MSNBC "The Ed Show" - Transcript

Interview

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REP. JAN SCHAKOWSKY (D), ILLINOIS: Well, you can"t imagine how out of step it is with the tone that"s being set here in the Congress right now, people going to the floor, both sides of the aisle, and lamenting the loss of life, praying for the victims, and especially for Gabby Giffords, talking about our staff that also put themselves in danger. There"s a sense of oneness that was also reflected in a wonderful emotional service that we had that ended with a prayer, a benediction by David Saperstein, a rabbi, where we all held hands, and Republicans and Democrats stood together holding hands.

And then there is Sarah Palin making it about herself, about feeling defensive, and then accusing people of trying to muzzle her and somehow ruining our democracy by doing so. It was so out of place, such a sour note in the midst of an effort here to really come together.

SCHULTZ: What are your thoughts, Congresswoman, of her using the term "blood libel"?

SCHAKOWSKY: Well, certainly as a Jew--and the Jewish community, the organized community, has spoken out--this is one of the oldest things--ways to talk about Jews as killing Christian children in order to use their blood to make matzo.

SCHULTZ: Why do you think she did it?

SCHAKOWSKY: Frankly, I think she didn"t know what she was saying. That"s the most charitable thing I could say, is that she has no idea what it really means.

But does that mean that we"re going to get an apology from her? I doubt it.

But it was a--it fell out of her mouth--or, actually, I think that it was a very planned speech that she made. But she clearly didn"t know that blood libel is something that goes back to the 12th century, was certainly used during World War II by the Hitler regime, to demonize Jews. It was--

SCHULTZ: Well, let"s just say that she knows what it means, and maybe she got some help on the speech from somebody who knows exactly what "blood libel" means.

What kind of--what kind of light does that shed this?

SCHAKOWSKY: Well, then I guess what she would be saying, once again, is that she"s a victim of some kind of a vicious assault, the most vicious assault, raising this specter of the Holocaust and this kind of prejudice. That would be really a terrible for thing for her to have done.

SCHULTZ: Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, thanks for joining us tonight.

I appreciate your time on this program.

SCHAKOWSKY: Thank you, Ed.

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