It's bad enough when Democrats don't vote or act like Democrats, and we've come to expect a bit of that (although we might whisper "DINO" behind their backs). However, I find it quite unforgivable when a member of my party breaks bread and appeases those that are the sworn and bitter enemies of everything our great party stands for. I also find it shocking that any Democrat would give the time of day to a group of dangerous dominionists and theocrats.

Even John McCain's campaign now understands that Rev. Hagee and his acolytes make up a good part of the right-wing maniacal fringe. And now, after wrongfully kissing Hagee's ring and soliciting his endorsement earlier this year, McCain has now washed his hands of him.

I've heard many people argue that CUFI, Hagee's group, has been a staunch ally of the nation of Israel, but I argue that there are some friends that you just don't want to have. If you went to the CUFI conference last year, as video blogger Max Blumenthal did, you'd find that the Hageeites are not so much supporters of Israel, but crazed fatalists that believe there must be a State of Israel in order for them to beready for The Rapture.

To my knowledge, Rep. Engel, who is a member of the Democratic Leadership Council, has attended these CUFI conferences before, in 2006 and 2007, and he is scheduled to take the stage before Rev. Hagee at the conference this July.

I can accept that Joe Lieberman now feels free to turn his back on his former party, but what of Engel? Will the Congressman turn his back on his core constituency from the liberal Rockland and Bronx counties and the moderate Westchester County? Are we going to let him do this?

It's contingent on Democrats <script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.democracyforamerica.com/javascripts/tiny_mce/themes/advanced/langs/en.js?v=307"></script> everywhere to remind Rep. Engel that the enemy of your enemy is not necessarily your friend. And in the future, he has to choose his friends more carefully.

Please call, visit, fax or e-mail Congressman Engel's offices.

Here are the addresses and phone numbers of his offices:

Washington, DC 
2161 Rayburn HOB 
Washington, DC 20515 
Phone : (202) 225-2464 
Fax: (202) 225-5513

Bronx 
3655 Johnson Avenue 
Bronx, NY 10463 
Phone : (718) 796-9700

Rockland 
261 West Nyack Road 
West Nyack, NY 10994 
Phone : (845) 735-1000

Westchester 
6 Gramatan Avenue; Suite 205 
Mt. Vernon, NY 10550 
Phone : (914) 699-4100

You can e-mail Engel's office using this form.

This diary is cross-posted at Left of the Hudson