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* UPDATED x1 * Will the Democrats avoid the trap?

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* As I told you the other day, the Democratic legislative leaders had not yet spoken with their respective caucuses about how best to address the terrorist attack on Israel and resulting war. Those conversations have now happened.

What I’m hearing today is that some Senators in both parties will rise to talk about the war’s impact on the people of their districts. Sen. Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago) told me she plans to speak, for instance. At least one House Democrat will likely do the same (regarding the murder of Wadea Al-Fayoume). We’ll see what happens.

* Some Republicans spoke yesterday…

On the House floor, Minority Leader Tony McCombie made a statement on point of personal privilege condemning the attacks. Republican state Rep. Brad Halbrook discussed his bill, HR 449, in support of Israel, also on point of personal privilege.

And in a follow-up statement: Republican state Rep. Martin McLaughlin called it “completely shocking” that Democrats wouldn’t speak up on the issue.

Rep. McLaughlin is running against Democrat Maria Peterson, who is allied with Rep. Nabeela Syed, the first Muslim woman elected to the General Assembly. He’s made a campaign issue out of Rep. Syed signing the progressive legislators’ letter after the attack, hence his statement yesterday.

* The Democratic super-majority in the General Assembly has mostly avoided the trap that at least some Republicans appear eager to set by engaging in the same sort of divisive, over-the-top vitriol that has afflicted the Chicago city council, first on asylum-seekers and then on this topic. Yes, there was some back and forth online at first, but that seems to have faded away with time.

Not to say that there aren’t deep emotions on this. There most certainly are. But a choice has apparently been made by members to not let their emotions completely disrupt their ability to conduct actual state legislating going forward.

House debate is here. Senate debate is here. We’ll see what happens. The House has canceled Thursday’s session, by the way.

*** UPDATE *** The Senate’s process is beginning. Click here. Four members will be recognized to share points of information about “events and occurrences happening in their districts to reflect what’s going on in our larger world,” according to Senate President Harmon.

…Adding… Sen. Laura Fine is talking about how two Hamas kidnap victims live in her district. The two women have been released…

I have a responsibility to those constituents as well as the hundreds of others who have family in Israel to stand up today and speak. And so I stand before you today to say on behalf of my Jewish constituents and myself, never again. Never again will we allow this kind of hatred and anti-semitism that led to the murder of 6 million people in places like Auschwitz and Dachau. Our world has been shaken and forever changed, but we are resilient and we will go on. […]

As Illinois legislators we must recognize that this conflict has torn a rift between individuals and communities here at home and commit ourselves to fighting racism, Islamophobia, and anti-semitism here in our own state. I’ve spoken to parents of children who are afraid to go to school. There are Holocaust survivors who no longer feel safe out in the community. This state of fear and violence is not an inevitable outcome, and we must not accept it in Illinois. […]

I urge all of us to go forward as leaders in our community with love and hope in our hearts, and a lasting secure peace as our goal.

Please pardon all transcription errors.

…Adding… Sen. Sara Feigenholtz…

When we called our cousins in the Old City, our hearts were shattered. One cousin had gone to the Nova music festival and was unaccounted for. We didn’t know how he was but we prayed for his safe return. And we prayed day and night. Then on Monday, we got the call that every loved one dreads. This beautiful 23 year old innocent soul, who was just starting his life was brutally murdered, along with 260 other festival goers. I was shattered. My whole family was shattered at the news. […]

[Reading from a letter sent by a constituent] Last week, our family attended a peaceful Israel solidarity rally and prayer in Skokie, in a sweet little banquet hall in Skokie that’s often used for Bar Mitzvahs and weddings. And during this gathering, protesters who learned about the [event] on social media made sure that they shuttled from downtown to bring their violence and hatred of Jews to our neighborhood. And to be honest, I must tell you that I feel that this hatred is a different hatred. It’s a deeper and more violent, hatred, than I’ve ever felt in all of the chapters of my family’s history. No longer can I say that we are part of a big human family. We can no longer kid ourselves. There are monsters among us. This attack was an attack on all of us. It is here in America. […]

The hostility to Israel is palpable. First it was religion. Then it was race. And now that those prejudices are not popular, It’s about the land. The reasons seem to change over time, the hate stays the same. The common theme is Jews, that we are Jews. […]

Jewish constituents in their neighborhoods and across Illinois are scared. They need to know you and other leaders are working to make us safe. There must be consequences. against those who preach and encourage violence.

