On Monday it was revealed that the Congressional Progressive Caucus sent a letter to the White House, signed by 30 far left Democrats, urging Joe Biden to conduct direct negotiations with Russia to bring peace to Ukraine after months of war escalation and even nuclear threats.
In the letter, the Democrats led by Congressional Progressive Caucus Chair Pramila Jayapal wrote “as legislators responsible for the expenditure of tens of billions of U.S. taxpayer dollars in military assistance in the conflict, we believe such involvement in this war also creates a responsibility for the United States to seriously explore all possible avenues, including direct engagement with Russia, to reduce harm and support Ukraine in achieving a peaceful settlement.”
“We urge you to make vigorous diplomatic efforts in support of a negotiated settlement and ceasefire, engage in direct talks with Russia, explore prospects for a new European security arrangement acceptable to all parties that will allow for a sovereign and independent Ukraine, and, in coordination with our Ukrainian partners, seek a rapid end to the conflict and reiterate this goal as America’s chief priority,” the Democrats wrote to Biden.
30 Democrats signed an open letter to Biden, asking him to use diplomacy with Putin. I understand the intention, I don't understand the execution. These 30 people should to get into a room with Putin and come up with a solution that would protect #Ukraine's sovereignty. Can they? pic.twitter.com/rc3HZwd0pS
— Anastasiia Lapatina (@lapatina_) October 24, 2022
Less than a full day after the letter was published, the group of liberals in the House officially rescinded the letter after facing “fierce pushback” from certain “Ukrainian officials.”
In a new statement explaining the decision to rescind the letter, Rep. Jayapal affirmed that the progressive Democrats are indeed still very much pro-war.
This statement can also be found online here:https://t.co/Dj0Ex61jMP
— Progressive Caucus (@USProgressives) October 24, 2022
The Congresswoman also reportedly blamed a staffer over the letter’s release in order to minimize criticism from her pro-war colleagues.
Ooof. @RepJayapal (D-Seattle) appears to have thrown a staffer under the bus, so she's not criticized by her colleagues for releasing a letter encouraging Biden to negotiate directly with Putin. https://t.co/ZrDEbXHaUE
— Jason Rantz on KTTH Radio (@jasonrantz) October 25, 2022
“In a letter to President Biden today, my colleagues and I advocated for the administration to continue ongoing military and economic support for the Ukrainians while pursuing diplomatic support to Ukraine to ensure we are helpful partners on efforts to reach a solution that is acceptable to the people of Ukraine,” Jayapal said.
“Let me be clear: we are united and Democrats in our unequivocal commitment to supporting Ukraine in their fight for their democracy and freedom in the face of the illegal and outrageous Russian invasion, and nothing in the letter advocates for a change in that support,” she claimed.
“Diplomacy is an important tool that can save lives — but it is just one tool. As we also made explicitly clear in our letter and will continue to make clear, we support President Biden and his administration’s commitment to nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine.”
One member of Congress who initially signed the peace letter was none other than Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, who earlier this month was called out by two activists at a town hall over her support for “Ukrainian nazis” and continuing to vote in favor of funding their conflict with Russia, which they noted could lead to “nuclear war.”
“Congresswoman, none of this matters if there’s a nuclear war, which you voted to send arms and weapons to Ukraine,” one activist yelled at Cortez. “Tulsi Gabbard, she’s left the Democratic Party because they are war hawks!”
“Okay? You originally voted — you ran as an outsider. Yet, you’ve been voting to start this war in Ukraine. You’re voting to start a third nuclear war with Russia and China. Why are you playing with the lives of American citizens? You are playing with our lives,” the activist continued.
My friend @Noggatone and I confronted Congresswoman @AOC on her support for Nuclear War and Ukrainian Nazis. I call her out for being a coward in the face of the party that will push us all into Nuclear war right now. Will she stand up like @TulsiGabbard and fight for peace? pic.twitter.com/aQiQvQSWIN
— Jose Vega — Vote Diane Sare! (@JosBtrigga) October 13, 2022
“There will be no neighbors if there’s a nuclear bomb. You voted to mobilize and send money to Ukrainian nazis. You’re a coward. You’re a progressive socialist? Where are you against the war mobilization?” the other activist yelled.
“He’s telling the right truth,” the activist said of his companion. “You have done nothing. Tulsi Gabbard has shown guts, where you’ve shown cowardice. I believed in you and you became the very thing you sought to fight against. That’s what you’ve become.”
This news and commentary by Andrew White originally appeared on Valiant News.
