In a 291-138 vote, the U.S. House of Representatives has decided to table a resolution that would censure Representative Rashida Tlaib for her remarks about President Donald Trump and Israel.
The decision was received with mixed reactions from members of Congress. Rep. Mark Meadows (R-NC) was quick to argue that the resolution should have been voted on and that it was the right thing to do in order to preserve the integrity of Congress. On the other hand, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) argued that the resolution was an attack on Representative Tlaib’s right to free speech and that it was a political ploy to distract from other issues.
The resolution was introduced by Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-NY) in response to Representative Tlaib’s comment that she feels “a calming feeling” when she thinks about the “Palestinian people” and their ability to “rise up” against what she sees as an oppressive Israeli government. While many have come out in support of Representative Tlaib and her right to free speech, there have also been some who believe that her comments were out of bounds and disrespectful to U.S. allies.
The censure resolution proposed that Rep. Tlaib be chastised for her comments, but ultimately the House voted to table it. This move was praised by members of the Democratic party, who argued that to censure someone for their speech is an attack on the Constitution and their First Amendment rights.
The debate surrounding this issue is one that reflects the broader political divide in the United States, and it is emblematic of the current state of the nation’s politics. In the end, the decision to table the resolution reflects the fact that members of Congress are willing to disagree on certain issues while still coming together to uphold the ideals of the United States.