Far-left lawmaker stuns CNN host with answer when confronted over Hamas raping Israeli women — and even Dems are outraged



Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) shocked Americans on Sunday by asserting that we must be "balanced" in our response to Hamas using rape as a weapon of war.

During an interview on CNN's "State of the Union," host Dana Bash confronted Jayapal over the fact that progressives have been "downright silent" on the atrocities that Hamas committed against Israeli women and girls in their Oct. 7 attack.

At first, Jayapal downplayed progressives' silence, which forced Bash to press harder.

The CNN anchor asked Jayapal if she has condemned Hamas specifically for what the terrorist group did to women. Jayapal claimed she has, and then she immediately tried to steer the conversation in a different direction, criticizing Israel and suggesting the country is guilty of committing war crimes.

"With respect, I was just asking about the women, and you turned it back to Israel. I'm asking you about Hamas," Bash shot back.

"I already answered your question, Dana," Jayapal snarked.

"I said it's horrific. I think that rape is horrific. Sexual assault is horrific. I think that it happens in war situations. Terrorist organizations like Hamas obviously are using these as tools," the progressive Democrat continued. "However, I think we have to be balanced about bringing in the outrages against Palestinians."

After demanding that critics be "balanced," Jayapal again criticized Israel, relying on Hamas' unverifiable claims about civilian casualties.

"It's horrible, but you don't see Israeli soldiers raping Palestinian women," Bash fired back.

At no point in the interview did Jayapal specifically condemn Hamas' use of rape in their attack. The closest she came was her broad denouncement of sexual assault and her observation that Hamas uses it as a "tool."

Hear Jayapal's response after Bash says some have been silent about Hamas' use of sexual violence www.youtube.com

Jayapal's comments predictably earned outage from conservatives. But, perhaps surprisingly, Democrats and media personalities also voiced alarm at Jayapal's remarks.

"Hamas terrorists raped Israeli women and girls. The only ‘balanced’ approach is to condemn sexual violence loudly, forcefully and without exceptions. Outrageous for anyone to 'both sides' sexual violence," Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) responded.

"I should not have to say this in 2023 but here we are: RAPE IS RAPE. Do not minimize, excuse, 'balance' or 'both sides' sexual assault — that is victim blaming we have spent decades trying to undo in the laws, the courts and the hearts and minds of the people," said Christine Pelosi, daughter of Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.).

"This is beyond f***ed up. Every single one of these Democratic primaries of the ‘progressives’ is going to be justified," Jessica Tarlov, the resident liberal commentator at Fox News, reacted.

CNN anchor Bianna Golodryga said, "@RepJayapal, most wars don’t feature premeditated rape as part of the war plan. Individual acts of rape from lack of discipline, which tragically does occur in war, is different than 'preconceived and premeditated' rapes, which as one leading expert told me was Hamas’ plan."

Golodryga, moreover, pointed out that Jayapal has not released a statement that specifically condemns Hamas for their use of sexual violence on Oct. 7.

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Democratic Rep. Pramila Jayapal tries to walk back anti-Israel remarks amid backlash



Rep. Jamila Jayapal (R-Wash.), the chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, attacked Israel during a leftist conference in Chicago over the weekend, prompting significant backlash from Republicans and Democrats alike.
The progressive wing of the Democratic Party comprises members who have historically had trouble containing their hostility toward Israel.

For instance, prior to taking office, Rep. Ilhan Omar (Minn.) tweeted in 2012, "Israel has hypnotized the world, may Allah awaken the people and help them see the evil doings of Israel."

Not much has changed since she took office, as reflected by her statement last week, when Omar indicated there is "no way in hell" she would attend Israeli President Isaac Herzog's speech to Congress on July 19.

Jayapal, Rep. Cori Bush (D-Mo.), and other progressive Democrats have similarly refused to attend the speech.

Rep. Rashida Tlaib (Mich.) claimed in 2021 that Israel was "promoting racism and dehumanization" under an "apartheid system."

Rep. Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez (N.Y.) has taken issue with the suggestion that Israel has a right to defend itself from Hamas' terror attacks.

