Watson Coleman explains her vote against anti-Hamas resolution

Last night, when the House of Representatives approved a resolution condemning support for Hamas and other terrorist groups on college campuses, nearly every House member voted in support of it. But 23 mostly Democratic representatives opposed the resolution – and one of them, somewhat surprisingly, was New Jersey Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-Ewing).

In a statement released today, Watson Coleman said that while she strongly condemns all forms of anti-semitism and the recent surge of anti-semitic incidents at American colleges and universities in particular, the resolution that passed the House yesterday contained issues that she could not abide by.

“Rising anti-semitism on college campuses is appalling,” Watson Coleman said. “We must condemn it clearly and take a serious and measured approach to combating it. House Resolution 798 does not meet this standard.”

“It falsely implied that instances of antisemitism have gone unchallenged by university administrators, which is untrue for each specific incident listed,” she continued. “The incidents at Stanford, Cornell, and George Washington University were each reported and investigated, resulting in disciplinary action and denouncement from each institution. Perhaps most harmfully, the student senate at Brandeis, whose larger student union released a statement condemning Hamas, is listed in this resolution as perpetrators of antisemitism.”

Since Hamas’s attack against Israel last month, New Jersey’s members of Congress from both parties have generally voted in lockstep on bills affirming support for Israel and punishing Hamas and its abettors.

But cracks have begun to show, especially as concerns continue to grow about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. In another vote last night, Republicans linked $14.3 billion in aid to Israel to separate cuts to the Internal Revenue Service, a move roundly criticized by Democrats as political trickery; New Jersey’s Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-Wyckoff) was one of 12 Democrats to vote for the bill, but even he expressed his deep misgivings about it.

Watson Coleman’s vote against the anti-Hamas resolution drew scorn from Darius Mayfield, the Republican congressional candidate who lost to Watson Coleman 63%-36% last year and is now running for a rematch. Mayfield – who stands little chance of winning in the solidly Democratic 12th congressional district – said that Watson Coleman’s vote is a betrayal of her constituents.

“Bonnie Watson Coleman has once again showed District 12 her true colors and demonstrated how her support for the most fringe parts/ideologies of her party trump the eventual safety and security of ALL Americans,” Mayfield said. “We must stand together and ensure that all forms of hate are condemned and that our college campuses are safe and secure for all students.”

Watson Coleman, however, said that she stands by her vote and hopes that the House considers a separate resolution she co-sponsored that more generally condemns violence and harassment directed at Jewish Americans.

“At a time of such heightened emotions and stress, Congress must hold itself to a standard of accuracy that does not contribute to increased division or continued trauma,” she said. “It is unacceptable and unfair to the American people for legislation passed by the House of Representatives to be [a vehicle] of unfactual, biased, or misrepresented information.”