On Wednesday, a group of Congressional Republicans came to the aid of embattled Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (D-Michigan) to block an effort to censure her over alleged antisemitic comments. Congressman Jerry Carl (R-AL01) had supported the effort to censure Tlaib.
“Congress must condemn antisemitism and stand with Israel,” Rep. Carl said on Twitter. “Rep. Rashida Tlaib proudly stands with Hamas terrorists over Israel. She uses her platform to spread antisemitism and pro-Hamas propaganda, which is absolutely disgraceful.”
The War between Israel and Hamas has led to tension between Jewish Americans and Palestinian Americans. Tlaib has been sharply critical of Israel and has defended the Palestinian position. Her parents immigrated from Palestine. Some Republicans went so far as to suggest that she condoned the Hamas attacks on Israelis that left 1,300 dead – many of them women and children.
The censure resolution was brought by Georgia Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene.
23 Republicans joined the Democrats to vote in favor of a procedural motion that blocked the disciplinary resolution from even reaching the floor. The final tally was 222 to 186. 13 Democrats abstained.
Greene’s censure resolution accused Tlaib of “leading an insurrection” for her participation in an anti-war protest last month at the Capitol.
Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) voted to table the legislation.
“Rep. Rashida Tlaib has repeatedly made outrageous remarks toward Israel and the Jewish people. Her conduct is unbecoming of a member of Congress and certainly worthy of condemnation – if not censure. However, tonight’s feckless resolution to censure Tlaib was deeply flawed and made legally and factually unverified claims, including the claim of leading an ‘insurrection,'” Roy wrote on X. “I voted to table the resolution. In January 2021, the legal term insurrection was stretched and abused by many following the events at the Capitol. We should not continue to perpetuate claims of ‘insurrection’ at the Capitol and we should not abuse the term now.”
Tlaib has accused Israel of war crimes in its response to the Hamas attacks. Palestinian authorities claim that Israeli airstrikes on Gaza have killed thousands of civilians. Tlaib has condemned the violence but has accused Israel of creating “apartheid” conditions in Gaza and committing genocide against Palestinians.
Tlaib denounced Greene’s resolution.
“Marjorie Taylor Greene’s unhinged resolution is deeply Islamophobic and attacks peaceful Jewish anti-war advocates,” Tlaib said. “I am proud to stand in solidarity with Jewish peace advocates calling for a ceasefire and an end to the violence. I will not be bullied, I will not be dehumanized, and I will not be silenced. I will continue to call for ceasefire, for the immediate delivery of humanitarian aid, for the release of hostages and those arbitrarily detained, and for every American to be brought home. I will continue to work for a just and lasting peace that upholds the human rights and dignity of all people, and ensures that no person, no child has to suffer or live in fear of violence.”
That such a large number of the GOP caucus failed to support such a public measure is an indicator that much of the division and petty rivalries within the GOP Caucus that dominated the month of October are still not over. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson’s (R-Louisiana) lack of leadership experience in the body may have also played a factor in Wednesday’s events.
Carl is serving in his second term in Congress.
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