Yesterday, I joined members of the American Coalition for Ukraine to ask members of the Congress representing Pennsylvania to support the Ukraine in its war against Russian aggression. The group I was part of visited the offices of Congressman Lloyd Smucker, Senator Robert Casey, Senator John Fetterman, and Congressman Guy Reschenthaler.
Our message: Ukraine needs ammunition and missiles urgently.The response from each of the staffers we met with was support for Ukraine, but then came the various expressions of regret. The Republican congressmen face opposition within their own party. The phrase "in the current climate" summed up that regret saying in effect, We wish we could do more, but..."
Both of the senate staffers were in support of Ukraine and fighting against Republican opposition in both the Senate and the House. We heard Senator Fetterman is "extremely disappointed" with the "dysfunctional House of Representatives." He considers the abandonment of Ukraine support by Republicans "reprehensible" and "unAmerican."
When I was at the last Ukraine Action Summit October 22-24 of last year, the Fetterman visit was the best. He stood with us on the steps of the Senate and declared complete support for Ukraine. I wrote about that visit here. For those of us who spent six years protesting Senator Pat Toomey, the best result of our protest is that Toomey did not run for re-election and John Fetterman took his place in the senate.
Fetterman is just as strong on his support for Israel. The walls of his office are covered with posters of the hostages taken by HAMAS terrorists on October 7. Those released are on one side, those still held are on the other.
I have another Congressional visit tomorrow. I will write about that as soon as I can.
I believe Ukraine is the front line of the defense of freedom and democracy against Russia and her authoritarian allies in Iran, China, North Korea, Hungary, Turkey, and all of those within America who support tyranny.
