Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) just can’t get past the anti-Semitism issue. She has peddled in such trash before, posting tweets that were very…problematic with regards to this issue. And no, they’re not old. They’re not from high school. They’re from last month. And it’s stuff that isn’t new; Jewish Minnesota leaders had to have a sit-down with her because of her remarks. It was when she tweeted “Israel has hypnotized the world, may Allah awaken the people and help them see the evil doings of Israel” back in 2012. Now, after her “all about the Benjamins” fiasco, which once again peddled old anti-Semitic stereotypes about people of the Jewish faith, money, and influence, these local leaders might not treat her with “kid gloves” anymore. The media certainly hasn’t let her off the hook, reporting on her serial stupidity on this front.
So, what’s her latest anti-Semitic trainwreck? Well, she sort of accused people who are pro-Israel of exhibiting dual loyalty. She made such remarks last Wednesday. Even liberal writers can see through her nonsense, noting that she’s peddling the Palestinian cause to smuggle in bigoted talking points (via NYT):
Representative Ilhan Omar, a freshman Democrat from Minnesota, came under scrutiny again this week because of her comments about Israel.
The remarks in question came during a discussion at a Washington bookstore on Wednesday about how critics have repeatedly labeled Ms. Omar’s criticism of Israel as anti-Semitic. She argued that the label is being used in bad faith to shut down debate.
The sentence that garnered the most attention was, “I want to talk about the political influence in this country that says it is O.K. for people to push for allegiance to a foreign country.”
Ms. Omar questioned why it was acceptable for her to speak critically about the political influence of the National Rifle Association, fossil fuel industries and “big pharma,” but not the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. (After she was widely criticized for a tweet about Aipac last month, she deleted it and apologized.)
In an article for New York magazine about the bookstore event, the writer Jonathan Chait accused Ms. Omar of using the cause of Palestinian rights “to smuggle in ugly stereotypes.”
He added that she was “invoking the hoary myth of dual loyalty, in which the Americanness of Jews is inherently suspect.”
Some conservative news outlets also posted articles critical of the comments. And Marshall Wittmann, a spokesman for Aipac, said in a statement that the accusation of “dual loyalty” was alarming.
“The charge of dual loyalty not only raises the ominous specter of classic anti-Semitism, but it is also deeply insulting to the millions upon millions of patriotic Americans, Jewish and non-Jewish, who stand by our democratic ally, Israel,” Mr. Wittmann said.
Omar went on a lengthy Twitter thread expressing this matter further:
Our democracy is built on debate, Congresswoman! I should not be expected to have allegiance/pledge support to a foreign country in order to serve my country in Congress or serve on committee. The people of the 5th elected me to serve their interest. I am sure we agree on that! https://t.co/gglAS4FVJW
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) March 3, 2019
I have not mischaracterized our relationship with Israel, I have questioned it and that has been clear from my end.
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) March 3, 2019
I am told everyday that I am anti-American if I am not pro-Israel. I find that to be problematic and I am not alone. I just happen to be willing to speak up on it and open myself to attacks.
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) March 3, 2019
My Americanness is questioned by the President and the @GOP on a daily basis, yet my colleagues remain silent. I know what it means to be American and no one will ever tell me otherwise.
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) March 3, 2019
I am in the Horn of Africa this weekend, proud to see peace prosper here and to be part of the first American delegation to Eritrea???? in decades is one I am grateful for. I fight peace and justice because only those who experience the pain of war, know the joy of peace. ???
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) March 3, 2019
Being opposed to Netanyahu and the occupation is not the same as being anti-Semitic. I am grateful to the many Jewish allies who have spoken out and said the same.
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) March 3, 2019
We must be willing to combat hate of all kinds while also calling out oppression of all kinds. I will do my best to live up to that. I hope my colleagues will join me in doing the same.
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) March 3, 2019
Whatever Omar; you’re the one that cries like a baby whenever Democrats call you out for stuff just like this…which is warranted. And it’s not because you’re black or a Muslim. It’s because you peddle bigoted trash. And it’s ridiculous in the sense that everyone and their mother knows your anti-Israel nonsense is all rooted in notions that are historically anti-Semitic. That’s why you have no friends when you spout off these talking points, except for your fellow BDS friends.
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