The Democrats' Hamas Problem

townhall.com

Yesterday, I told you about a group of antisemitic, anti-Israel protesters who descended on the Kew Gardens Hills Jewish community last week. It's the same group that led a protest against Nefesh B'nefesh at the Park East Synagogue before Thanksgiving, and then-mayor-elect Mamdani blamed the Jews and Nefesh B'Nefesh for "violating international law." Why? Because Nefesh B'nefesh is an organization that helps Jews resettling in Israel, and Leftists like Mamdani think Israel is "stolen land," so moving there is "illegal."

Add to that Mamdani's day-one removal of NYC's antisemitism policies, and it's no surprise Jew-hatred is flourishing in the Big Apple under his watch. The group in Kew Gardens took it a step further, and cheered in favor of the terrorist organization Hamas. 

"Say it loud, say it clear, we support Hamas here."

That's abhorrent, of course, but there was something very interesting that happened over the last day or two: multiple high-profile Democrats, including Mamdani, all came out in condemnation of those pro-Hamas protesters. It was clearly a coordinated effort.

New York AG Letitia James wrote, "Hamas is a terrorist organization. We do not support terrorists. Period." 

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Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said, "Hey, so marching into a predominantly Jewish neighborhood and leading with a chant saying 'We support Hamas' is a disgusting and antisemitic thing to do."

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said, "Let's be clear: Hamas is a terrorist organization committed to the destruction of Jews while imposing its brutal rule on Palestinians. Chanting support for Hamas is antisemitic and unacceptable. This hate must have no place in NYC, in the U.S., or around the world and must loudly be condemned."

Governor Kathy Hochul wrote, "Hamas is a terrorist organization that calls for the genocide of Jews. No matter your political beliefs, this type of rhetoric is disgusting, it's dangerous, and it has no place in New York."

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said, "Hamas is a terrorist organization committed to the murder of Jews. This hateful antisemitism has no place in our city and nation."

Senator Jacky Rosen posted, "Hamas is a terrorist organization that carried out the deadliest attack on Jews since the Holocaust. Cheering them on is dangerous and antisemitic, and this hateful rhetoric has no place in our country. I call on my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join me in condemning it."

Congresswoman Laura Gillen said, "This is a clear attempt to terrorize the Jewish community. Openly supporting a terrorist organization is reprehensible and anti-American."

New York City Council member Linda Lee wrote, "Hamas is a terrorist organization. Any rhetoric that glorifies them and spreads antisemitism should be widely condemned. Thank you to the @NYPD107Pct for keeping our Queens communities safe last night."

And then there's Mr. "Globalize the Intifada" himself, Zohran Mamdani. He posted on X, "As I said earlier today, chants in support of a terrorist organization have no place in our city. We will continue to ensure New Yorkers' safety entering and exiting houses of worship, as well as the constitutional right to protest."

Weird, isn't it? None of these people were as vocal in their condemnation of this as they allowed pro-Hamas campus protests to fester across the nation for months. And when the U.S. tried to deport Mahmoud Khalil, a green card holder and Columbia University student for the exact same rhetoric, the Democrats went to court to keep Khalil. 

What changed in the last 48 hours that multiple prominent Democrats are suddenly concerned with their voter base loving Islamic terrorism that they'd all issue near-identical statements condemning it? Have they realized the can of worms they opened by embracing this radicalism?

If so, it's too late.

Take a look at some of the replies to Mamdani's post on X:

Those are the mild ones.

Is this an election-year ploy by Democrats to appear less radical on Jews and Israel? Don't know. But what I do know is this: the Democrats encouraged, supported, and cheered on the pro-Hamas protests since the fall of 2023. They've repeatedly radicalized their base against Jews and Israel, and believed that the antisemitic monster they created wouldn't end up biting them on the butt eventually.

There is no path to victory for the Democrats now. This condemnation will ring hollow with most voters who spent the past two years watching the Democrats dump on Israel, and it will anger their base, as the above replies demonstrate. Remember: Kamala Harris could've likely won Pennsylvania in 2024 if she had picked Shapiro as her running mate. She didn't, and it was likely because Shapiro is Jewish and was a member of the IDF.

The Democrats have a Hamas problem, and it's of their own making.