Heritage Florida Jewish News - Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice

Congressional Representatives Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) and Ilhan Omar (D-MN) along with two other freshman democratic congresswomen, have now been collectively tagged with the moniker, “The Squad.” The descriptive name for the four was quickly and enthusiastically adopted by the media when the hashtag was jokingly suggested by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, one of the four members of “The Squad,” at a press conference after a contentious meeting with Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

The Speaker had criticized the four freshman congresswomen for challenging her leadership in the House of Representatives, after which the four claimed they were victims of racism because they were “persons of color.”

Adding to the political mayhem that passes for governance from the nation’s capital was the condemnation of the four congresswomen by President Trump for his absurd and hateful suggestion that they all go back to the countries from which they came.

Since three of the congresswomen are native born and the forth is a naturalized citizen, add stupid to the president’s suggestion.

While the four congresswomen have achieved national media attention and notoriety for their extreme positions which they apparently share with one another, two of these women have crossed the line that disqualifies each of them to sit in the House of Representatives.

Tlaib and Omar have demonstrated clearly and unambiguously during their short tenure in Congress that they are virulent anti-Semitic bigots, both in their speech and by their positions, as reported in the press and media, on BDS, in their known associations with and alleged financial support from individuals and American non-governmental organizations with known ties to overseas Arab and Muslim terrorist organizations, and their use of anti-Semitic tropes in their official capacity.

The latest evidence of their anti-Semitic bigotry is their rejection of the existence of the State of Israel (even though they are representatives of the U.S. government which recognizes and has formal relations with the State of Israel, along with more than 100 other nations of the World) by refusing to participate in a bipartisan educational trip to Israel including the Palestinian Arab administered areas, and to meet with leaders of the Israeli government as well as the Palestinian Authority which autonomously governs 95 percent of the Palestinian Arab population in the disputed areas controlled by Israel.

Under Article I, Section 4, of the U.S. Constitution each House may be “the judge of the... Qualifications of its Own Members... punish its Members and with the Concurrence of two thirds expel a Member.”

Will the Democratic leadership have the courage and principle to call out these bigots and take the necessary bipartisan action to censor them, strip them of their coveted committee assignments, and if necessary expel them to reflect the views of the overwhelming majority of the American people that racism and bigotry have no place in our country?

Alternatively, will the Democrat Party join with the constituents in each of their respective congressional districts to assure their defeat in their respective primaries?

Failing that, will the Republican Party make every effort to field suitable candidates in the general election to assure neither of these anti-Semitic bigots return to congress to spout their hateful speech by defeating them in their re-election bids in November 2020?

If you wish to comment or respond you can reach me at melpearlman322@gmail.com. Please do so in a rational, thoughtful, respectful and civil manner.

Mel Pearlman holds B.S. & M.S. degrees in physics as well as a J.D. degree and initially came to Florida in 1966 to work on the Gemini and Apollo space programs. He has practiced law in Central Florida since 1972. He has served as president of the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando; was a charter board member, first Vice President and pro-bono legal counsel of the Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center of Central Florida, as well as holding many other community leadership positions.