Elissa Slotkin Dodges Questions About Her Defense of Rashida Tlaib

We reported in early November about the pretzel shapes Michigan Democrats were twisting themselves into in trying to defend/coddle anti-Israel Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) after her disgusting reference to the antisemitic “from the river to the sea” chant in a video where she accused Joe Biden of supporting “genocide” and reaffirmed her support for a pro-Hamas ceasefire.

Slotkin, a Jewish candidate for the Senate and a Democratic Representative from Michigan, delicately asked Tlaib “to apologize and retract” her remarks after pointing out that Slotkin was “continuing to reach out to Arabs and Muslims constituents who are experiencing fear and anguish at this time.”

Slotkin, as we wrote then, has been shameless in her treatment of Tlaib. In the clip below, Slotkin described it as difficult to appear on stage following Tlaib, because Tlaib is “a bad **”:

The video may not be dated but the statement was made when Tlaib had confirmed who she is to all – and that was before she was even elected to Congress.

Slotkin, who infamously voted to NOT censure Tlaib (she did NOT vote for a censure), has been strangely quiet when people have asked her questions about Tlaib.

Watch her staff bizarrely holding up Slotkin for Senate sign in front of cameras while she is being questioned as she comes out of one of her offices. Slotkin is quickly ushered into a nearby car and does not answer any questions.

Slotkin, who is trying to gain the support of Michigan voters for a Senate race in 2024 that is expected to be competitive is evasive in answering important questions. This is in the middle of the debate about where people stand regarding the Israel-Hamas War and the House Hamas Caucus.

Slotkin has yet to provide a coherent reason for her vote against censuring Tlaib. The only explanation she gave at the time was that Tlaib had a First Amendment right to express herself as she did.

I expressed my concern about her language and asked her, over the weekend, to retract her statement. We all have a right to free speech.

This is why these attempts to censure a member tit for tat must stop. We would never be able to assemble again if we censured all Members of Congress for saying something offensive.

There are important issues to be addressed, such as a possible shutdown of the government next week. I ask the new Speaker to concentrate on the important work that lies ahead.

This is about more than just “offensive speech” and free speech. Tlaib may have the “right” to say what she said, but that right also comes with the responsibility to not stray into dangerous territory, such as advocating the genocide against Jews, which Tlaib did exactly in that video.

Slotkin also implied that the issue was not important enough to be addressed in a Congressional context and that everyone should move on to “the real work that lies ahead.”

Personally, I cannot think of many things more important than holding Slotkin accountable for his support of the extermination of Jews.

Slotkin’s expectation that people will not see through her (Slotkin’s) deliberate attempt to avoid the larger issue in this case is, quite frankly, an insult to Michigan voters of all religions. We can only hope they don’t repeat the mistake made by those in Tlaib’s district in electing her to a higher office.