Emanuel Invokes Powell after Bachmann, Hayes, Kuhl Attacks

House Democratic Caucus Chairman Rahm Emanuel (Ill.) invoked former Secretary of State Colin Powell’s endorsement of Barack Obama today in hitting back at House Republicans’ recent wave of patriotism-based attacks.

Emanuel responded today, in a statement released by his press office, to three recently reported attacks by House Republicans that questioned Democrats’ motives and patriotism: Rep. Michele Bachmann’s (R-Minn.) assertion that Obama is anti-American, Rep. Randy Kuhl’s (R-N.Y.) claim at a John McCain rally that Democrats “want Americans to suffer” for their own political gains, and Rep. Robin Hayes’s (R-N.C.) declaration that “liberals hate real Americans.”

“No wonder Colin Powell is so concerned about the direction of the Republican Party. It is at risk of being taken over by the voices of fear and division. A party so intent on dividing America is unfit to lead all of America,” Emanuel said.

“And so I call on my Republican colleagues to disavow these statements. These statements are not worthy of a great nation and a great institution like the United States Congress,” the congressman added.