As the conflict between Jewish Israel and Hamas-controlled Palestine has escalated in recent weeks, there has been much talk of anti-Semitism in Washington, primarily done by those on the political left. However, the Democratic Party has been remiss in condemning such speech and acknowledging that it exists.
Instead, those like Democratic Representative David Cicilline of Rhode Island seem intent to deflect on the issue whenever possible, naturally pointing the finger at the Republican Party and its members.
A recent Tuesday appearance of Cicilline on CNN with Anderson Cooper gave us a prime example of this.
When speaking of the current events, the subject of anti-Semitism came up, and as so, did the widespread idea that Democrats are ok with it.
Of course, Cicilline became defensive about it, claiming that there is “no evidence” of that.
He told Cooper, “I see no evidence whatsoever in the Democratic caucus or in the Democratic Party of anti-Semitism at all.”
And, as Cooper and CNN both fall in line with Democrats on most occasions, the outlet did little to fact check this or ask about particular circumstances that could be argued or even individuals who have on multiple occasions spoken in a way that could be taken as anti-Semitic.
Now, that isn’t to say that the most obvious of those persons, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Representative Ilhan Omar, didn’t come up at all. In fact, earlier in the conversation, the liberal “squad” member was mentioned, as was her penchant for speaking against Israel and Jews.
But once again, Cicilline was defensive of his colleague, claiming that she had apologized “almost immediately.” And he was quick to point the finger at newly instated GOP Georgia Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, saying that she on numerous occasions had spoken out inappropriately and had never been forced to apologize as Omar had.
Cicilline said, “We’re the party that is speaking out against hate and division and bigotry and racism, and anti-Semitism. We don’t get the same from our Republican colleagues, sadly. And Marjorie Taylor Greene is one of the most recent and I think most despicable examples of that.”
Cicilline’s reference to Greene is no doubt about recent comments she has made comparing mask mandates throughout the country to rules and regulations applied in Nazi Germany. According to him, these comments were allowed and supported by the GOP, as he said they didn’t “immediately call upon her to apologize simply because “she is welcome in their caucus.”
Of course, there are a few problems with this statement of the Rhode Island lawmaker.
Firstly, is that Greene was most definitely chastised for her comments, as they were inappropriate. And not only for her most recent remarks but also ones from earlier in the year. In truth, Greene, since day one in office, has been outlandish and foolish in her behavior that House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy has already stripped her of every committee assignment, as well as condemned her comments.
And the rest of the party has seemingly backed McCarthy up on this. No one takes her seriously, nor do they call on her to give any input. Instead, they are merely waiting for 2022, when it is pretty much assured that another Republican will take her place in representing her party.
Cicilline’s comments are also problematic because the most divisive in his party, Omar, along with Michigan Representative Rashida Tlaib, are not in even a remotely similar circumstance regarding support among Democrats.
In fact, Omar continues to be promoted in her party. She now sits on House Foreign Affairs Committee. And when it comes to any would-be challengers, the party supports Omar alone.
She can say whatever she wants, and the party still chooses to back her, even though she may feel compelled to apologize on occasion.
And apologize, she indeed must.
I mean, Omar has always been blatantly against Israel, stating back in 2012 that “Israel has hypnotized the world.” According to Vox, she later said that Republicans’ support of Jews was “all about the Benjamins.”
Hell, she even suggested once that any American who supported Jews in the United States must have sworn “allegiance to a foreign country.”
And Tlaib, who is of Palestinian descent, has been no different.
In 2019, a reporter noted that a map of Israel hangs on the wall in her office. only instead of where the name Israel should be, is written “Palestine.” CNN reported that the same year, she said the Palestinians had suffered horribly just to “create a safe haven for Jews.”
And, of course, she has openly supported such ideas as the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement (BDS), which even its creator, Omar Barghouti, says is meant to destroy Israel.