Recently, the House of Representatives voted to kill a resolution aimed at censoring liberal Rep. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan. In a vote over the matter, nearly two dozen Republicans joined Democrats in a vote to end the motion.
Rep. Tlaib had been the focus of a censure, which is an official punishment in the House of Representatives, introduced by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene. The Georgia Representative introduced the motion against Tlaib after her comments pertaining to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. Rep. Becca Balint of Vermont also spearheaded a retaliatory effort to censor MTG. However, this was retracted before voting.
“Given the fact that this conference voted unanimously for an election denier, there was a question of whether my resolution to censure Rep. Greene could pass with the votes it needed from ‘moderate’ Republicans. They have shown they are unable to stand up in moments that require courage,” Balint said, referring to the recent election of House Speaker Mike Johnson.
Balint praised the Republicans who voted against the effort to censor Tlaib for her anti-Israel stance, citing that as her reason for pulling back her retaliation against Greene.
“But tonight, when 23 Republicans said ‘no’ to Rep. Greene’s bigotry, I saw this situation a little differently. I want to thank them for doing the right thing. And I’m going to hold back on the vote for now. Vermonters and people across the country need us to get to work and focus on the urgent needs facing working people here at home and around the world.”
Greene previously held Tlaib responsible for a recent pro-Gaza protest that saw hundreds of participants arrested following a takeover of the Cannon House Office building. Rep. MTG even labeled the event as an “insurrection.”
Greene sounded off on the nearly two dozen Republicans who stood in the way of action against Rep. Tlaib, claiming this to be a prime example of why the GOP can never substantively prevent the liberal agenda from manifesting. “This is why Republicans NEVER do anything to stop the communists Democrats or ever hold anyone accountable!!” Greene said on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Some Republicans, such as Rep. Chip Roy of Texas, who voted to table Greene’s censure, spoke out trying to justify their decision. “Rep. Rashida Tlaib has repeatedly made outrageous remarks toward Israel and the Jewish people. Her conduct is unbecoming of a member of Congress and certainly worthy of condemnation, if not censure,” Roy said.
Roy continued, “However, tonight’s feckless resolution to censure Tlaib was deeply flawed and made legally and factually unverified claims, including the claim of leading an ‘insurrection’…I voted to table the resolution. In January 2021, the legal term insurrection was stretched and abused by many following the events at the Capitol. We should not continue to perpetuate claims of ‘insurrection’ at the Capitol and we should not abuse the term now.”
Rep. Tim Walberg of Michigan also gave his opinion on the matter, taking a free-speech stance on the issue. “As much as I disagree with previous comments made by Rep. Tlaib, First Amendment liberties are for every American, and I will support this constitutional right, whether the speaker is on the political left or right and whether they are speaking heinous lies or harsh truths,” Walberg said.
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