By Illinois Review
Former Democratic US Rep. Marie Newman made a lot of acquaintances during her brief time in Congress – especially as a member of the House Progressive Caucus, where she joined her friends US Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D, US Rep. Ilhan Omar, D, US Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D, US Rep. Cori Bush, D and US Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D to oppose conservative principles and promote a more liberal and progressive agenda in American politics.
But during an Orland Park Village Board meeting in January, Republican Mayor Keith Pekau heaped praise on Newman, even honoring her with a Community Appreciation Award for her assistance in securing $7 million in federal funding for the 143rd expansion project – a project to expand 143rd Street and widen it to five lanes.
But Pekau went a step further during the meeting where he honored Newman, suggesting that,
“There are things we agree on…we both think that we can do a better job than the current 6th District Congressman [ US Rep. Sean Casten].”
A point that would make every conservative Republican who lives in the district cringe if they knew and understood what Newman stood for and supported while in Congress.
The US Campaign for Palestinian Rights tweeted on February 19, 2021,
“With the elections of Rep. Cori Bush, Rep. Jamaal Bowman, and Rep. Marie Newman, we’re witnessing the most pro-Palestine Congress that has ever existed—this was all made possible by the collective, grassroots efforts of our connected justice movements.”
On July 21, 2021, Newman tweeted a photo with Bush, Omar, AOC and Tlaib that said,
“Happy Birthday to my friend @RepCori!! Incredibly grateful to fight alongside you every day.”
Bush remains a strong supporter of the defund the police movement, even tweeting,
“We’re going to defund the police and refund our social services. Don’t like this idea? Well, we don’t like dead Black & Brown bodies & broken families at the hands of those sworn to protect us. The police have failed at fixing themselves—so we’re going to do it.”
And when Newman won her congressional race in 2020, AOC was one of the first to congratulate her, tweeting,
“One bright spot: despite powerful attempts in DC to protect an anti-LGBT+, anti-choice Dem in a safe blue seat, powerful progressive @Marie4Congress won the #IL03 primary! Congratulations, Marie. You & every organizer worked so hard to make this happen. Thank you #IL03 voters!”
During the pandemic, Newman and her husband Jim Newman owned shares in Moderna – the manufacturer of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccines and boosters. The shares also created the potential for conflicts of interests and accusations of profiting off the pandemic.
And so it is no surprise that Newman was supportive of vaccinating children during the pandemic, writing in a Facebook post,
“The COVID-19 vaccine is now authorized for kids ages 5-11 in addition to everyone 12+. Vaccines are widely available across Illinois. Get vaccinated.”
In February, Peakau’s friend and US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy successfully removed Omar, a friend and ally of Newman, from the House Foreign Affairs Committee in a House Resolution that passed along party lines, 218-211.
In 2019, Omar faced massive criticism for her controversial and anti-Israel comments, sparking responses from both Republicans and Democrats – and forcing her to apologize for her comments.
But despite stark differences in opinion and beliefs, Pekau still believes Newman would be a better representative in the district than Casten.
Clearly the district didn’t listen to Pekau because they voted Newman out last election.
And they voted him out as well.
