For a party whose members hear supposed racial dog whistles in even the most mundane language, it’s amazing Democrats never seem to notice their own actual dog whistles.
Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York went full Jeremy Corbyn this week in defense of a fellow New York House Representative, Jamaal Bowman. Bowman has been targeted by the Democratic Socialists of America, whose members allege his supposed chumminess with Israel proves he is insufficiently committed to the cause of Palestine.
Bowman, whose district is heavily Jewish, “has been an incredible champion [for Palestine] given the community that he’s in,” Ocasio-Cortez told Politico this week.
Well, this is subtle!
Bowman, the latest addition to the so-called “squad,” is in the hot seat with far-left agitators because he agreed to meet with Israeli leaders. The congressman, who won his election thanks to strong support from the DSA, has also irked left-wingers with his vote to fund the Iron Dome, a purely defensive system that blocks terrorists’ missiles from hitting civilian populations.
Bowan’s recent praise for J Street, the liberal answer to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, did not win him any friends on the far-left, either.
“For the Democratic Socialists of America, under whose banner Bowman launched his political career — knocking off a pro-Israel Democratic incumbent last year — it was three strikes and you’re out,” Politico reports .
The report adds, “DSA’s working group on Palestine is now pushing for the broader organization to expel Bowman over Israel. On Thursday, DSA’s national political committee said it wouldn’t push Bowman out but chastised him and said it wouldn’t endorse his reelection absent certain conditions.”
Bowman’s allies have responded by noting he has criticized the Israeli government’s handling of the West Bank following an overseas trip to Israel.
“[P]roper policy and political actions” must be taken “in order to ensure a two-state solution,” Bowman said recently.
“It’s not just a talking point,” he added, “it’s something that needs to get done. Because Palestinian rights and Palestinian humanity and Palestinians as a nation — it’s essential to the safety and security of everyone.”
This likely won’t be enough to satisfy the rabid dogs at the DSA, but you can’t blame a guy for trying.
Ocasio-Cortez, for her part, blames the Jews who live in Bowman’s district, er, the “community that he’s in” for forcing him to perform a balancing act.
Yes, Bowman’s district has a large Jewish population. So, go ahead and determine for yourself what Ocasio-Cortez meant by “given the community that he’s in.” A faithful paraphrasing could easily read, “He’s doing a pretty good job advocating for Palestine, considering he’s at the mercy of the Jews in his district!”
Ah, where are those dog whistle experts when you need them?
Ocasio-Cortez blames Jewish constituents and also sets forth a double-standard when it comes to Israel. You probably won’t hear her complain about the genocide China is conducting, but Israel is somehow perfidious for even just defending its civilian population from indiscriminate missile attacks.
“What he is doing is walking a very difficult path, quite alone,” the congresswoman added. “I think the goal here is to stand with and advocate for Palestinian human rights. And so what’s really important for us is to transform the communities into supporting that.”
Now is as good a time as any to remind you Ocasio-Cortez has defended flagrantly antisemitic colleagues, despite never shying away from accusing Republicans of anti-Semitism.
Also, in 2019, she endorsed Britain’s Labour Party, explicitly urging voters to back a left-wing political group infamous for its antisemitism problem, which includes Holocaust denial, caricatures of Jews as “bent nose manipulative liars,” and even the occasional call for the “extermination of every Jew on the planet.”
Read more at the Washington Examiner.
T. Becket AdamsThe views and opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official position of Citizens Journal
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