Rep. Ritchie Torres quietly leaves Progressive Caucus amid tensions over Israel-Hamas war

[question everything]

Rep. Ritchie Torres of New York is no longer a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) after months of tensions with colleagues over the Israel-Hamas war.

Torres has long been among the most vocal defenders of Israel among progressives. But since the October 7 Hamas attacks, the New York Democrat had taken to publicly and frequently denouncing some progressive colleagues' views and statements on the conflict, which privately aggravated other lawmakers in the nearly 100-member cohort.

That culminated in his vote to censure Rep. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan in November over her rhetoric on Israel, including her use of the phrase "from the river to the sea." Three other CPC members also voted to censure Tlaib, and one of them — Rep. Lois Frankel of Florida — left the caucus later that month.

More..

https://www.businessinsider.com/ritchie-torres-leaves-progressive-caucus-israel-hamas-war-2024-2

[Sympthsical]

1. When the gay Blatino taps out

That's a look.

But then again, given some of the statements I've seen made (ahem, Tlaib), his walking is completely understandable. If that's what's welcome, then maybe he doesn't need to be there.

[Cha]

2. Good on Richie Torres.. I stand with him!

Link to tweet

[SunSeeker]

15. I stand with Ritchie Torres too!

He is a great Democrat.

[Cha]

16. Yes he is... Sincerely

bless his heart

[madaboutharry]

3. "Progressive" has a different meaning than it did in the past.

The progressive wing of the Democratic Party now occupies a far-left space that is unwelcoming for many democrats.
And regardless of the denials, it has long been the case and long been known that a dark undercurrent of antisemitism resides comfortably in the far-left. It has been that way since at least the 1960’s.

[Tarheel_Dem]

4. Yes! It's become increasingly obvious there's a worrying trend toward antisemitism on the outer reaches of....

the party. I have to say that I haven't felt this uneasy and uncomfortable with my party ever before.

[Cha]

5. I was just thinking about the

word "progressive" as used here.

Thank you for explaining it such eloquent detail.

Jewish People in America mostly have been supportive of LGBT and Diversity, and Womens rights.. What's not to Love? :patrio::

Our Second Gentleman is Jewish! VP Harris' adored Husband. 💕

[question everything]

6. I always considered myself liberal. Then, in the 90s "they" - whoever "they" were - decided

to dump liberal and replace it with progressive. OK, so I am progressive. The ones in the party are radical left. I never refer to them as progressive.

[betsuni]

11. Meaning taking over the party because Democrats (establishment/elite/centrists/corporatists/immoral)

have the same economic policies (neoliberal, unregulated capitalism) as Republicans and ignore the working/middle classes because corrupted by campaign donations.

We've heard it a million times, very consistent message. Our Revolution/Brand New Congress/Justice Democrats/others were so sure The People would agree and Congress "transformed" quickly. They believe the Tea Party was an authentic grassroots movement that took over the Republican Party and would happen with Democrats too. Left and Right anti-establishment populist people's revolution.

Not.

[Hekate]

12. Sad to say, this is well-observed on your part

[JI7]

13. That has actually been true for decades now

[choie]

7. More comments from the anti "far left" brigade

Enough already

[madaboutharry]

8. Democrats who do not embrace far-left politics have no right to discuss it?

Calling democrats who are centrist or simply not “far-left” as the “far left brigade” is insulting to the majority of democrats.

[choie]

9. And your constant tirades against

what you perceive as the “far left” are insulting. Not to mention predictable. I happen not to agree with Tlaib’s statements, but I also don’t agree with Israel’s response or policies. Painting the “far left” as being full of antisemites is also disgusting.

[madaboutharry]

10. No one said the far-left is full of antisemites.

Some on the far-left are antisemites. Acknowledging that is not disgusting, denying it is.

[JI7]

14. Actually I would say being an Anti Semite is a huge part of the far left

And I am not Jewish. But this is what I have seen in many places.

[The Magistrate]

17. The Pro-Hamas Demonstrations (And They Are Pro-Hamas, 'Pro-Palestine' Is A See-Through Fig-Leaf)

Are directed by, and mostly peopled with, persons willing to hold all Jews anywhere responsible for military actions of Israel's government. One hates to break it to the good-hearted fellow-travelers, but that is classic, right there in the definition of it, Anti-Semitism.

People embarrassed by this are advised to think things through a little better...