House Democrat Demands Apology from Bachmann

By Larry Bivens
Gannett Washington Bureau
St. Cloud Times
Nov. 10, 2009

[Note: Images and video added; not part of original report.]

WASHINGTON – Rep. Steve Israel is still waiting for an apology four days after people protesting health care reform legislation used Holocaust imagery at a rally organized by Rep. Michele Bachmann.

Thousands of protesters, including tea-partiers and anti-abortion activists, attended Thursdays rally outside the Capitol in response to Bachmanns request for a “House Call to urge lawmakers to reject the health care bill the House of Representatives passed Saturday.

Many in the crowd expressed their opposition with signs, one of which read, “National Socialist Healthcare, Dachau, Germany, 1945. It bore images of Holocaust victims.

Sign displayed at U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann's "House Call on Congress" anti-health care reform rally in Washington, D.C., Nov. 5, 2009. The sign reads, "National Socialist Health Care: Dachau, Germany -- 1945." (Photo credit: Lee Fang / ThinkProgress)

Israel, D-N.Y., who is Jewish, objected to the comparison and in a YouTube video posted Friday [Nov. 6, 2009], called on Bachmann to condemn it.

“I cant believe that Congresswoman Bachmann would stand where she stood, and see those images, and not have the common decency to say, ˜I disagree with the use of those images, Israel said. “I think she owes the memory of those who perished in the Holocaust an apology. She owes us all an apology.

Israel said that although he strongly supports freedom of speech, “with that right comes a responsibility by leaders to condemn that kind of expression.

Israels spokeswoman, Lindsay Hamilton, said the congressman also sent Bachmann a personal note asking for an apology.

“The congressman is still awaiting an apology, Hamilton said Tuesday. …

When asked to comment on Israels video, Bachmann issued this statement Tuesday:

“Sadly, some individuals chose to marginalize tragic events in human history, such as the Holocaust, by invoking imagery and labels which have no purpose in a policy debate about health care. These regrettable actions negatively shift the focus of the current discussion on this issue. The American people deserve an open and honest debate to ensure the best possible solution to our health care problems, and I agree that these unfortunate instances are wholly inappropriate.

Bachmanns spokeswoman, Debbee Keller, said the congresswoman also sent a letter to the Jewish Community Relations Council expressing her concerns and ongoing support for the Jewish community. Keller said she didnt know if Bachmann received Israels letter.

The Jewish Community Relations Council paid $7,170 for Bachmann and her husband, Marcus Bachmann, to meet with government, military, academic and religious leaders in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, Israel, in November 2008, according to House records. Part of the trip included a visit to the Holocaust memorial.

Bachmann went on a 10-day trip to Israel with her daughter in August, sponsored by the American Israel Education Foundation. The group also sponsored a 12-day visit to Tel Aviv by Bachmann and her husband in August 2007. The combined cost for the two trips was $37,211. …

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Images and Video from Bachmann’s “House Call on Congress”
(The Minnesota Independent, Nov. 5, 2009)

U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann's "House Call" protest against health care reform at the U.S. Capitol, Nov. 5, 2009. (Photo credit: Graham Moomaw / The Washington Independent)

Video by Graham Moomaw / The Washington Independent

Video by Graham Moomaw / The Washington Independent

Slide Show

Photos by Graham Moomaw / The Washington Independent

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Related reports

Angry over criticism of Bachmann rally, woman threatens Michigan newspaper (Paul Schmelzer, The Minnesota Independent, Nov. 17, 2009)

In glitzy shadows, a health reform foe lurks (Lee Fang, The Boston Globe, Dec. 6, 2009)

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FROM THE ARCHIVES: One Year Ago – November 12, 2008

U.S. Army soldiers investigate the site of a car bombing in Mosul, northwest of Baghdad, Iraq on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2008. Five years after the U.S.-led invasion and following a significant drop in violence countrywide over the past year, the battle for Iraqs third-largest city continues. (Photo credit: Maya Alleruzzo / AP)

Iraq War Drags On in Mosul

One-year retrospective: One year ago today, I reported that since the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq, the pendulum in Mosul, Iraq, had swung several times between stark violence and fragile security and that the future of Mosul hung in the balance. I also reported that Taliban fighters had hijacked trucks carrying Humvees and other supplies for U.S.-led troops in Afghanistan.