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Andrew Cline/Shutterstock Rashida Tlaib For Congress/Facebook (Licensed)

Marco Rubio accuses Rashida Tlaib of making anti-Semitic remarks

It's the second time in days Republicans are mad she's speaking her mind.

 

David Covucci

Tech

Posted on Jan 8, 2019   Updated on May 20, 2021, 10:00 pm CDT

If there’s been one hallmark of the incoming crop of Democratic representatives, it’s been their willingness to speak vocally on issues they care about. And it’s caused tweets of panic and consternation among long-serving members unaccustomed to the behavior.

This morning, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fl.) accused Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) of using anti-Semitic language for speaking out against a bill Republican senators introduced.

While the government shutdown enters its 17th day, a group of Republicans introduced a bill, their first bill of the new Congress. And a provision in it is aimed at the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement (BDS), which tries to get businesses to cut ties with Israel, over its treatment of Palestine.

As part of the bill, a provision put forth by Rubio would protect the government for refusing to work with businesses who participate in BDS. In a tweet, Tlaib criticized the Senate for considering the bill, calling boycotts “part of our historical fight for freedom.”

To which, Rubio said Tlaib used anti-Semitic language by making an accusation that Jews in America are more loyal to Israel than they are to America.

Tlaib, who is Palestinian, responded to Rubio’s accusation, saying she was criticizing U.S. senators, and nothing else. The “they” in her tweet referenced the job to “represent” and “getting back to opening our government,” making her case pretty straightforward.

Rubio, for his part, was accused of not understanding the Constitution.

In a statement, the Anti-Defamation League said that regardless of whether Tlaib meant her language to be offensive, the way she phrased it was “deeply problematic.”

“Representative Tlaib’s tweet regarding the pending bill on the Senate floor has been interpreted by some as suggesting that Jews or Members of Congress, such as the sponsors of the bill, are more loyal to Israel than to their own country. Whether or not this was her intent, this type of language is deeply problematic.”

This is the second time in a week Tlaib has found herself under fire for her language. The night after she took office, Tlaib was filmed saying about Trump, “We’re going to impeach the motherfucker.”

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*First Published: Jan 8, 2019, 8:51 am CST