall!"
Gohmert Expresses Concerns Over Dangerous Jailbreak Bill
Gohmert Questions DHS Secretary Kristin Nielsen
Gohmert: “We Need Americans To Help Remind Republican Leaders To Build The Wall"
Gohmert on Border Wall Funding: “Let’s Help The President Keep Our Promise”
Gohmert on Texas Federal Judge Obamacare Ruling
Gohmert Questions Google CEO, Sundar Pichai
Gohmert on Google CEO Expected Testimony Before Congress
Gohmert on President George H.W. Bush's Life & Legacy
Gohmert on the Passing of Former President George H.W. Bush
Contact Information
2243 Rayburn HOB
Washington, DC 20515
Phone 202-225-3035
Fax 202-226-1230
gohmert.house.gov
Serving his fifth term in the United States House of Representatives, Congressman Louie Gohmert was first sworn in January 4, 2005. He proudly represents the First District of Texas which encompasses over 12 counties stretching nearly 120 miles down the state’s eastern border.
During these trying economic times, Rep. Gohmert is developing innovative solutions to jumpstart our economy and offering practical alternatives to the government’s bailout frenzy. His “Federal Income Tax Holiday” gained widespread national support from the grassroots level to national leaders, allowing taxpayers to decide how best to spend their hard-earned money. Louie has repeatedly called for an end to the socialization of our economy and decried the notion that Washington Bureaucrats know better than American taxpayers.
Louie serves on numerous House committees and subcommittees. He was recently named Vice Chair of the Judiciary subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security due to his extensive knowledge stemming from years in the court room.
Prior to being elected to serve in Congress, Louie was elected to three terms as District Judge in Smith County, Texas. During his tenure on the bench, he gained national and international attention for some of his innovative rulings. He was later appointed by Texas Governor Rick Perry to complete a term as Chief Justice of the 12th Court of Appeals.
Louie received his undergraduate degree from Texas A&M University and later graduated from Baylor School of Law. He is also a veteran having served his country as Captain in the U.S. Army.
Today, he and his wife Kathy are the proud parents of three daughters. Their family attends Green Acres Baptist Church in Tyler, where Louie has served as a deacon and still teaches Sunday school.
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“We have barriers in some places but then they stop and then there is nothing that prevents people from just walkin… https://t.co/4CVzBnQQi5
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Catch my interview tomorrow morning on @FoxFriendsFirst at 4:50AM CENTRAL. Will talk about my trip to the U.S. -- M… https://t.co/WJLHQ0mYdp
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Calling in to @FRCdc #WashingtonWatch today at 4pm CENTRAL to talk about the #SCOTUS ruling to temporarily enforce… https://t.co/OEoXOQLI4R
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This weekend I traveled with several of my colleagues to the U.S.--Mexico border. We spoke with Border Patrol agent… https://t.co/VUuhFOU18R
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Thanks to my friends & colleagues @RepBrianBabin, Rep Greg Gianforte, @RepTedBudd, @RepMGriffith, @RepRalphNorman,… https://t.co/WGR9LigcED