Michigan Democrat leaves DSA, blasts Tlaib for characterizing Hamas as "Resistance"

(AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Rep. Shri Thanedar (D-MI) has some words to say about Rep. Rashida Tlaib and none of them are good. He is so disgusted with her reaction to the Hamas attack on Israel that he is leaving the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), though he has a lifetime membership.

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The Squad, a group of far-left progressives in the House, are anti-Semites who never miss an opportunity to demonize Israel. Thanedar, an Indian-American member of The Squad, renounced his membership in the DSA after Sunday’s anti-Semitic rally in Times Square. He called it a hate-filled rally.

“After the brutal terrorist attacks on Israel, which included the indiscriminate murder, rape, and kidnapping of innocent men, women, and children, I can no longer associate with an organization unwilling to call out terrorism in all its forms,” Thanedar, 68, said in a statement.

“Sunday’s hate-filled and antisemitic rally in New York City, promoted by the NYC-DSA, makes it impossible for me to continue my affiliation. I stand with Israel and its right to defend itself. There is no place for moral equivocation in the face of unadulterated evil as we have seen from Hamas.”

“No amount of violence, deprivation, or collective punishment will make everyday Palestinians and Israelis safe,” the statement read in part.

Perhaps not but completely and totally destroying Hamas will go a long way in making Israelis safe and that is the focus now. Palestinians voted for Hamas leadership so there isn’t a whole lot of sympathy for Palestine, in general, right now.

The blowback over that hideous rally was so strong that the NYC chapter of the DSA issued a weak apology for promoting the event. The group did not, however, directly condemn Hamas.

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Contrast Thanedar’s reaction to that of another DSA member who represents Michigan. Rashida Tlaib, who displays a Palestinian flag outside her Congressional office door, refused to answer Fox Business reporter Hillary Vaughn’s request Tuesday for a comment about the beheading of children in Israel by Hamas. She kept walking and refused to acknowledge Vaughn as they walked down the hall. Then Tlaib got on an elevator and her large male staffer blocked Vaughn’s view. Hillary Vaughn is married to FNC’s Peter Doocy.

“Congresswoman, Hamas terrorists have cut off babies’ heads and burned children alive. Do you support Israel’s rights to defend themselves against this brutality?” Vaughn asked. However, Tlaib refused to respond to the reporter.

Vaughn peppered the congresswoman with similar questions but Tlaib continued not to answer.

“You can’t comment about Hamas terrorists chopping off babies’ heads? Congresswoman, do you have a comment on Hamas terrorists chopping off babies’ heads?” she asked. “You have nothing to say about Hamas terrorists chopping off babies’ heads? Do you condone what Hamas has done chopping off babies’ heads, burning children alive, raping women in the streets? You have no comment about children’s heads being chopped off?”

“Congresswoman, why do you have the Palestinian flag outside your office if you do not condone what Hamas terrorists have done to Israel? Do Israeli lives not matter to you?” she asked before the Democrat exited the hallway.

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Tlaib used to represent Thanedar’s district, Michigan’s 13th Congressional District for four years before she shifted to the 12th District after re-districting. She issued a lame statement on Wednesday after much criticism over her behavior on Tuesday.

“I grieve the Palestinian and Israeli lives lost yesterday, today, and every day,” the statement read. “As long as our country provides billions in unconditional funding to support the apartheid government, this heartbreaking cycle of violence will continue.”

Disgusting. “Apartheid government.” She blames Israel for the attacks by Hamas. Israel deserved it. She’s a garbage human being.

She invoked some self-pity in a statement to Politico.

“I do not support the targeting and killing of civilians, whether in Israel or Palestine,” she said, according to Politico. “The fact that some have suggested otherwise is offensive and rooted in bigoted assumptions about my faith and ethnicity.”

The offensive bigot is Tlaib, not her critics. Democrats accuse others of what they are usually guilty of doing themselves.

Thanedar quit the DSA but not the far-left progressive wing of the Democrat Party.

“I will continue to work toward the goals that brought me to Congress in the first place: universal healthcare, workers’ rights, strong labor unions, equity for communities of color, environmental justice, and compassionate immigration,” he added.

“My ideals have not changed at all. I strongly believe that ending my association with DSA serves my constituents’ interests as they expect me to represent them by helping to build a better, more just world, not fanning the flames of hatred.”

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Another Democrat, Senator Ed Markey of Massachusetts was booed when he called for de-escalation at a pro-Israel rally. Look at Elizabeth Warren’s facial expressions as the booing continues.

Heh. What a maroon.

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Ed Morrissey 10:00 PM | November 22, 2024
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