Casten Denounces President Trump for Using 9/11 Imagery for Political Attack
Downers Grove, IL – U.S. Representative Sean Casten (IL-06) issued the following statement on President Trump's tweet using 9/11 footage for a political attack.
Casten said, "The President of the United States has embarrassed us. He has purposely misrepresented Representative Omar's words, he has incited hatred, and he has appealed to the darkest elements of our society. Sadly, it is not the first time he has done so. And yet this crosses a line.
All of us who have the privilege to hold elected office are granted a gift. The gift of the bully pulpit. We know that our words will be heard and repeated and amplified. That is a great privilege that brings with it a great responsibility. Will we use our power for good? The President of the United States, in seeking to connect a Muslim U.S. Representative to the 9/11 terror attacks has chosen to inflame hatred. That intentional misrepresentation put Congresswoman Omar's safety at risk, along with our millions of peaceful, law-abiding Muslim brothers and sisters.
To acknowledge this basic truth is not partisan – or, at least, it shouldn't be. The failure of so many elected officials to stand up to this President's behavior speaks to a crisis of leadership. What would it take for members of his own party to call out the President for what he is? How many hate crimes will have to be committed before representatives of both political parties come together to exercise their duty to represent all citizens. To represent Democrats and Republicans. To represent Christians, Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Atheists and every other faith. To represent voters and non-voters. That is the oath we took. The safety of our nation depends on all of us recognizing that self-evident truth."