Senator Fetterman slaps down Congresswoman Tlaib

[brooklynite]

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

If Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez wants there to be a "squad" (a bloc advocating for Democratic Socialist policies) as opposed to a handful of individual left-wing legislators), she should consider trying to convey to the other members that knee-jerk anti-Israeli comments are a terrible way to get taken seriously.

[MOMFUDSKI]

1. Everyone should keep their comments to

themselves until we hear the truth. I am still waiting for the scoop on 9/11.

[Elessar Zappa]

4. What's there to wonder about regarding 9/11?

We know what happened. Saudi Arabia funded terrorists that learned to fly and ran into the Twin Towers and Pentagon and one flight was taken down by passengers who fought the terrorists.

[flashman13]

18. Yep Those and many other related things should be wondered about.

[Maru Kitteh]

70. That was sarcasm you were responding to, I believe. But thanks for making your view known.

My view is that people who prefer terrorist propaganda and terrorist conspiracy theories should seek out therapy and get that fixed.

[Cha]

9. NO. Thank You, Sen Fetterman!

[RocRizzo55]

50. EXACTLY

Just how I feel.
Show me proof beyond a reasonable doubt IN MY MIND, and I will believe it.
Don't feed me some story that is being told by some entity that is involved.
I remain neutral on this as well as other matters.
I have seen things here, as well as 9/11 that seem to be not quite logical or plausible. That is my opinion. If you deny me my opinion, you should really think about yours.

[Hekate]

80. Here's the thing. When people say they have a gut instinct, as opposed to facts...

I know you didn’t actually reference your gut, but its clear that your opinion counts for much more than facts.

Carry on.

[RocRizzo55]

86. Not a gut feeling

But the first thing that dies during war is the TRUTH. This is why I want to see irrefutable proof, in the form of collaborated video, before I will make a decision.
The only decision I can make at this time, is that BOTH sides are wrong.
Facts and propaganda are two different things.

[EX500rider]

100. Neutral eh?

And yet you said this in the Late Breaking News thread about her comment here in post #11
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143146810

No she attacked the president DUE TO HIS faulty information
Biden will eventually apologize for his behavior when the truth comes out.

Try this,
see that top picture, that is a result of a IDF airstrike, crater about 10ft deep and 20ft wide:


Here is a picture of the Al-Ahli hospital Anglican Church strike: (called the "Baptist Church" by Tlaib, nice research by her)



Those look the same to you?

[question everything]

104. You want proof? Listen to the terrorists admitting it in a recording posted by Malcolm Nance

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100218375181

You do trust Nance, I hope

[Initech]

81. This is the social media era. That ain't happening.

[Elessar Zappa]

2. I seriously wonder about Tlaib.

The only thing she’s good for is caucusing with Democrats. I suspect she’s antisemitic (and I don’t say that about everyone that opposes Israeli policy).

[getagrip_already]

5. I won't go that far, but she is far too fast to blame usa

Without any real proof or based on easily debunked propaganda.

I think the party is better off without her.

[sellitman]

21. I agree.

It saddens me to agree but I have no other words for her.

[AntivaxHunters]

24. No she's not antisemetic

She's opposed the far right policies of middle east Trump - Netanyahu.

It's important to remember that she is Palestinian & has family in Palestine. If anyone is going to give an emotional response it's going to be her. Sometimes we say things out of emotion & passion. She should've done an update though IMHO.

[NoRethugFriends]

26. inexcusable

[AntivaxHunters]

32. Her comments were pretty rough

[NoRethugFriends]

39. And incorrect, and failure to apologize even when when knew she was likely wrong.

[Maru Kitteh]

71. Exactly. Huge numbers will not apologize for blaming Israel first and in fact

refuse to let go of their fantasy of Jews as the aggressors. Some are even here.

[Cha]

87. Alexander Vindman on Tlaib's statement..

Link to tweet

[stopdiggin]

33. a lot of this could be fixed ..

If one were not making a dead sprint for the cameras ..
(in stead of making an effort to find out what the hell is going on)

(I'm really uncomfortable coming down on someone I would like to have in 'our' camp. But - there's only some much of this really stupid sh*t that anyone can put up with.)

