Being Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.) isn't easy these days. The difficulty of being a Jewish member of Congress in today's Democrat Party is even harder, says the disillusioned Dem.

During an appearance on Friday's "Real Time with Bill Maher," Dean called out far-left House Democrats for their response to the Israel-Hamas War, accusing his colleagues of "seemingly [having] a lack of progressive love when it comes to our doorstep, and it’s problematic.”

On the other hand, Phillips has also gushed about his "remarkable friendship" with radical-left Squad member Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), who continues to condemn Israel — and even Joe Biden — as she all but champions Hamas.

Incidentally, I referred to Phillips in my headline as a "key" Democrat for several reasons, one of which was his late-December announcement that he would challenge Joe Biden in the 2024 Democrat presidential primary race.

— The Hill (@thehill) October 27, 2023

Phillips told Maher that he knows he doesn't "look like someone whose community might need support or affection or protection," further explaining:

I believe one of the reasons Israel was invaded is because there is a moral, morally bankrupt leader in Israel. I would say of a very morally wonderful nation who opened the door to an attack because of the division that he has caused.

Don't jump the gun here. Yes, Phillips isn't a member of the Benjamin Netanyahu fan club — many supporters of Israel aren't either — but unlike the majority of Phillips's Democrat colleagues and Democrat voters, he strongly urges support of Israel.

Here's more:

Since launching his Democratic presidential bid against President Joe Biden, Philips has been increasingly vocal about how the U.S. needs to support Israel, although he’s said he supports resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict with a two-state solution in the long term.

Phillips is one of 26 Jewish House members, and he previously served on the board of Temple Israel in Minneapolis. While a small faction of Democrats is calling for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war, Phillips said he’ll support it when “Hamas is no longer in a position to murder Israelis.”

“We are at risk if we continue to keep fighting each other on any lines — racial lines, economic lines, we got to unify, we got to take care of people,” Phillps said, distinguishing himself from other candidates by saying, “I love my Republican brothers and sisters just as much as my Democratic ones.

A congressional Democrat with a backbone. Who knew?

The Bottom Line

While Rep. Dean Phillips has zero chance of wresting the 2024 Democrat presidential nomination from Joe Biden, it's never a bad thing to see a Democrat publicly oppose his or her party's bedrock positions. 

On that point, I've never understood why a majority of Jewish Americans vote Democrat, year after year, seemingly with no questions asked, or why a majority of Democrat politicians throw Israel under the bus at every opportunity while rushing to defend those who are hellbent on "pushing Israel into the sea."

Did I mention that there this no more loyal supporter of Israel and its people on the planet than the American Republican Party?