Jewish Republicans and their allies are still furious at progressive squad members in Congress – and are focusing their anger regarding the brutal terrorist attack by Hamas at U.S. lawmakers who won’t outright condemn them.
GOP lawmakers and 2024 candidates are gathering in Las Vegas, Nevada over the weekend for the Republican Jewish Coalition Annual Leadership Summit.
The conference was planned before Hamas attacked Israel earlier this month and already included a rock-star line-up of GOP leaders. But the gathering took on a whole new purpose as Jewish people in America look to come together in the wake of the tragic terrorist attacks that left approximately 1,500 Israeli people dead.
More than 30 American citizens are confirmed dead and another at least dozen are unaccounted for.
‘The sad thing is, President [Joe] Biden is only a small part of the problem,’ Arkansas Gov. Sarah Sanders said during her remarks as Jewish voters were finishing Shabbat dinner.
‘We have members of the House of Representatives regurgitating Hamas talking points,’ she said. ‘And we have the squad calling for a ceasefire, which really means calling for Israel not to defend itself. In cities across the western world, we have left-wing protesters draping themselves in Palestinian flags and calling for the eradication of Israel.’
Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) slammed progressive squad members in Congress for their anti-Israel comments. ‘We have people who’ve been elected in our country to represent us, are paid with our tax dollars, who are saying the most insane and anti-semitic things,’ he said
Sen. Scott specifically referenced comments from Rep. Ilhan Omar (left) and Rep. Rashida Tlaib (right), calling it ‘scary’ to work in Congress with those who condemned Hamas terrorist attacks and demanding Israel ceasefire
Arkansas Gov. Sarah Sanders said: ‘We have members of the House of Representatives regurgitating Hamas talking points. And we have the squad calling for a ceasefire, which really means calling for Israel not to defend itself’
Progressives lawmakers part of the ‘squad’ have called for ceasefires and placed blame on Israel for killing innocent Palestinians when launching counterstrikes at Hamas terrorists in Gaza.
Meanwhile, Republicans have fumed at these remarks and claimed those calling for a ceasefire are sending a coded message claiming Israel doesn’t have a right to defend its autonomy.
Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) called these progressive members ‘insane’ at RJC Shabbat dinner on Friday.
‘We also have people who’ve been elected in our country to represent us, are paid with our tax dollars, who are saying the most insane and anti-semitic things,’ the Florida Republican said to a room full of Republican voters.
‘Ilhan Omar: It’s ‘scary to work with members of Congress who condemn Hamas attack on Israel,’ he said in quoting progressive Rep. Omar (D-Minn.).
He went on to quote the first-ever Palestinian-American congresswoman Rep. Tashida Tlaib (D-Mich.).
‘Tlaib: ‘I’m ashamed of members of Congress who refuse to call for a ceasefire.’ After she repeats the false claims that Israel bombed the hospital,’ he lamented.
Rep. David Kustoff (R-Tenn.) also spoke at Shabbat Dinner at the RJC Summit on Friday and had criticisms for the squad members.
He specifically noted that the House passed with a resounding 412 votes a resolution voicing support for Israel as it defends itself from ‘barbaric’ Hamas terrorists after they launched a surprise, multi-front attack earlier this month that resulted in the largest single-day death fo Jewish people since the Holocaust.
‘The good news is, this resolution passed the House of Representatives with 412 votes. That’s good news. And, ladies and gentlemen, that vote sends a message to the nation and to the rest of the world that we support Israel – the United States supports Israel,’ Kustoff said.
‘Now the bad news is, that 16 members of the House of Representatives either voted no or they voted present,’ he added. ‘Among those ‘no’ votes are Cori Bush, Alexandria [Ocasio-]Cortez, Ihan Omar and Rashida Tlaib.’
‘Now I’m convinced that they are outliers. But, ladies and gentlemen, they are outliers with very loud voices.’
Rep. David Kustoff, speaking at the RJC Annual Summit on Friday, also took aim at his progressive colleagues in the House
He mentioned Omar and Tlaib, but also too aim at Rep. Cori Bush (right) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (left)
While Omar and Tlaib have made some of the arguably more anti-Semitic comments, the crowd had their largest jeers and boos for Ocasio-Cortez.
The annual summit at the Venetian Convention and Expo Center on the Vegas Strip kicked-off this year with a Shabbat Dinner featuring remarks from Nevada’s Gov. Joe Lombardo, as well as speeches from Arkansas Governor 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 in opening the conference on Friday evening.
On Saturday, all the top 2024 Republican presidential candidates will deliver remarks in the morning program for the summit.
A Shabbat dinner table at the RJC Annual Leadership Summit in Las Vegas, Nevada on Friday night was set and reserved for men, women and children kidnapped from Israel by Hamas terrorists and still missing or being held hostage in Gaza
Those candidates speaking are former President Donald Trump, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, former Vice President Mike Pence, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum.
At lunch House Way and Means Chairman Jason Smith (R-Mo.), House Intelligence Chairman Mike Turner (R-Ohio) and Rep. Max Miller (R-Ohio) will speak.
Then, during the afternoon, new House Speaker Mike Johnson and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise will deliver the keynote addresses.
Also at dinner on Saturday will be Senate Minority Whip John Thune (R-S.D) and former U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman, among others.