[MadameButterfly]

67. My experience so far with this crisis

is that people are very influenced by their culture/religion--Jewish or Muslim--with people close to me and in high places, who you think would know better. Apparently it's hard not to get emotional (and maybe jump to conclusions) when this is too close and personal. This is why we need all kinds of people represented in our government.

Rashida Tlaib has done great work and I'm not going to write her off with this one comment.

[TheBlackAdder]

29. The thing that is disappointing is Gaza's leaders said betweeen 200-300. It was Hamas that said 500.

[Polybius]

38. "I suspect"

Ya think!

[JustAnotherGen]

41. I suspect the same thing

[Bucky]

56. She's a loose cannon. That seems to get rewarded to some Congress people

I also think she is the weakest link in the Squad. I don't think it's the first time she didn't wait to get her facts right -- and the number one strength among the Justice Democrats is that they tend to get their facts right a hell of a lot more than the other side scruples to. She needs to be roped into being as disciplined as a Member of Congress should be, or she needs to be cut loose from the Democratic party.

I don't see that she's crossed the line into anti-semitism. She's pro Palestinian, and certainly a large number of Israeli policies are unquestionably anti-Palestinian.

But the big screw up on her part here is that Hamas is every bit as much anti-Palestinian as the worst of Israel's occupation policies are. One of Hamas's nihilistic ally groups in Palestine is responsible for that accidental hospital bombing. It was an inevitable screw up of war, a war that Hamas started. That's where her anger needs to point

Hamas by discriminately killing civilians in Israel virtually guaranteed that the IDF would end up indiscriminately killing Palestinians in retaliation. That was Hamas's plan. Tlaib, like Israel, needs to pick her targets a hell of a lot better

[EX500rider]

101. She couldn't even get the name right, "The Baptist Hospital"?!

Last edited Fri Oct 20, 2023, 07:06 PM - Edit history (2)

It's the Al-Ahli hospital run by the Anglican Church.

I wonder how she'd react to one of the mosque being called a Buddhist temple..lol

[Jilly_in_VA]

76. Reminding you

that Arabs are also Semites, so no Arab can be "Anti-Semitic", although they can be Anti-Jewish. I suspect she may be somewhat Anti-Israel, at least in its current form, and since she is of Palestinian ancestry and has relatives in Palestine, that would not be surprising. But you cannot say she's "anti-Semitic" because that would mean she is against her own people also.

[Behind the Aegis]

77. I am reminding you: anti-Semitism is bigotry against JEWS not "Semites".

Also, just because one is a Jew (or your microaggressive redefinition) or Semite, doesn't preclude inability to be bigoted, as an anti-Semite. There are homophobic gays, there are sexist/misogynistic women, and the list goes on.

ETA: Did you know that "homophobia" isn't a "fear of sameness", but rather a "fear/loathing of homosexuals"?

[Jilly_in_VA]

91. Oh FFS

My very Jewish Hebrew professor was the one who pointed out to me that Anti-Semitism also includes Arabs, but have it your way if you want.
And did you know that Arab CHRISTIANS also pray to ALLAH and say "Allahu Akbar", "Inshallah", "Mashallah", etc.? And that there are a lot of them in Gaza and the West Bank?
I'm done with you. Go find someone else to bicker and split hairs with.

[Behind the Aegis]

93. Then your very JEWISH professor is an idiot.

Anti-Semitism is discrimination and/or hatred against Jews. PERIOD!

I read from a very BLACK person that enslaved Africans IMMIGRATED to the US.

[EX500rider]

102. Maybe try looking up the definition?

Hostility towards and discrimination against Jewish people (although there are other Semitic peoples, notably the Arabs, anti‐Semitism is only used to refer to prejudice against Jewish people).

https://www.oxfordreference.com/display/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803095417471

[Cha]

88. Tlaid did NOT Comdemn HAMAS for Butchering Israeli

Babies, Children, Women, and Men.

So what does that say?

Link to tweet

[redqueen]

3. I'm thinking she's already done so.

I hope so, anyway.

