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Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy took to task the Biden administration and House Democrats for taking an “appeasement” stance with Hamas and not standing up to antisemitism within their party.
“President Biden has said previously that he believes the number one threat to America is facing is climate change. That is not true,” Mr. McCarthy, California Republican, said at a press conference at the Capitol. “The number one threat killing Americans is terrorism. The number one threat is an open border.”
Mr. McCarthy said that the Biden administration is allowing a build-up of the “axis of the evil power of Iran, Russia and China.”
“Rather than focus on his Green New Deal. He should focus on protecting the American people,” he said.
Mr. McCarthy, who was kicked out as House speaker last week, laid out a five-point plan for Mr. Biden:
• Rescue American hostages abducted by Hamas.
• Provide full support to Israel.
• Confront Iran.
• Secure the southern border.
• Confront antisemitism in the U.S.
“Allowing Iran to produce more oil appeases them. Paying ransoms for American hostages has only made us weaker on the world stage,” Mr. McCarthy said.
His remarks followed Hamas’ brutal surprise attacks on Israel on Saturday. More than 1,200 Israelis were killed and dozens of Israelis were taken hostage during the terrorist operation. At least nine Americans were killed in the attack.
U.S. officials could not confirm reports that Hamas has taken some Americans hostage as part of its well-coordinated attack.
Mr. McCarthy also criticized House Democratic leaders for not condemning their members when they made antisemitic comments.
“Allowing elected members of this body to speak antisemitism and not condemn it is wrong. To avoid it is wrong. As speaker, I watched a member on the other side of the aisle try to reserve a building in here to celebrate antisemitism,” he said
Last May, Mr. McCarthy stopped Rep. Rashida Tlaib, Michigan Democrat, from hosting a pro-Palestinian event on the House side of the Capitol complex. She held the event on the Senate side with the help of Sen. Bernard Sanders, Vermont independent.
Mr. McCarthy also noted that he removed Rep. Ilhan Omar, Minnesota Democrat, from the Foreign Affairs Committee for making antisemitic statements in the past.
“I watched others yesterday continue those remarks. I watched the leadership on the other side stay calm. Have we not learned anything from history,” he said. “We must fight antisemitism in the United States.”
• Kerry Picket can be reached at kpicket@washingtontimes.com.
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