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New Jersey Congressman confronts Democratic colleagues who opposed Israel, leading to a deluge of disparaging remarks hurled in his direction.
By Mindy Rubenstein
U.S. Representative Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) blasted 15 lawmakers from his own party for voting against supporting Israel in the aftermath of the brutal Hamas massacre that killed over 1400 Israelis on October 7.
Gottheimer posted his sharp criticism online.
“Last night, 15 of my Democratic colleagues voted AGAINST standing with our ally Israel and condemning Hamas terrorists who brutally murdered, raped, and kidnapped babies, children, men, women, and elderly, including Americans,” he wrote in a post on social media. “They are despicable and do not speak for our party.”
U.S. Representative André Carson, a Democrat from Indiana, lashed out at Gottheimer.
“He’s cowardly. I think he’s not acting in his role as a member of Congress. I think he’s shown himself to be very emotional. Like most cowardly people, when you confront them, they’re afraid. I’m unafraid of the guy. And if he wants to call us despicable, I’m saying he’s a coward and he’s a punk.”
Carson is the grandson of his predecessor, U.S. Representative Julia Carson, whose 2007 death while in office triggered a special election. The second Muslim to be elected to Congress, he was a one of 15 lawmakers to vote against the House’s recent pro-Israel resolution.
ADL chairman Jonathan Greenblatt, weighed in and came to Gottheimer’s defense.
“It’s inexcusable for any member of Congress to threaten a colleague, and especially egregious that @RepAndreCarson is threatening a Jewish member for speaking out at a moment when we’re seeing a massive spike in antisemitism,” Greenblatt wrote. “What’s the point? Does he think it’s productive to intimidate @RepJoshG?”
Gottheimer responded to Carson’s remarks by highlighting the brutality of Hamas’ actions on October 7, which included murders, rapes and kidnappings of Israeli citizens.
“I’ll sit down with Mr. Carson anytime to talk about how we can bring the hostages home, including all Americans, provide immediate humanitarian aid to Palestinian civilians being used as human shields, and crush Hamas and all terrorists seeking to do us harm,” Gottheimer said in a written statement.
Gottheimer recently met with the family of New Jersey native Edan Alexander, a 19-year-old Tenafly High School graduate who was taken hostage by Hamas during the October 7 terrorist attack on Israel. Gottheimer represents the Alexander family in Congress.
Alexander volunteered to serve in the Israel Defense Forces after graduating from Tenafly High School in 2022 and was serving near the Gaza border during the attack.
“No family should ever have to experience this unfathomable pain and I will do everything I can to reunite Edan with his family safely,” said Gottheimer on his website. “The United States must stand ready to provide Israel with the resources she needs to defend herself, and stand by her until every hostage, including Edan Alexander, is returned home, and Hamas terrorists are brought to justice.”
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