[lapucelle]

28. Tlaib refuses to apologize for blaming Israel for Gaza hospital blast, attacks Biden

Tlaib refuses to apologize for blaming Israel for Gaza hospital blast, attacks Biden

https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/tlaib-refuses-apologize-blaming-israel-gaza-hospital-blast/story?id=104085727

[awesomerwb1]

6. He's exactly right.

[JohnSJ]

7. I think we all need to reserve accusations until all facts

are known. While I understand Representative Tailb’s sympathies for the Palestinian situation, I do not agree with her reckless words blaming President Biden for the Gaza blast and the situation, along with the implied threat that she and others will not support President Biden in 2024 at the end of that tweet. That is inflammatory and unjustified, and she should really consider her words before posting them on social media

[Oopsie Daisy]

13. Yes... that was reckless and impulsive. It showed poor judgement.

I think that her political career is coming to an end very soon. Loyal Democrats aren't likely to put up with much of that.

[JohnSJ]

16. I am not sure about that. Her district obviously elected her

[Oopsie Daisy]

42. She's certainly doing nobody any favors by attacking and smearing Democrats and Biden.

[AntivaxHunters]

25. IIRC she serves one of the largest Palestinian districts

Her career coming to an end is highly unlikely

[MadameButterfly]

69. and these people deserve to be represented

Yes, she should have waited to know the facts om the hospital bombing. But it isn't a disaster to have the Palestinian/American point of view represented in our discourse. It's ok for a faction of the party to try to influence Biden. He's a grown up and we are a big tent. Start throwing people out of the Democratic Party for not towing the "middle" line, then Maga rules.

[Cha]

8. Wow.. TY Sen Fetterman! who just anwered his question.. who would Do

that!!

Someone was trying to push that article here and on me specifically Yesterday and I basically Called BULLSHIT! Some things you just know. GD!

I agree with OP's quote..

"If Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez wants there to be a "squad" (a bloc advocating for Democratic Socialist policies) as opposed to a handful of individual left-wing legislators), she should consider trying to convey to the other members that knee-jerk anti-Israeli comments are a terrible way to get taken seriously."

Tlaib never did Condemn HAMAS AFAIK.

[brooklynite]

10. Um, that bottom comment is mine, not Senator Fetterman's.

[Cha]

12. Oh Sorry.. I'll edit.. TY! I liked it.

[comradebillyboy]

15. And an excellent comment it was!

[FBaggins]

11. Allow me to extend his remarks

It’s truly disturbing that Members of Congress rushed to blame Israel for the hospital tragedy in Gaza.

It's truly disturbing that Democratic Members of Congress rushed to blame President Biden for a foreign policy overwhelmingly supported by substantial majorities in both parties.

[Oopsie Daisy]

14. I'm glad that you did. I wanted to do/say/post something along those lines, but I chickened out.

[MadameButterfly]

72. i think Biden has been doing a lot behind the scenes

different from the unconditional support offered publicly. It's understandable that their are people not privvy to the private decisions who are concerned by the early public statements in light of some statements coming from the Israeli leadership.

The messaging from the administration has since gotten more nuanced to address the complexity of the problem, and probably in response to the criticism you have cited.

Criticism from members of Congress isn't just people being mean. It's their job as our representatives to influence federal poliicies in accordance with their conscience, not just in alignment with the polls.

[ffr]

17. K&R

[LiberaBlueDem]

19. Bummer

Last thing we need is squabbling among elected Dems.

This is no good

[MadameButterfly]

73. we'll survive this. This is the nature of a party that actually believes in Democracy

and free speech. We are too afraid of disagreement. Hearing from people with a different cultual bias than most of us makes us better critical thinkers.

Democrats will continue to be the party that unites when it matters, can elect a Speaker, for example, compromise on bills, and will unite behind a presidential nominee. Excluding the real un-cooperators: Manchin, Synema, and RFK Jr.

[LiberaBlueDem]

84. Sure we will survive

But sniping at members for minor things is unbecoming and useless whan we have such severe opposition.

[betsuni]

22. "you refuse to facilitate a ceasefire & help de-escalate" "your war and destruction only approach"

Oh, a fictional President Biden. A new toy in the Warmonger Democrats series to play with, joining Warmonger Drone Obama and Warmonger Corporatist Hillary dolls.

