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Kamlager-Dove Discusses Israel, Speaker Vote on MSNBC's 'Way Too Early' with Jonathan Lemire

October 11, 2023

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - October 11, 2023

Media Contact: Maya Valentine | maya.valentine@mail.house.gov

WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37) joined ‘Way Too Early With Jonathan Lemire’ to discuss the United States’ support for Israel, Ukraine, and the upcoming House vote for Speaker. Below are excerpts from her interview and a link to the video.

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Way Too Early interview

To watch her full interview, click here.

ON SUPPORT FOR ISRAEL

"I come from a District that has a very vocal and diverse, politically diverse Jewish constituency. I have said repeatedly I am in full solidarity with them as we stand with Israel against these terrorist attacks by Hamas… I think the President was crystal clear in our unwavering support of Israel, making sure they get the aid they need, making sure we're getting the hostages out, and making sure everyone is working in accordance, democracies are working in accordance with international law."

ON SPEAKER VOTE

"Well, Democrats are squarely 100% behind Hakeem Jeffries, and you know, we are open to a bipartisan path forward."

ON JIM JORDAN AND STEVE SCALISE

"That's true, but the reality is these Republicans are petty. They’re petty, and they’re pyromaniacs, and they set fire to Congress at the worst time. Do I think they can get it together today? Absolutely not. They’ve proven that ego is far more important than the national security of this country or the security of our allies."

"No. So one is an acolyte of David Duke and the other is sycophant of Donald Trump. Neither of those folks, to me, would be palatable to my District, and I don't think either of them understand what it means to build consensus."

ON TYING UKRAINE AID WITH AID FOR ISRAEL

"I think it's a very strong idea. I think there are many Republicans that also support it as well. Enemies do tend to work together. We know that Hamas is responsible for these attacks against Israel. They have close ties with Iran. We also know that Russia is responsible for compromising the security, the safety, the sovereignty, the independence of Ukraine. They also have close ties with Iran. It makes sense that we work with our allies and our partners who are democracies and get them the aid that they need to upstand their countries and to beat back the terrorists, quite frankly, and the autocrats that don't care about democracy."

ON THE MESSAGE HOUSE DYSFUNCTION SENDS TO THE REST OF THE WORLD

"I think it's incredibly destabilizing. It’s emboldening our enemies, and it's raising real concerns for our allies and our partners. You know, I’m concerned that Europe is saying, hey, I don't know that we can, you know, bet on the United States anymore, and I just don't think that's a position that we want to see ourselves moving into."

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