Jewish Republicans and their allies are still angry at progressive members of Congress – and are directing their anger over Hamas’s brutal terrorist attack at U.S. lawmakers who won’t condemn them outright.
GOP lawmakers and 2024 candidates will gather in Las Vegas, Nevada, over the weekend for the Republican Jewish Coalition’s annual leadership summit.
The conference was planned before Hamas attacked Israel earlier this month and already featured a rock-star cast of Republican leaders. But the gathering took on a whole new purpose as Jewish people in America seek to come together in the wake of the tragic terrorist attacks that killed about 1,500 Israelis.
More than 30 US citizens have been confirmed dead and at least a dozen more are missing.
“The sad thing is, President [Joe] “Biden is only a small part of the problem,” Arkansas Gov. Sarah Sanders said during her speech as Jewish voters were finishing Shabbat dinner.
“We have House members echoing Hamas talking points,” she said. “And we have the force calling for a ceasefire, which in reality means that Israel should not defend itself.” “In cities across the Western world we have left-wing protesters wrapping themselves in Palestinian flags and calling for the eradication of Israel. “
Sen. Rick Scott (R-Florida) criticized progressive members of Congress for their anti-Israel statements. “We have people who were elected in our country to represent us, who are paid with our tax dollars, who say the craziest, most anti-Semitic things,” he said
Sen. Scott specifically referenced comments from Reps. Ilhan Omar (left) and Rashida Tlaib (right), calling it “scary” to stand with those in Congress who condemned Hamas terrorist attacks and called for an Israeli ceasefire
Arkansas Gov. Sarah Sanders said, “We have members of the House of Representatives echoing Hamas talking points. “And we have the force calling for a ceasefire, which really means Israel should not defend itself.”
Progressive lawmakers who are part of the “force” have called for ceasefires and blamed Israel for killing innocent Palestinians as it launched counterstrikes against Hamas terrorists in Gaza.
Meanwhile, Republicans are outraged by the comments, claiming those calling for a ceasefire are sending a coded message claiming Israel has no right to defend its autonomy.
Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) called these progressive members “crazy” at the RJC Shabbat dinner on Friday.
“We also have people who were elected in our country to represent us, who are paid with our tax dollars, who say the craziest, most anti-Semitic things,” the Florida Republican told a room full of Republican voters.
“Ilhan Omar: It is ‘scary to work with members of Congress who condemn Hamas’ attack on Israel,’ he said, quoting progressive Rep. Omar (D-Minn.).
He went on to quote the first Palestinian-American congresswoman, Tashida Tlaib (D-Mich.).
“Tlaib: “I’m ashamed of members of Congress who refuse to call for a ceasefire.” “After she repeated the false claims that Israel bombed the hospital,” he complained.
Rep. David Kustoff (R-Tenn.) also spoke at the Shabbat dinner at the RJC Summit on Friday and expressed criticism of the squad members.
In particular, he noted that the House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed a resolution of 412 votes expressing support for Israel to defend itself against “barbaric” Hamas terrorists after they launched a surprise multi-front attack earlier this month resulted in the most deaths in a single day for Jewish people since the Holocaust.
“The good news is that this resolution passed the House of Representatives with 412 votes.” That’s good news. And, ladies and gentlemen, this vote sends a message to the nation and the rest of the world that we support Israel – the United States supports Israel,” Kustoff said.
“The bad news now is that 16 members of the House voted either no or in attendance,” he added. “These “no” votes include Cori Bush and Alexandria [Ocasio-]Cortez, Ihan Omar and Rashida Tlaib.’
“Now I am convinced that they are outliers.” But, ladies and gentlemen, they are outliers with very loud voices.”
Rep. David Kustoff also took aim at his progressive colleagues in the House of Representatives in his speech at the RJC annual summit on Friday
He mentioned Omar and Tlaib, but also took aim at Rep. Cori Bush (right) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (left).
While Omar and Tlaib made some of the more anti-Semitic comments, the crowd expressed its biggest jeers and boos for Ocasio-Cortez.
The annual summit at the Venetian Convention and Expo Center on the Vegas Strip began this year with a Shabbat dinner featuring remarks from Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo and speeches from Arkansas Gov. and Donald Trump’s former White House press secretary Sarah Sanders. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Sen. Scott and Rep. Kustoff.
“Here in Nevada, we stand unequivocally and unapologetically with Israel and the Jewish community,” Lombardo said at the opening of the conference Friday evening.
On Saturday, all of the top 2024 Republican presidential candidates will deliver remarks on the summit’s morning program.
A Shabbat dinner table at the RJC Annual Leadership Summit Friday night in Las Vegas, Nevada, was reserved for men, women and children who were kidnapped from Israel by Hamas terrorists and are still missing or held hostage in Gaza
Candidates speaking include former President Donald Trump, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.), biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, former Vice President Mike Pence and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum.
House Ways and Means Chairman Jason Smith (R-Mo.), House Intelligence Chairman Mike Turner (R-Ohio), and Rep. Max Miller (R-Ohio) will speak at the luncheon.
In the afternoon, the new Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mike Johnson, and the Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Steve Scalise, will give the keynote speeches.
Also present at the dinner on Saturday will be Senate Minority Leader John Thune (RS.D) and former US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman, among others.