Squad member Jamaal Bowman (D-Fire Alarm) has had a rough few months. It’s little wonder that he’s looking for some political help.

Bowman has been a Squad member ever since his arrival in the House in 2021. But he really didn’t gain the notoriety that the Squad is known for until after he pulled a fire alarm in the Cannon office building last September, claiming that he thought it would open a door. No one bought the former school principal‘s excuse, but he escaped serious consequences thanks to the Capitol Police, and the House Speaker chaos clown show that began shortly thereafter, walking away with pleading guilty to a misdemeanor and being censured by the House, even though it was quite apparent that Bowman had pulled that alarm intentionally.

New footage reveals Rep. Jamaal Bowman removing warning signs before pulling the fire alarm in Capitol

pic.twitter.com/BWYaaPnXXF

— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) October 26, 2023

Since that time, though, Bowman has stuck closely to his Squad allies. When the invasion and massacre by Hamas happened on October 7th, Jamaal Bowman and the Squad proved their “Hamas Caucus” moniker was no joke. Bowman has now claimed that calling for a ceasefire meant he understood what it meant to be Jewish, and he stuck by his girl Rashida Tlaib when she was censured for her vile anti-Semitic remarks.

Tlaib then returned the favor when Bowman was censured a month later for his fire alarm stunt.

This censure of @RepBowman is yet another attempt to silence a person of color in this chamber.

They are obsessed with attacking Black and brown members of Congress, but do nothing to help our families thrive. They need to get a grip. pic.twitter.com/BduoDJK6Zo

— Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (@RepRashida) December 7, 2023

As you can see, there’s a definite collegial feeling between these two. So much so, that Bowman and Tlaib are taking it to the next level – by starting a joint fundraising committee together. Bowman’s district is a safe Democrat one, but he’s got a challenger in the primary that could take him out. So he needs help, and he’s turning to Rashida Tlaib for it – but some of his constitutents aren’t happy about it.

Records filed with the Federal Elections Committee show that Bowman-Tlaib Committee was formed on Feb. 14 to aid Bowman in his Democratic primary race against moderate Westchester County Executive George Latimer.

Oh, how cute – they were each other’s political Valentine. *gag*

“Nothing Bowman does at this point surprises given his record of being anti-Israel,” said Rabbi Joseph Potasnik, executive vice chairman of the New York Board of Rabbis.

“Tlaib couldn’t even vote against Hamas. She’s an adversary to the Jewish people,” he said.

The Hamas-Israel war has become a burning issue in Bowman’s 16th Congressional District as some pro-Jewish groups are strongly backing Latimer.

Latimer also pounced on the Bowman-Tlaib joint fundraising campaign.

“Our campaign keeps growing our support within our home area – Westchester and the Bronx – raising our funds and getting endorsements from local residents who want better representation in Congress,” the Latimer campaign said.

“The incumbent, with his weak in-district numbers, has now resorted to working hand in hand with Rep. Tlaib, who refuses to condemn the rape of Israeli women and is actively working to defeat President Biden in her home state of Michigan. That says it all.”

Bowman’s campaign had no immediate comment on the joint fundraising effort with Tlaib. Since Tlaib is facing (no) serious primary challenge, the joint committee appears to benefit Bowman as a fundraising vehicle.

A few things. First, it is quite true that Rashida Tlaib couldn’t even condemn Hamas for using rape as a weapon on October 7th. She voted “present” when everyone else voted in favor of the resolution to condemn Hamas. The vote was 418-0, with Tlaib recording herself as the lone “present” vote.

Speaking in the House, ahead of her “present” vote, Tlaib said: “While the resolution on the floor rightfully denounces any sexual violence by Hamas, I am disturbed that it completely ignores and erases any sexual violence and abuse committed by the Israeli forces, against Palestinians, especially children.

“War crimes cannot justify more war crimes. We must stand up for everyone’s safety and human rights no matter their faith, no matter their ethnicity. There are numerous well-documented reports of sexual violence, including rape, committed by Israeli forces against Palestinians in their custody.”

Second, Tlaib is absolutely using the Hamas-Israel war to actively campaign against Joe Biden in the Arab Michigan communities that make up her constituency. We already know that Biden is in trouble in Michigan, and Tlaib has decided to undermine the Biden campaign in the primary – for now – by telling voters to mark themselves as “uncommitted.” Now, will Tlaib side with Biden during the general election? Absolutely. What she’s hoping for is some concessions from Team Biden for Hamas, in order to win Michigan in November. It’s gross beyond words.

Third, Tlaib is currently running unopposed in her primary race in Michigan, so she can spend the political capital in helping out her fellow Squaddie. Why not?

And finally, Jamaal Bowman is looking desperate. While he managed to squirm out of criminal consequences, the political ones keep following him. Not to mention that he made himself the butt of a perpetual joke that will follow him forever.

It's okay that he is under fire because at least we know he knows how to use a fire alarm…

— Charlie Vigon (@CharlieVigon) February 19, 2024

It should be a goal of Democrats to make the anti-Semitism of the Squad absolutely radioactive. Cori Bush (D-BLM) is facing a stiff primary challenge of her own. It would be extremely satisfying to see the Democrats primary these Squad members and remove them from their seats before the general election. Squad members like Tlaib, Ilhan Omar, and AOC are entrenched in their seats because of their districts. If the Squad can’t be completely voted out, then the best that we can hope for is reducing their numbers. Bowman is hitching his wagon to Tlaib in hopes of saving himself. Here’s hoping it backfires completely.

Featured image: composite collage of Rep. Jamaal Bowman (official Congressional photo from 2021, cropped, public domain) and Rep. Rashida Tlaib (official Congressional photo from 2019, cropped, public domain)