David Schweikert: “Before I start my presentation--and I am going to focus sort of on some of the economics, the debt and economic growth…”

“Before I start my presentation--and I am going to focus sort of on some of the economics, the debt and economic growth, particularly in some of the proposals that are hitting the House right now--I wanted to touch on something. We just heard a number of folks get up and talk about their love and caring for Israel, the Middle East, and the concerns of the conflict. I want to do something that is a little bit different. I have intense concern that our relationship with a fair and functioning republic in the Middle East never become a partisan issue. Maybe this will make sense. I have been here for a few years, and there has always been the ability for those on the left and the right to stand up and say: Look, we have a country that works. No country is perfect, but it works, and it respects human rights, and it is a functioning republic and a democracy in the Middle East. I was really sort of heartbroken last week. Just before I did one of these presentations, there was a presentation by not many Members, but some who said some pretty awful things. So I hope as we all want the country of Israel to prosper and do well--we want everyone in the region to prosper and do well--but we have to accept there are other bad actors particularly financing things coming through Iran to some very bad actors to do horrible, horrible things in the region.…”