…Adding… Sen. Meg Loughran Cappel…

I’d like to take a moment to recognize Wadea Al-Fayoume, the little six year old Palestinian American boy who was tragically killed in Plainfield during a senseless hate crime. I’m heartbroken by the loss of this young, innocent life. No person should ever have to bury their child. My heart breaks for this family and for his family and for the many people who fear for their life and safety solely because of their beliefs or the way they look. We have to respect and honor every faith race and religion. Let us never forget that hate has no home, in our community, in our state, or across our nation. We must stand together against any form of hate. So I ask for a moment of silence for Wadea Al-Fayoume.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Oct 25, 23 @ 12:34 pm

Comments

The Dems should follow Obama’s lead: The attack is amoral, Israel has a right to defend itself, it must do all it can to minimize civilian losses and acknowledge the tragedy of those losses to-date. You could even thow in a line of support for an ultimate two state solution. Others will want something different, but that’s the least controversial option.

Comment by lake county democrat Wednesday, Oct 25, 23 @ 12:55 pm
===The Dems should follow Obama’s lead===

He was a US President. They are state legislators.

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Oct 25, 23 @ 12:57 pm
If “personal pontificating” could be avoided (yeah I know probably impossible) I think it would be good to discuss how this situation is impacting people and organizations in their districts. If that happened, I hope it would shine light on how this is actually impacting the people they represent. I think taking votes on official positions as a body will have “zero” impact on things that are tangible.

Comment by levivotedforjudy Wednesday, Oct 25, 23 @ 1:01 pm
Why do state legislators feel the need to say anything about a foreign policy issue, other than how it has effects on the local community, such as the murder of Al-Fayoume and local hate crimes? This is why I don’t have social media accounts, so I don’t feel the need to comment on every little issue.

Comment by Nathan H Wednesday, Oct 25, 23 @ 1:04 pm
To Rich’s point in his comment, I think it is correct for local/state politicians to focus on local/state impact at home. Innocent people subjected to hate crimes in either direction, people with family at risk, regardless of where that risk is coming from.

Pritzker had (unsurprisingly) a very good statement that people should be willing to borrow heavily from.

Comment by Homebody Wednesday, Oct 25, 23 @ 1:04 pm
=== Will the Democrats avoid the trap? ===

They should, but with the growth of the number of extremist legislators (on both sides) because of super safe districts we shall see. Certainly, when he whose name has been mentioned a gazillion times was in charge he would not let them fall into the trap.

Comment by Norseman Wednesday, Oct 25, 23 @ 1:06 pm
===little issue===

It’s not a little issue. But it’s also not an issue that the state legislature can change, unless they want to send in the National Guard or other resources.

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Oct 25, 23 @ 1:06 pm
Hopefully they can keep it civil and avoid the trap. I think most reasonable can find agreement among the following statements:

-The October 7th attack on Israel by Hamas was an atrocity that deserves condemnation.

-The murder of the child in Plainfield was an atrocity that deserves condemnation.

-Israel has a right to exist, and to defend itself.

-Innocent Palestinians, who have suffered for decades, will be forced to pay for Hamas’ attack as Israel fights Hamas.

-Islamophobia and antisemitism are abhorrent and cannot be tolerated.

-Legislators in Springfield are right to raise the concerns of their constituents.

This is not an exhaustive list, to be sure, but I’d like to think that there is general agreement on these things. Is it enough to satisfy everyone? No, but there are countless bills passed every year in Springfield that fail to satisfy everyone. This resolution should be no different.

Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Oct 25, 23 @ 1:12 pm
Bring up HR447. Vote up or down. Get several D cosponsors. The issue will then go away, at least on the state level.

Comment by low level Wednesday, Oct 25, 23 @ 1:13 pm
==But it’s also not an issue that the state legislature can change==

I don’t know. Governor Desantis signed an Executive Order that “allows the State of Florida to carry out logistical, rescue and evacuation operations” in Israel and Gaza. So apparently he thinks he has authority over foreign affairs.

Comment by Demoralized Wednesday, Oct 25, 23 @ 1:13 pm
Like Nathan said, unless you have clear (current or past) ties to the area…stay out of it.

I shudder at the college students who pulled the “Yeah, but…” two weeks ago. The second any group commits terror they’ve lost the argument.

Comment by Jocko Wednesday, Oct 25, 23 @ 1:16 pm
Agree with Homebody. Follow the Governors lead.

Comment by Jerry Wednesday, Oct 25, 23 @ 1:25 pm
@47th while I agree with much of your list and appreciate the sentiment I do think this statement would cause some disagreements.

-Innocent Palestinians, who have suffered for decades, will be forced to pay for Hamas’ attack as Israel fights Hamas.

There is a growing, diverse movement to call for a cease-fire that would, of course, prevent innocent Palestinians from being “forced to pay for Hamas’ attack.”

Regrettably your language sounds like an endorsement of collective punishment upon a civilian population.

Comment by Pacifist Wednesday, Oct 25, 23 @ 1:25 pm
@47. I can find agreement with you.

Comment by FormerParatrooper Wednesday, Oct 25, 23 @ 1:32 pm
==Innocent Palestinians, who have suffered for decades, will be forced to pay for Hamas’ attack as Israel fights Hamas.==

I don’t think you’re going to find universal agreement with that statement. The Secretary General of the UN said something similar to that and Israel is now denying visas to UN envoys.

Comment by Demoralized Wednesday, Oct 25, 23 @ 1:34 pm
===I think most reasonable can find agreement===

Individually, you may be right, or not. Collectively? Hard pass.

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Oct 25, 23 @ 1:35 pm
“But a choice has apparently been made by members to not let their emotions completely disrupt their ability to conduct actual state legislating going forward”

Absolutely the right thing to do, good on them. There is enough threat in America with DT and his anti-democracy supporters, who back a Muslim ban. He is pulling the strings of an entire political party.

Comment by Grandson of Man Wednesday, Oct 25, 23 @ 1:36 pm
I realize blog posts are a crude form of communication, ripe for parsing of poorly chosen words. I didn’t intend to write a carefully crafted and researched essay. I wanted to point out that there are some things the General Assembly can agree on. I wasn’t offering my language as a substitute for theirs, or anyone else’s.

And Rich is right. There is more motivation in some corners to find disagreement. Heck, there is a cottage industry centered on raising money over political disagreements.

But by all means, feel free to pounce on my ham-handed suggestion that, if we try, we can find ways to agree that this whole mess is a human catastrophe without escalating the battle in the General Assembly.

Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Oct 25, 23 @ 2:00 pm
“So apparently he thinks he has authority over foreign affairs.” Just because he thinks that doesn’t mean he does.

Comment by Skeptic Wednesday, Oct 25, 23 @ 2:21 pm
stop the hate. and take a breath. when even the head of the UN has to say sorry for how something was said you know we are in very deep water. it’s not an easy fix. we are dealing with thousands of years of oppression, ownership, outsider meddling, and multiple religions in conflict. deeply sorry for those who lost their lives, for those wounded, for family and friends whose lives are affected by those murdered and injured. Peace and love should rule.

Comment by Amalia Wednesday, Oct 25, 23 @ 2:39 pm
- Heck, there is a cottage industry centered on raising money over political disagreements. -

Complaining for dollars…is the giving grift.

Comment by Dotnonymous x Wednesday, Oct 25, 23 @ 2:57 pm