Thank you, John Fetterman.

[albacore]

23. Even if Hamas admitted that their rocket malfunctioned and took the blame, most folks in the Middle East ...

..would still think it was Israel. The atrocities will continue. And escalate.
Shit spins out of control in wars. And we know that from bitter experience.
There is only one winner there....

[LiberalArkie]

27. Biden did not say it was Hamas, He said it was the other guys. Not Hamas Not Israel

I think they said somewhere Islamic Jihad.

[lapucelle]

31. He said "the other team" which I thought was smart messaging early in the day.

I took it to mean other team = terrorist groups, but we're not yet sure which one.

[LiberalArkie]

89. Very smart. I think that allowed him to bring aid into Gaza, Before Netty said all Gaza's are guilty

and should be punished.

[womanofthehills]

35. Today, NYT's and UN - both said no one knows

NYT - https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/18/world/middleeast/gaza-hospital-deaths-aftermath.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

Palestinian officials blamed an Israeli airstrike, an assertion that was disputed by the Israel Defense Forces, which said it was caused by an errant rocket fired by the armed Palestinian faction Islamic Jihad in Gaza. American officials say they have multiple strands of intelligence — including infrared satellite data — indicating that the blast was caused by a launch of a rocket or missile from Palestinian fighter positions within Gaza.

Neither side’s account could be independently verified, and the precise death toll remained unclear. The Gaza health ministry said Wednesday that at least 471 people were killed.

[SunSeeker]

64. The Gaza Health Ministry is Hamas. nt

[LiberalArkie]

90. And it was Israel who wanted to destroy everything in Gaza including all the hospitals.

If you remember they were leveling North Gaza before telling people to leave..

[question everything]

106. Terrorists admitted it in a recording posted here by Malcolm Nance

Link to tweet

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100218378233

[William769]

30. Good on Senator Fetterman.

[ZonkerHarris]

34. Looked at the news tweets shared and the choice of violent words of a man slapping a woman is your choice here?

nice violence against women imagery there.
Rebut or refute would be a less violent choice of words.
But you do you making Fetterman an abuser in image.

[brooklynite]

82. SLAP DOWN (verb)...

to prohibit or restrain usually abruptly and with censure from acting in a specified way

-- Merriam-Webster Dictionary

[Pathwalker]

36. The violent imagery of a 6'7" man "slapping down " a small woman

is not cool with this domestic violence survivor, despite what she said. Donn't bother - I know - she deserved to be hit for real - right?

[leftstreet]

40. +1

Very poor form

[Captain Stern]

53. Oh, stop. This isn't about anything like that at all.

If the words in this thread have took you to that place, that's on you.

[GuppyGal]

37. Ya man he put the smack and slap down on her !!!

To beat or thrash someone very thoroughly and conclusively, whether in a fight or in a contest.

Somebody needs to but he should of called her out by name !!!!

[Raine]

43. Cheers to Fetterman and a BIG THANK YOU to him! 👍♥️ nt

[Dorian Gray]

44. I don't know

if he was specifically slapping her down, but I also think he's right.

[Deminpenn]

45. Stunningly stupid and ignorant

I supported and voted for Fetterman, but this was a really stupid thing to tweet. Tlaib is a Palestinian and knows this community first hand. Instead of acting like a 13 yr old internet troll, maybe Fetterman should meet with Rep Tlaib and her family to gain a better understanding of "the other side".

[NickB79]

47. Fetterman defended Biden from Tlaib's unfounded attacks

After evidence was presented that Israel DIDN'T bomb a hospital, but rather a failed Palestinian Jihad rocket crashed, and that the hospital proper wasn't even hit, just the parking lot, she still refuses to admit she was wrong about anything. What could a meeting accomplish with such a closed mind?

The only one acting like a troll is Tlaib.

[MadameButterfly]

75. I agree

Of course Tlaib should have waited for more facts before she spoke out. But none of us know what it's like to have our own people in Gaza right now. My friends who have loved-ones on the ground in Israel or Gaza are all sounding emotional and one-sided about this, I'll let you know when I meet an exception.

