24 Republicans Vote For Hatred

Ilhan Omar, you get back here right now!

The House voted yesterday on a resolution condemning anti-Semitism and bigotry of all kinds, like anti-Muslim hatred and white supremacy. The measure passed overwhelmingly, but was opposed by 23 Republicans because of their very deep principles, most of which amounted to the principle that Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minnesota) needed to be the sole focus of condemnation because she's the only source of hatred in America today. Oh, yes, and one brave R, white nationalist Steve King of Iowa, bravely voted "present," because darned if you're going to trap him into supporting a condemnation of hatred. Let's take a tour of the very good reasons some Republicans gave for opposing a resolution opposing hatred, shall we?

Several of those who opposed the resolution were quite clear about their reason: This was supposed to be a chance to accuse Ilhan Omar of hating all Jews because she said some really clumsy stupid things about how she was being required to vow "allegiance to a foreign country" -- which is true, in that we are literally outlawing a boycott of Israel, Texas is literally requiring anyone who contracts with it to vow allegiance to Israel, etc. -- but with words that evoke a stereotype (that Jews have a "dual allegiance") that was directly addressed in the text of the resolution . But that doesn't count because the resolution didn't specifically condemn Omar. Wyoming Republican Liz Cheney called the resolution a "sham" for not censuring Omar by name, and claimed it proves the entire party is now "controlled by far-left extremists who can't even muster the courage to stand up to blatant anti-Semitism." You know, as long as you ignore the multiple parts of the resolution condemning anti-Semitism in very specific terms.

Oh, and for those of you interested in family dynasties, let's remember that in 1986, her dad Dick Cheney, then Wyoming's sole representative, voted against sanctions on apartheid South Africa, because Nelson Mandela was a "terrorist." Whole family just reeks of high principles.

Texas cowflop agglomeration Louie Gohmert was also shocked, shocked that the Dems went and "watered down" the resolution by condemning all hatred: "This resolution [...] was meant to condemn anti-Semitism; however, it became so generic that it lost its meaning or significance." Congratulations, victims of the massacres at Mother Emanuel church in Charleston and at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh! You are now generic!

Before the vote, Gohmert said on the House floor, "Anti-Semitism is a very special kind of hatred that should never be watered down [...] There has never been a persecution of a people like the Jewish people." That would be the same Louie Gohmert who in December said on Fox Business that George Soros was a Nazi collaborator (a difficult thing for Soros to achieve as a 13-year-old during WWII). Oh, yes, it's also the same Louie Gohmert who explained in October that Democrats are all in thrall to Soros, and "might as well raise their forearm and raise their hands and yell 'Heil Soros!'" Dude really opposes anti-Semitism, is what we're saying.

Arizona's very smart dentist Paul Gosar took to Twitter to identify the most important source of hate in America today and explain why he had to vote against condemning hatred:

I voted NO on the ridiculous resolution that purported to condemn speech that is not at issue. Rep. Omar has made… https: //t.co/qHWuGkzuPm

— Paul Gosar (@Paul Gosar) 1551999705.0 

Other Republicans offered additional reasons to oppose the measure. Law-n-order IRA fan Peter King of New York and several other Rs didn't like language condemning racial profiling by law enforcement, because yes, for real he said this, "There were more cops killed than Pacific Islanders" last year.

Chris Collins of New York just couldn't bring himself to vote for a condemnation of anti-Semitism at all, because when you condemn hatred, you have to make clear that you love Israel and want to hug it and kiss it and call it Bibi.

After reading the final resolution I did not feel it was strong enough in support of Israel, the only true democrac… https: //t.co/afwH2riE3u

— Rep. Chris Collins (@Rep. Chris Collins) 1552001531.0 

And then there were the Republicans who couldn't get behind a condemnation of hatred if it didn't include the widespread terror and violence visited upon the most oppressed people of all: white Christians.

Rep. Mo Brooks (Ala.) said that he voted against the resolution because its wording "suggests America's House of Representatives cares about virtually everyone except Christians and Caucasians." Discrimination against those groups, he argued, was  "just as insidious as discrimination against any other race, ethnicity or religion."

Similarly, Rep. K. Michael Conaway (Tex.) commented that the resolution "included the Democrats' kitchen sink, butdid not lend support to Christians, Mormons, and many other groups that face regular discrimination in this country and abroad."He added that left-wing lawmakers needed to prove that they cared about all forms of bigotry, "not just instances that fit their progressive liberal agenda."

Gee, you'd think they'd be satisfied with Donald Trump finally having made it safe to say "Merry Christmas" again. But here is the bestest reason of all to refuse to support a condemnation of hate, from Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky:

Now that the resolution protects just about every group on the planet, can we add “babies on the day of their birth… https: //t.co/dMfA1aEGQn

— Thomas Massie (@Thomas Massie) 1551992276.0 

Yup, we need to speak out against all that hate-criming against newborn babies that's happening only in the minds of rightwing loonies, because condemning hatred is such serious business for Republicans.

[ WaPo / Roll Call / NYT ]

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