Last Oct. 7, longtime U.S. ally Israel — an outpost of democracy, stability and tolerance in an otherwise authoritarian and hostile region — came under a violent, unprovoked and singularly despicable attack. The terrorist group Hamas, based in neighboring Gaza, slaughtered 1,139 Israelis in a cross-border blitz. Most who died were civilians; 39 were children. Nearly 250 were kidnapped. Many are still being held or are believed to have been killed by their captors.

On Monday, a delegation of Israeli officials and family members of attack victims visited the Colorado Capitol at the invitation of state Rep. Ron Weinberg of Loveland. The Israelis were welcomed into the Colorado Senate chamber, where they were honored. Weinberg even got to address the gathering.

Not in the state House of Representatives, however. As reported by Colorado Politics, House Speaker Julie McCluskie turned the Israelis away — humiliating them and stunning Weinberg.

Weinberg told Colorado Politics McCluskie, D-Dillon, previously had given him the go-ahead to usher the delegation into the House. But on Monday morning, McCluskie called him shortly before he arrived at the Capitol to tell him the visitors would not be allowed on the House floor.

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The speaker’s office issued a statement saying she was worried members on both sides of the aisle would fail to “rise to the occasion” of the visit. She felt that continuing to “bring this issue into” the House would have detrimental effects on the House’s ability to work together.

It’s hard to give McCluskie the benefit of the doubt for this outrageous affront. Even if she bore no personal ill will toward the visitors, it is implicit in her public statement she slammed the door on them to appease fellow House Democrats who are foes of Israel.

For months, House hooligans have been making a spectacle of themselves as they have made a hobby of beating up on the mideast nation. While the rest of the world has expressed shock at the October attack and sympathy for its casualties, some members of the Colorado House’s extreme left wing who fancy themselves allies of Palestinian nationalism have denounced Israel — the victim — and have been reluctant to criticize Hamas, the perpetrator.

One member even disrupted House proceedings during last November’s special session. She went so far as to join Hamas sympathizers protesting in the House gallery — where she shouted insults at fellow lawmakers trying to do legislative work down below.

All of which is to say McCluskie flinched in fear of her own caucus. Not exactly a profile in courage; it was in fact a cowardly cop-out. More to the point, it displayed an utter absence of the leadership one expects of a House speaker. Rather than stand up for victims, she bowed to political intimidation.

To say the least, McCluskie’s rebuff was an affront to the Israelis and particularly to the family members, who suffered unspeakable horror and grief as loved ones were murdered and taken hostage.

It also served as another wake-up call to Coloradans that their own Legislature has been taken hostage, as well — by the ruling party’s radical fringe.

With lopsided Democratic Party majorities in both chambers and their fellow partisans holding all statewide elected offices, it was perhaps only a matter of time before the fringe would seize the proverbial podium and shout down reason.

McCluskie abdicated her responsibility as speaker. Instead of gaveling down the bullies, she locked out the victims. Is it any wonder civility is in decline at the Legislature?

Denver Gazette Editorial Board