Tlaib: When I Think About The Holocaust This Way I Get A 'Calming Feeling'

Beth Baumann | May 12, 2019 6:55 PM

Just when we think that Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) couldn't get any more anti-Semitic, she proves us wrong. Her latest remark is rather cringeworthy too. During an interview with Yahoo News' podcast "Skullduggery," she explained her take on the Holocaust.

"There’s always kind of a calming feeling, I tell folks, when I think of the Holocaust, and the tragedy of the Holocaust, and the fact that it was my ancestors — Palestinians — who lost their land and some lost their lives, their livelihood, their human dignity, their existence in many ways, have been wiped out, and some people's passports," Tlaib said.

"And, just all of it was in the name of trying to create a safe haven for Jews, post-the Holocaust, post-the tragedy and the horrific persecution of Jews across the world at that time. And, I love the fact that it was my ancestors that provided that, right, in many ways, but they did it in a way that took their human dignity away and it was forced on them."

Republican leaders were quick to slam Tlaib's comments, and rightfully so.

"There is no justification for the twisted and disgusting comments made by Rashida Tlaib just days after the annual Day of Holocaust Remembrance. More than six million Jews were murdered during the Holocaust; there is nothing 'calming' about that fact," House Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-LA) said in a statement. "Unfortunately, this is far from the first display of heinous anti-Semitic comments coming from Democrat House members this year, and it’s clear this is now the norm for their caucus. It’s long past time for Speaker Pelosi to take swift action and make it clear that these vile comments have no place in Congress."

"All of us, regardless of party, must stand as Americans against the evil of anti-Semitism," Cheney said. "If the Democratic leadership continues to stand by in silence, they are enabling the spread of evil. History teaches us that anti-Semitism begins with words and becomes something far worse. Speaker Pelosi and Leader Hoyer must act now."

I'm honestly not sure what's more disgusting: the fact that Tlaib made these comments or that Democrats have to tip toe around anti-Semitism instead of calling out and condemning those who threaten the Jewish people.

Democrats claim to be the party that stands up on behalf of minorities. They claim to represent women and minorities yet here they are, allowing multiple members of Congress to continually say things that hurt a minority group: Jews.

We, as a nation, need to take a long, hard look at ourselves and our beliefs when this type of hate speech is being protected. It was this kind of logic, this belief that one group of people are more superior than another, that got us into the Holocaust to begin with. It's a dangerous road to go down and one we should know better to toy with. Every anti-Semitic remark made is a new seed of racism and hatred that's being planted.