WASHINGTON, DC — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s fiery address to Congress made waves Wednesday night – but he’s not the only one in the chamber making headlines.
House Democrats attempted to hog the spotlight with a boycott of Bibi’s speech, including Keystone State Reps. Madeleine Dean, Chrissy Houlahan and Summer Lee, who stayed home to appease their blue-leaning districts in the suburbs of Philly and Pittsburgh.
Dean and Houlahan’s GOP opponents — David Winkler and Neil Young, respectively — called out the incumbents’ absence.
Winkler called Dean “one of the most Antisemitic Congresswomen serving today,” while Young rebuked Houlahan for “taking a day off while Israel is fighting for survival.”
After attending the speech Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa.) called out Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) for holding a sign branding Netanyahu a “war criminal” during the PM’s address.
“Sadly, on the House floor during his speech, certain members of Congress wouldn’t even stand up at the mention of American hostages; rather, they held up disrespectful signs throughout,” Perry said in a statement.
The no-shows didn’t get all the attention though – another Pennsylvania Dem had Washington abuzz Wednesday.
The famously casual Senator John Fetterman, well known for donning hoodies and shorts in the halls of the Senate, turned heads in a suit and tie fit for the occasion.
His fellow Pennsylvania Senator Bob Casey was also in attendance at Bibi’s address.
Social media reactions to Fetterman’s more formal appearance were mixed – some X/Twitter users praised his attire, while others claimed it showed that he values Netanyahu and Israel more than the people and country he represents.
After the speech, Politico reported that Fetterman was the only current Democratic senator to shake Netanyahu’s hand.
He was joined by Democrat-turned-Independent Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia.
Fetterman appears undeterred by critics – he called out Hamas on Thursday morning and continued to advocate for the release of all hostages.
A less flamboyant figure, Casey did not comment directly on Netanyahu’s address but condemned the pro-Hamas protests occurring in Washington on Wednesday.
“Americans have the right to peacefully protest, but the glorification and celebration of a terrorist group like Hamas is dangerous and unacceptable,” Casey wrote on X/Twitter.
“I condemn this in the strongest possible terms.”
Casey is facing a challenge from GOP Senate hopeful Dave McCormick — who leads him by four points in a new Emerson College poll.
That Pennsylvania Senate race is shaping up to be the most expensive Senate race of this cycle, with total spending expected to reach $360 million.