On the face of it Fetterman is right, but he is much deeper than that and I expect more. He should have this conversation with Tlaib herself. Strategically, he should check her district and understand whether she gets replaced by a more compliant Democrat, or a Republican if he actually harms her politically.

[retread]

46. OP uses this to "call out" Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez. So I searched the responses to see

any actual quotes from her.

This is all I found!

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez @AOC

"The level of misinformation in all directions at this moment is incredibly high, especially on this platform. If you see a claim, photo, or video that triggers a strong emotional reaction, take a moment to pause and check for veracity/confirmation from multiple sources."

[SocialDemocrat61]

48. Exactly

Even the ADL is using Tlaib's comments as an excuse to go after AOC.

[brooklynite]

52. Not my point.....

I never questioned AOC with respect to her policy on Israel/Gaza.

However, AOC keeps getting pointed to as a leader, particularly of the left-wing "squad". Its effectiveness in accomplishing any of her goals is badly damaged if its members get seen as knee-jerk Israel opponents.

[bigtree]

54. that's nonsense

...you put AOC in there to get slapped along with Tlaib.


It's glaringly obvious why you included her and mentioned the 'Squad'. You evidently believe this is some sort of political wedge you can work against the pols (Democrats all, in the 'Squad') who you regularly castigate here.

[brooklynite]

59. I told you why I wrote it. You're entitled to believe what you want.

[bigtree]

61. it's not just me.

[brooklynite]

62. One thing I NEVER do here is presume motivations of others

Do what you want.

nb: will you be properly chastising the authors of #12 and #13?

[bigtree]

63. the opposition among some Democrats to the 'Squad' is a matter of record now. It's beyond dispute.

...this plays right into that divisive effort, whether you intended it to or not.

Like I said, there's an open history.

[brooklynite]

65. I'm not a socialist, so I have no objection to challenging the political goals of The Squad...

...where they're inconsistent with those of mainstream Democrats.

However, my point was that as a matter of political strategy, having your members spout fringe opinions on a matter as significant as the Hamas/Israel war isn';t a good way to get taken seriously on anything else.

[bigtree]

66. well, there it is.

[jcgoldie]

57. Blaming AOC for the actions of Tlaib is bullshit

[bigtree]

60. it's an amalgamation of the disrespect these progressive women have been subjected to from the start

..a transparent political tactic employed by Democratic centrists to divide these women's politics from the rest of the party - a majority of Democrats having reflexively embraced most of their progressive ideals in a natural progression away from the conservative initiatives and opposition to progressive legislation 'moderates' in the party dabble with.

It's really been a hoot watching centrists maunver their own dwindled support into a corner, splintering themselves instead. But I digress.

Here, it's in all of it's most disreputable form, sliding by behind the outrage and concern surrounding the Israeli/Hamas conflict.

[brooklynite]

83. Ah, yes; those damned CENTRISTS...

...who had the temerity to nominate and elect President Biden when there were perfectly good Democratic Socialists and progressives to vote for.

Maybe next time?

[Cha]

95. Oh Baloney.. Moderates Are Who Got us BACK

the House in 2018 with Nancy Pelosi Leading the way.

Moderates are who got us the House in 2020 and who are keeping it Close since 2022.

Thank You, Hakeem Jeffries

Love those Swing District Moderates! 💙

[betsuni]

96. No.

[H2O Man]

107. Right.

Just my opinion, but I suspect that AOC is not focused upon being taken "seriously" by the author of the OP. Indeed, if she obtained that status, she would lose her entire base.

[bigtree]

49. noticed that a lot of anti Tlaib folks took this opportunity to 'slap' AOC

...who hasn't done or said anything wrong in this conflict.

Aside from the misogynistic imagery of a man slapping this congresswoman, this is really just about attacking Tlaib (and the 'Squad') which is a political sport enjoyed by both republicans and 'moderate' Dems.

Really transparent, despite the correctness of the rebuke of Tlaib for agreeing with many reports on the ground which had nothing to do with what Hamas was saying.

Fetterman looks to be talking about someone else, because I don't see where the congresswoman took the word of Hamas in making that claim, unless the reporters on MSNBC that night were Hamas.