The latest of many similar outbursts, which have proven embarrassing for the purported party of inclusivity and anti-racism, took place Saturday at the annual Netroots Nation conference where Jayapal gave a keynote along with Omar.
Anti-Israel protesters waving Palestinian colors interrupted the corresponding panel, prompting Jayapal to walk to the stage's edge. Instead of rebuking those hijacking the event, Jayapal championed their resentments.

"Can I say something as somebody that's been in the streets and has participated in a lot of demonstrations?" said Jayapal. "I want you to know that we have been fighting to make it clear that Israel is a racist state! ... That the Palestinian people deserve self-determination and autonomy, that the dream of a two-state solution is slipping away from us, that it does not even feel possible."

— (@)

Following her remarks at the leftist conference, Jayapal was met with a flurry of denunciations online.

Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) called the congresswoman "despicable," suggesting her claim was "truly disgusting, especially coming from a member of Congress."

Bryan Leib, the executive director of the Combat Antisemitism Everywhere PAC, wrote, "Jayapal has been spreading lies about Israel for years. These comments are nothing new, but they went unchecked under the leadership of the former @SpeakerPelosi. It's time for @SpeakerMcCarthy to take action. Censure!"

AIPAC noted, "Israel is a U.S. ally with an open, free and diverse society comprised of Jews, Muslims, Christians and people from across the world who vote and participate in its democracy as equal citizens. @RepJayapal should be embracing our democratic ally as a model, not demonizing it."

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Democratic Whip Katherine Clark, Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar, and Vice Chair Ted Lieu issued a statement Sunday, stressing, "Israel is not a racist state."

Although the statement did not mention Jayapal by name, the Democratic leadership noted, "Government officials come and go. The special relationship between the United States and Israel will endure. We are determined to make sure support for Israel in the Congress remains strongly bipartisan."

Jayapal, whose term won't end until 2025, issued a statement Sunday to "clarify" her previous remarks.

"Words do matter and so it is important that I clarify my statement. I do not believe the idea of Israel as a nation is racist. I do, however, believe that Netanyahu’s extreme right-wing government has engaged in discriminatory and outright racist policies and that there are extreme racists driving that policy within the leadership of the current government," wrote the leftist congresswoman.

"Many policies of the current Israeli government, including rampant settlement expansion, make it extremely difficult for Palestinians who simply want the same rights as their Israeli neighbors to believe such a solution is possible," added Jayapal.

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AOC and other Democrats lash out at Biden for keeping Trump's 'racist' refugee cap after promising major increase during the campaign



President Joe Biden received a tidal wave of criticism on Friday following the announcement that the administration would not increase refugee admissions this year. Much of the backlash that Biden received for keeping the historically low refugee caps set by former President Donald Trump was from fellow Democrats, including the outspoken Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.).

While running for president, Biden promised to reverse much of the immigration policies of the Trump administration. Biden made a campaign pledge to drastically increase Trump's refugee cap of 15,000 per year to 125,000, and promised to "raise it over time commensurate with our responsibility, our values, and the unprecedented global need."

The Biden campaign website states:

Increase the number of refugees we welcome into the country. With more than 70 million displaced people in the world today, this is a moment that demands American leadership. Offering hope and safe haven to refugees is part of who we are as a country. As a senator, Joe Biden co-sponsored the legislation creating our refugee program, which Trump has steadily decimated. His Administration has reduced the refugee resettlement ceiling to its lowest levels in decades and slammed the door on thousands of individuals suffering persecution, many of whom face threats of violence or even death in their home countries. We cannot mobilize other countries to meet their humanitarian obligations if we are not ourselves upholding our cherished democratic values and firmly rejecting Trump's nativist rhetoric and actions. Biden embraces the core values that have made us who we are and will prioritize restoring refugee admissions in line with our historic practice under both Democratic and Republican Administrations. He will set the annual global refugee admissions cap to 125,000, and seek to raise it over time commensurate with our responsibility, our values, and the unprecedented global need.

