A House Democrat says he will not move forward with a resolution to censure Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) for comparing COVID-19 measures to the Holocaust following her apology.
Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Ill.) said in a statement on Tuesday night, “I believe that words matter and that they have consequences. Elected officials, and especially members of Congress, have a great responsibility to carefully measure our words and be as precise as possible when we communicate. Sometimes we may stumble in our message. When we do, we should be given the chance to clarify exactly what we intended to say and promptly set the record straight.”
“When I heard Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene initial make her comparison of our nation’s Covid-response to the Holocaust, and then repeat it again and again, I never expected a retraction or an apology,” he continued.
He went on to say the Georgia Congresswoman “has a long history of unapologetically inflammatory and dangerous rhetoric.”
Sometimes we may stumble in our message. When we do, we should be given the chance to clarify exactly what we intended to say and promptly set the record straight.
— Rep. Brad Schneider (@RepSchneider) June 16, 2021
After all, Rep. Greene has a long history of unapologetically inflammatory and dangerous rhetoric.
— Rep. Brad Schneider (@RepSchneider) June 16, 2021
In light of her apology, I am electing not to go forward at this time with introducing a resolution of censure.
— Rep. Brad Schneider (@RepSchneider) June 16, 2021
“I was therefore pleasantly surprised to learn that she made the time to visit the Holocaust Memorial Museum (where I have the honor of serving as a trustee), and I appreciate that after her visit she understood the harm of her comparison and offered an apology,” he said, adding, “In light of her apology, I am electing not to go forward at this time with introducing a resolution of censure.”
Finally, he vowed:
“I will continue to call out harmful or dangerous rhetoric by my colleagues, irrespective of which side of the aisle from which it emanates. While I will certainly have vehement disagreements with Rep. Greene on policy, politics, and style, I hope that Congress can take the necessary steps to serve as a model to a nation desperately in need of leaders willing to correct themselves when they are wrong, and to engage in a more civil discourse to ultimately work together toward a ‘more perfect union.’”
Schneider’s comments come after Greene apologized on Monday for comparing COVID-19 restrictions to the Holocaust.
“I have made a mistake and it’s really bothered me for a couple weeks,” she said after visiting the Holocaust museum. She added that there is “nothing comparable” to the Holocaust.
Greene said, “I wanted to say that I know that words that I’ve stated were hurtful and for that I am very sorry.”
Schneider recently joined a group of Jewish House Democrats in calling for Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) to clarify comments that appeared to equate the actions of the U.S. and Israel to Hamas and the Taliban.
