President Joe Biden minced no words Tuesday when describing the terrorist attacks on Israel. We hope Colorado's Democratic leaders heard their party's highest-ranking member loud and clear.

If they listened, they should immediately deal with their latest hand-picked legislator — state Rep. Tim Hernandez, a teacher and activist who represents Colorado House District 4.

Anything less than his resignation or removal at the start of the session in January amounts to tacit approval of what Biden described in gruesome detail.

"You know, there are moments in this life — and I mean this literally — when pure, unadulterated evil is unleashed on this world," our president said, addressing the world.

"The people of Israel lived through one such moment this weekend. The bloody hands of the terrorist organization Hamas — a group whose stated purpose for being is to kill Jews."

These barbaric terrorists despise Jews, Christians, moderate Muslims, peaceful Palestinians and the United States. They have never held this in secret. Neither has Iran, the theocratic nation-state aiding and abetting this genocide.

"Stomach-turning reports of being — babies being killed," Biden said.

"Entire families slain. Young people massacred while attending a musical festival to celebrate peace — to celebrate peace! Women raped, assaulted, paraded as trophies... Holocaust survivors abducted and held hostage — hostages whom Hamas has now threatened to execute in violation of every human morality."

We can only imagine the pain of Israel's Holocaust survivors who suffered the evil of Hitler's National Socialist German Workers' Party. Ninety percent of Israel's 150,000-plus Holocaust survivors are in their 80s, meaning they lived hell on earth near the beginning and end of their lives.

Biden spoke like an old-school Democrat in love with his country and Israel — our cherished ally and a beacon of freedom in a region controlled by dictatorial theocrats and terrorists.

Meanwhile, a few of Colorado's more radicalized and feckless Democrats recently appointed Hernandez. He seems to have so little regard for rape victims, decapitated babies and Holocaust survivors that he attended an "Emergency Protest for Palestinian Resistance," where he waved the Palestine flag.

By doing so, he joined those who celebrate and champion a resistance movement that tortures and kills. Colorado Democrats have a problem of their making that only they can solve. To defend their long-respected brand, leading Democrats should pressure Hernandez to resign.

By leading Democrats, we mean Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, Colorado Attorney Gen. Phil Weiser, Senate President Steve Fenberg, House Majority Leader Julie McCluskie and Colorado Democratic Sens. Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper.

Those leaders and others below their ranks should denounce the immoral, anti-Israel, pro-resistance activism of their newest legislator — much like The Gazette blasted U.S. Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, for insisting "White nationalist," and "White supremacist" should not offend. Our editorial board and others immediately called for his resignation.

Several legislative Democrats have spoken out against Hernandez's support for the "resistance," but that's not enough. This man should represent no district unless and until voters elect him.

After coming under fire, Hernandez issued a statement opposing "oppression" and "human suffering."

It rings hollow and does not meld with his actions. One cannot celebrate the "resistance" of barbaric child-killing rapists and oppose oppression, human suffering and deadly attacks. It's like attending a Klan rally and hours later opposing lynchings.

To be fair, Hernandez is young and new to politics. We'd like to think he made a mistake based on low information. We hope he offers a genuine apology, acknowledging what he did was wrong.

Either way, he is not ready for prime time. Fellow Democrats need to make that clear by undoing his appointment.

The Gazette Editorial Board

REPRINTED FROM THE COLORADO SPRINGS GAZETTE

Photo credit: Raimond Klavins at Unsplash