I see London, I see France, I see Gillibrand raising cash

U.S. Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand's reported "family vacation" included campaign stops in London and Paris (Image photoshopped...poorly. SOURCE: Steve Martin in the Pink Panther from Wikipedia. Gillibrand campaigning from the NY Times)

After holding a fundraiser in London, England, U.S. Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand next traveled to Paris, France, for another campaign event where she reportedly openly questioned U.S. foreign policy, including support for Israel, research by the Majority Accountability Project (majorityap.com) has found.

Gillibrand’s Sunlight Foundation schedule for April 5 reveals only that she attended a “Democrats Abroad public event,” and a “fundraising event.” It offers no clue she traveled to France. An invitation to the event reports it was held at the home of John Morris, 56 rue des Tournelles, Paris, with a suggested contribution of five euro, or about eight dollars.

An earlier event in London was priced at “10 pounds, 5 pounds concession,” but a spokeswoman for Gillibrand told the Albany Times Union contributions “ran around $150 to $200.” According to an April Federal Elections Commission (FEC) report, a Deutsche Bank official in London paid $500 to Gillibrand’s campaign committee.

More disturbing than Gillibrand’s transatlantic fundraising – she once criticized her opponent, then U.S. Rep. John Sweeney, for holding an out-of-state fundraiser - are comments she reportedly made about U.S. foreign policy while in Paris. American politicians have long observed a rule that “politics stops at the water’s edge;” however, in Paris, Gillibrand reportedly openly criticized American foreign policy.

A recap of the event, available to anyone with Internet access, claims Gillibrand referenced a “secret” meeting she attended regarding Iran.

“Congress will never give President Bush a go-ahead to attack Iran,” Gillibrand is reported to have said.

According to the French chapter of “Democrats Abroad,” Gillibrand was quizzed about House Democrats’ position on the “Israel-Palestinian impasse.” Rather than affirm U.S. policy on Israel’s right to exist, and the Palestinian’s need to renounce terrorism, Gillibrand is reported only to have said the issue was “polarizing,” and promised to raise it with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. “Congress has a long way to go on Israel,” she said.

Gillibrand also defended Pelosi’s recent visit to Syria, a trip criticized by her fellow New York Democrat, U.S. Rep. Elliott Engel. “We have a policy,” Engel told Gannett News Service, “and I think it’s the correct policy of not speaking to terrorist organizations.” Engel said Pelosi’s visit to Syria was “not the smartest thing to do.”

EDITORS NOTE: According to the Albany Times Union, Gillibrand’s spokeswoman, Rachel McEneny, said the fee charged at Covent Gardens Hotel in London “was for Gillibrand’s appearance as guest speaker.” House Rules state Members of Congress “may not accept honoraria for appearances, speeches, or articles.” We assume she misspoke.