Well, I quoted the two Democrats that hold the most political clout in the party as it stands. Hillary Clinton has the inside track to the Democratic nomination for president and Johy Kerry is the last party nomination for presient. In fact, IIRC, there was the comment:
They ELECTED the guy. Who are you to hold a democratic country hostage, and then blame the country for being upset? There were two candidates, one who supported Isreal, one who didn't. One candidate won, another lost.
So, from reviewing Kerry's comments, we at least know that the above quote is false. At any rate, do you have any quotes from any of the party leadership stating that they objected to the Israeli shelling?
Also, it has been stated, "Well, all of the Democrat's responses are just meant to support Israeli right." However, from my previous quotes, Clinton and Kerry go further than that:
Clinton wrote:The kidnapping of Israeli soldiers that precipitated the conflicts in Lebanon and Gaza have not yet been resolved, and it is essential that Israel's abducted soldiers are returned to Israel unconditionally.
Thus, Clinton is placing the responsibility of start of the Israeli shelling on Hezbollah and Hamas.
Clinton wrote:His refusal to denounce Hezbollah and his condemnation of Israel send exactly the wrong message about the importance of fighting terrorism and bringing stability and peace to the Middle East. I hope that he clarifies his statements to recognize the right of Israel, a sovereign nation, to defend itself and condemn terrorist aggression such as Hezbollah’s incursions.
This goes above and beyond supporting Israel's right to exist. This goes to Clinton specifically requestion condemnaion of Hezbollah and focuses solely on Hezbollah's actions to the reason why there is ongoing tension between the two sides.
Clinton wrote: The unprovoked attacks on innocent Israelis and the killing and abduction of Israeli soldiers by the terrorist groups Hamas and Hezbollah are dramatic escalations of violence against Israel. The United States must stand by Israel as she defends herself. No government can stand idly by when its citizens and soldiers are attacked and abducted and when terrorist groups make incursions into its territory. These events demonstrate that Hamas’s ascent to power in the Palestinian Authority, and Hezbollah’s participation in the Lebanese government, are dangerous for the stability, not only of Israel, but of the entire region. Hamas and Hezbollah must return the Israeli soldiers they abducted and cease their attacks against Israel.
Yes, there is talk of Israel's right to defend itself, but the main point of the quote is that the entire blame for the action that is occuring in Lebanon and Gaza is due to the actions of Hezbollah and Hamas. In fact, all of these quotes were made
during the time of the Israli shelling so if there was any objection to them, Clinton could have spoken up. She didn't, and all of her blame for the current crisis went to Hezbollah and Hamas. These are her press release.
Kerry wrote:Hezbollah and Iran. Many are very concerned about comments made by Prime Minister Maliki about the ongoing Israeli initiative against Hezbollah, a terrorist organization which started the current conflict by mounting an attack against Israel. Specifically, Prime Minister Maliki described the Israeli operations in Lebanon and Gaza as “criminal” and called “on the world to take quick stands to stop the Israeli aggression.” This is in notable contrast to comments from other key regional powers, including Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Jordan, which criticized Hezbollah for “unexpected, inappropriate and irresponsible acts.” Given that it is essential to send a clear message that terrorism is never acceptable, and that ending support for terrorist organizations like Hezbollah by countries including Iran is key to winning the war on terror, Prime Minister Maliki should clarify that he condemns Hezbollah for its attack on Israel, and that he believes that Iran should not continue to provide weapons to Hezbollah.
Kerry is putting all of the blame for the current crisis on Hezbollah, not on Israel.
Kerry wrote: Rush Limbaugh’s ignorance and willingness to divide Americans knows no bounds. His latest statement about Israel is beyond offensive to all of us who have fought to protect Israel in the face of enemies committed to its destruction.
Rush Limbaugh needs to pick up a history book instead of a donut. It was a Democratic president who first recognized the State of Israel. It was a Democratic President who first sold Israel defensive weapons. And it was a Democratic President who first sold Israel offensive weapons.
The people of Israel and the Jewish community don’t need Rush Limbaugh to tell them who stands with them, and no one has time for the right wing trying to score cheap political points while Israel fights to defend its very existence.
So, basically Kerry is stating that:
1) It was the Democrats that originally sold Israel all of those wonderful offensive weapons that, with this wonderful tradition, lead to Israel getting the cannons and jets to do said pounding of Lebanon.
2) Kerry is saying that Israel's attacks on Hamas and Hezbollah are "Israel's fight to defend its very existence." Thus, if it makes one feel better, they can consider said shelling Israel's defense of their existence. That's not a comment from the Bush or the Republicans; it's from Kerry.
Just as I noted earlier about Clinton, all of these quotes were done during the period of time that Israeli shelling occurred. When I looked at both press release sites for both candidates, there were no press releases condemning Israeli shelling. That's the whole point: they both had an avenue to convey their disapproval of the shelling and they didn't use it. In fact, their quotes were supportive of Israel during said shelling.
What? We can't support Israel's right to exist without supporting every one of their excessive actions, like the stupid wall and shelling a beach filled with sunbathers?
You're right to say that they could have been supportive of Israel and still criticized Israel for the shelling. Kerry and Clinton never took that path: from their press releases, they just stood behind Israel's right to exist and blamed the current problems on (in their words) the terrorist groups Hezbollah and Hamas. That's it. Thus, at the very least, they were apathetic to the shelling and at the very worst supportive of the shelling; from the quotes it's leaning more toward worst case scenario than least case scenario.
Edit: Oh, and I think you sad that Clinton and Kerry were "Eastern Democrats", so here's something from Dianne Feinstein:
Statement by Senator Dianne Feinstein
On the Violence in the Middle EastBy initiating a campaign to kidnap Israeli soldiers and launch rocket attacks inside Israel , Hamas and Hezbollah, with assistance from Syria and Iran , threaten to destabilize the Middle East and trigger a wider conflict. Like any country, Israel has the right and the obligation to defend its citizens. The latest round of violence only underscores the need for high-level and sustained American diplomacy that has been sorely lacking.
Pretty supportive of Israel in the conflict (not just Israel's right to exist) and once again condemns Hamas and Hezbollah. Surprisingly enough, didn't see any press releases critical of Israeli shelling of Lebanon ...