However, Biden is on track to accept the fewest number of refugees this year of any modern president, including Trump, according to a report from the International Rescue Committee.

"Over the first half of this fiscal year, the precipitous downward trajectory of refugee admissions seen under the Trump administration endures," the IRC said. "If the current pace of admissions continues – and if the Trump administration's admissions policies remain in place – the Biden administration will admit an estimated 4,510 refugees in FY21, less than half of the last year of the Trump administration and fewer than any President in history."

In February, Biden's State Department issued a report to Congress proposing to increase the cap to 62,500 for the current fiscal year, according to CBS News.

Democrats wrote a letter to Biden earlier this month demanding that he act and raise the refugee cap.

"Having fought for four years against the Trump Administration's full-scale assault on refugee resettlement in the United States, we were relieved to see you commit to increasing our refugee resettlement numbers so early in your Administration," Democratic lawmakers wrote. "But until the Emergency Presidential Determination is finalized, our refugee policy remains unacceptably draconian and discriminatory."

Despite his campaign promise, the State Department's recommendation, and a plea from fellow Democrats, Biden will continue with Trump's refugee cap number of 15,000.

Prominent Democrats were enraged by the Biden administration's decision to continue Trump's refugee cap.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez: "Completely and utterly unacceptable. Biden promised to welcome immigrants, and people voted for him based on that promise. Upholding the xenophobic and racist policies of the Trump admin, incl the historically low + plummeted refugee cap, is flat out wrong. Keep your promise."

Rep. Ilhan Omar: "As a refugee, I know finding a home is a matter of life or death for children around the world. It is shameful that @POTUS is reneging on a key promise to welcome refugees, moments after @RepSchakowsky@RepJayapal, myself and others called on him to increase the refugee cap."

Joaquin Castro: "I strongly disagree with the Biden administration's decision to maintain Trump's historically low refugee policy. Raising the refugee resettlement cap is vital for American global leadership and to restore the soul of our nation. I urge the President to keep his promise."

Rep. Joe Neguse: "America has long been a beacon of hope to refugees around the world, including my family. As a son of refugees & Co-Chair of the Congressional Refugee Caucus, proud to join @RepJayapal @Ilhan and @janschakowsky in imploring the Biden administration to honor our nation's values."

Rep Pramila Jayapal: "It is simply unacceptable and unconscionable that the Biden Administration is not immediately repealing Donald Trump's harmful, xenophobic, and racist refugee cap that cruelly restricts refugee admissions to a historically low level."

Rep Pramila Jayapal: “It is simply unacceptable and unconscionable that the Biden Administration is not immediately… https://t.co/eqMKSX5moN
— Yamiche Alcindor (@Yamiche Alcindor)1618597720.0

There were swift reactions by press members, included Washington Post White House reporter Seung Min Kim, who wrote on Twitter, "One thing to remember is that the 62,500 refugee figure Biden pledged was already a prorated figure for a fiscal year that was half over. An apples-to-apples comparison is that Biden pledged 125,000 refugees and decided to stick with 15,000. Quite the stunning drop."

Julie Davis, congressional editor at the New York Times, showed the similarities of the rationale of Biden and Trump on their refugee cap decisions.

Biden's team is using the same rationale to justify a historically low refugee cap as Trump's did, pointing to the… https://t.co/etRjy88vnH
— Julie Davis (@Julie Davis)1618598876.0

The Atlantic writer Adam Serwer tweeted, "Biden maintaining Stephen Miller's refugee policy is not something anyone should defend. It's a disgrace."

Axios reporter Jonathan Swan reacted by saying, "Biden keeps the Trump / Stephen Miller refugee cap. Genuinely curious to hear Biden allies explain how what was 'racist' and 'cruel' under Trump is now enlightened and humane."

Stephen Miller, who spearheaded the Trump administration's immigration policy, chimed in, "Thoughts on this announcement: 1. This reflects Team Biden's awareness that the border flood will cause record midterm losses *if* GOP keeps issue front & center 2. Staggering # being released at border DWARF # saved by not raising cap 3. Refugee cap should be reduced to ZERO*."