For U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman, Democratic Michigan Rep. Rashida Tlaib’s support of the terrorist Hamas group’s aggression toward Israel became too much to ignore.
After voting against censuring Tlaib last week for what some saw as antisemitic remarks she made, Hageman voted in favor of censuring the congresswoman Tuesday night.
The difference for Hageman came after Tlaib shared a video over the weekend supporting Hamas.
“This produced video calls for the elimination of the state of Israel and is in direct conflict with our American foreign policy positions in the region,” Hageman said in a Tuesday press release.
‘Escalated Her Rhetoric’
Hageman had previously described herself as a “First Amendment absolutist” when explaining why she didn’t vote to censure Tlaib, a vote she was joined on with 22 other Republicans.
On Tuesday, all but four of those Republicans voted for the censure in addition to 22 Democrats who supported the censure.
“Prior to this weekend’s escalation by Rashida Tlaib, it was important for the American people to hear her vile and antisemitic rants, see her for who she really is and learn about her factual and historical ignorance on this issue,” Hageman said. “She has now escalated her rhetoric beyond what is acceptable for a member of Congress.”
Tlaib has defended herself against the censure attempts, arguing that they are an effort to silence her and saying that her “colleagues have resorted to distorting my positions in resolutions filled with obvious lies.”
A censure has no legal standing and is formal a statement of condemnation.
‘From The River To The Sea’
Tlaib has been specifically criticized for her pro-Palestinian chant “from the river to the sea.” Both censure resolutions reference the chant, which the Anti-Defamation League describes as antisemitic.
After being censured, Tlaib said her remarks should not be compared with antisemitism.
“It is important to separate people and governments,” she said in a speech to the House. “No government is beyond criticism. The idea that criticizing the government of Israel is antisemitic sets a very dangerous precedent, and it’s been used to silence diverse voices speaking up for human rights across our nation.”
Hageman said these remarks “only confirmed her willingness to double down on her support for Hamas and the terrorists who carried out the atrocities on Oct. 7, but that she is willing to lie to deflect attention from her actions.”
Tlaib posted a video to X last week that features clips of protestors chanting “from the river to the sea” and “free Palestine.” Other comments Tlaib made on social media in October also were referenced in the social media post, where she claimed a Gaza hospital was bombed by Israel. American intelligence contradicted this finding.
After Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Georgia, made two attempts to censure Tlaib, the House showed more support for a more narrowly tailored censure from Georgia Republican congressman Rep. Rich McCormick.
Hageman said she hopes voters in Tlaib’s district “have also seen and heard enough and will remove her from office via the ballot box in 2024.” This may be unlikely as Tlaib hasn’t faced a competitive election since 2018.
Leo Wolfson can be reached at leo@cowboystatedaily.com.