This is a dishonest theme to the pushback against BBC and others who initially blamed Israel - the reports on the ground I saw that night reasoned that the size of the blast and the number of injured and killed was inconsistent with any firepower Hamas has in its arsenal.

No reporter cited Hamas, so I'm not seeing evidence of that, certainly not from the congresswoman.

Where is the evidence that she formed that opinion from what Hamas was saying? Where is it?

Where does Fetterman say Tlaib's name? Where does he say he was 'slapping' anyone, much less a sitting congresswoman?

How hard is it to say her name if what he intended was to 'slap' her? Evidently, literary imagery about slapping this congresswoman has some appeal to you. That's just disgusting.

[blue neen]

85. Thank you.

"Where does Fetterman say Tlaib's name? Where does he say he was 'slapping' anyone, much less a sitting congresswoman?"

"How hard is it to say her name if what he intended was to 'slap' her? Evidently, literary imagery about slapping this congresswoman has some appeal to you. That's just disgusting."

Unnecessary words in OP that lead to disturbing imagery.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

51. I have come to admire and respect Senator Fetterman

I agree with Senator Fetterman on this issue

[FlyingPiggy]

55. Tlaib deserved every bit of that and then some. She made herself look stupid.

I will be questioning her future judgments now. Smdh…

[Pepsidog]

58. Fetterman Is a plain speaking, I don't give a shit about what you think about me kind of guy. He may help convert some magats who like that approach.

[Maru Kitteh]

68. Excellent Sen. Fetterman. Well done.

Hamas apologists are gross beyond words.

[Wonder Why]

74. She also claimed it was white phosphorus but I have not read anything that backs that claim

and the pictures seem to clearly show an explosive not a WP burst.

[Hekate]

78. Well-spotted, Senator Fetterman. Thank you, Sir.

[AntivaxHunters]

79. "Slaps down"?

Is there any way you'd consider changing it to "dunks on" instead? Thanks 🙏

The title just bothered me with male/female & what not. Hope it's ok what I asked.❤️

[brooklynite]

92. See #82

Perhaps take the issue up with Merriam-Webster.

[AntivaxHunters]

94. Well I asked nicely

And the MW definition lacks context & is a generalization.

I just think it's wrong with saying a male "slapped down" a female. Maybe 15 years ago something like that may have flown but in this day & age? Nah.

[brooklynite]

97. UPDATE: Congresswoman Tlaib slaps down President Biden

Link to tweet

[bigtree]

98. the ground offensive into Gaza hasn't even begun yet

...still time for pro-invasion folks to represent those demanding restraint from Israel as extreme, before the Palestinian civilians caught in the way of the Israeli military push to confront Hamas militants make the headlines.

You do realize Palestinian civilians are dying under those Israeli bombs right now?

But here you are trying to shame this Palestinian woman for desperately, futilely trying to encourage a cessation of bombing of her own people through her nation's leadership which has openly embraced Israel's military defense intentions.

It's as if this Representative expects to be heard by her party's president. Silly her.

Rashida Tlaib is the daughter of Palestinian immigrants who in 2018 became one of the first two Muslim women elected to Congress.

Tlaib supports the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, which aims to push Israel to alter its treatment of Palestinians.

[BlueCheeseAgain]

99. 12,000 people??

Either they're crammed onto the grounds like sardines, or these numbers are grossly exaggerated.

[NoMoreRepugs]

103. Context people - we ALL KNOW Fetterman didn't slap anyone - stop with the overreacting.

[bigtree]

105. he didn't say 'slap' at all

...that was the op's representation.

John Fetterman didn't say Rashida Tlaib's name at all.

Didn't say a word about "The Squad".

Rightly criticized, 'people'.

Not an overreaction.

It was unnecessary and offensive.

[brooklynite]

108. If you know of other Representatives who blamed Israel without reason, let me know...

...I'll be happy to add their names to the OP title.

[bigtree]

110. I know you would

...I know you would.

[brooklynite]

109. If you know of other Representatives who blamed Israel without reason, let me know...

...I'll be happy to add their names to the OP title.