While Democrats initially stood up to Republican fear-mongering and bigotry, too many of them lost that conviction on the final vote for a bill that creates additional barriers for Syrian and Iraqi refugees coming to the U.S. Forty-seven Democrats voted with Republicans in a final vote of 289-137.
Not all Democrats, of course, were so cowed as their colleagues.
On the House floor, Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., attacked the bill as a measure that would shut down the admittance of all Syrians and Iraqis fleeing war-torn countries for the U.S.
"The fear, the anger, the prejudice and the isolationism that are driving the current debate on Syrian refugees remind me of some of the darkest and ugliest chapters of American history," said McGovern, a reference to U.S. moves to bar some fleeing Hitler before World War II.
The good news is that Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid says this bill will not get through the Senate to President Obama's desk (where it would certainly be vetoed if it did). As of now, it's not even certain McConnell will bring this bill to the floor. Thus far, he hasn't scheduled anything related to the refugee crisis.
The roll call of the vote will be added in an update as soon as it’s available.
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