Once again, U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar is facing scrutiny for comments critical of U.S. foreign policy and the state of Israel. Once again, the backlash started as a GOP hit job and ended with Democratic acquiescence to the right’s framing of the issue — a failure to protect one of their caucus’ most stalwart defenders of social justice, equity, and the fate of marginalized peoples. And, not surprisingly, once again, one of the key figures in the Republican attack was Minnesota Rep. Tom Emmer.
Ostensibly, this controversy was over a June 7 tweet stating: “We must have the same level of accountability and justice for all victims of crimes against humanity. We have seen unthinkable atrocities committed by the U.S., Hamas, Israel, Afghanistan, and the Taliban.”
What started with criticism the next day by the National Republican Congressional Committee, chaired by Emmer, eventually led to a denunciation by 12 Jewish, Democratic members of Congress on June 9, and then a critical statement June 10 from Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s entire leadership team. Eventually Omar was forced to clarify that she not equating the United States and Israel with terrorist groups, but rather calling for justice victims of war crimes regardless of whether they are victimized by terrorist actors or legitimate state actors.
It is time for Democratic leadership to stop validating the GOP attacks on Omar and recognize them for what they are: transparently opportunistic, cynical ploys. These ploys serve specific functions in terms of the GOP’s chronic demonization of non-white, non-Christian Americans, its efforts to redraw the boundaries of acceptable political discourse, and its need to draw false equivalencies between its own antidemocratic, conspiratorial membership, and the anti-imperialist patriotism of Omar.
First, as an openly democratic socialist, former refugee, and woman of color, Omar serves as an easy bogeyman for today’s GOP, which by some measures, more closely resembles a far right, ethnonationalist party than the postwar center right party of Dwight Eisenhower, Nelson Rockefeller, and even Richard Nixon.
In line with this ethnonationalism, Omar has been a popular target for vilification. In July 2019, Donald Trump told all members of “the squad” to “go back” to the “places from which they came.” He frequently singled out Omar as a scapegoat during his rallies, prompting chants of “send her back.” As Minnesotans know, this plays out on a local level, where the congresswoman is a constant star of GOP attack ads.
Second, the context of this latest “scandal” makes clear that a primary function of the right’s outrage is to narrow the range of acceptable criticism of U.S foreign policy in the Middle East, the policies of Israel, and the conditions of U.S. support for Israel. While there appeared to be a turning point only a few weeks ago, when a broader range of Democrats stepped up to offer more robust criticism of Israeli settlement policy and bombing of Gaza, this latest knee-jerk condemnation of Omar represents an unfortunate step backward.
[image_caption]Lucas Dolan[/image_caption]
Republican leaders want to distract from Rep. Marjorie Taylor Green’s comments about “Jewish space lasers,” and the fact that upwards of 20 percent of the party’s constituency believes key elements of the deeply antisemitic QAnon conspiracy theory. Drawing false equivalencies with Omar’s statements — which address real problems with U.S. foreign policy — helps them to do this. And while Omar’s comments have been poorly phrased, they have never crossed into unambiguous antisemitism. There is a reason Omar continues to be supported by Jewish Currents and Jewish Voice for Peace.
The Democratic Party can go in two directions: It can be a party of liberal voters and the working-class, standing for human rights and social justice, or it can be a party primarily concerned with the effective administration of American Empire. To the extent it prefers the former, its congressional leadership should stop rushing to co-sign bad faith right-wing attacks on a member who consistently and courageously stands for the values of the party’s base.
Lucas Dolan is a Minnesota native and Ph.D. candidate at American University in Washington, D.C. He is writing a dissertation on Islamophobia, antisemitism, and the far right.
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Hear hear!!!
What an extremely dishonest piece.
Omar, of course, is not being criticized for being critical of Israel. Plenty of politicians are critical of Israeli policy without making offensive statements or outright anti-semitism. The fact that Omar has apologized and (as in this case) clarified her comments demonstrates that even she recognizes there is a problem with the things she has said.
So if we can get past the lie about why Omar is facing criticism, we get to the real issue – should we not criticize a politician because they are on our team? Republicans have been slow to publicly criticize their own members for offensive statements and behavior. Should Democrats do the same?
Probably the worst part of this piece is the idea that the decision on whether to criticize Omar is a decision on whether the party supports the working class and human rights. To the extent that the question is valid, Dolan gets the answer wrong. Failing to hold our own people accountable undermines those things.
The Democratic majorities weren’t built by people like Omar. Omar had the biggest drop off in votes from Biden of any congressional candidate in the country. But because her district was so blue, she still won easily. The majorities were built by people like Dean Phillips knocking off Republicans in swing districts. Omar’s statements are a problem for him, so he spoke up. Omar offending Jews and moderate voters won’t advance Democratic issues. Electing people like Phillips to make up a majority will.
Omar had gone a long time without a major blow-up. The lesson here shouldn’t be don’t criticize Democrats. It should be to continue to teach Omar to make her criticisms more artfully. She doesn’t need to water down her message. In fact, when she says something offensive, her message gets erased. The story becomes her. Learn how to be an effective advocate.
Maybe if Omar would stop saying anti-semitic and hateful things, she wouldn’t be criticized for saying them.
The ONLY reason that she won the most recent primary against the excellent civil rights and fair housing lawyer Antone Melton-Meaux, who had much support from the Somali community and from noted Black civil rights activists, was that a week before the primary, she sent out a mailer filled with lies and innuendo, blaming the candidate for lawsuits that other people in his law firm had filed, and claiming that he was a Republican. This is the dirtiest campaign action I have ever seen. People who had previously voiced support said things like “I supported him but now I’m not going to vote.” The big lies put her back in office, and the Democratic party did not call her on them.
Knee-jerk defense of a dishonest and racist congressperson is just as disgusting on the Democratic side as it is when the Republicans defend people like Boebert, Greene, and Gaetz.
Omar’s district deserves a representative who will pay attention to the needs of the district, not her own quest for fame and fortune.
Mmm, Omar won that primary by 20 points 58-38. Sort of competitive, but not really close. I also was pretty underwhelmed by her opponent.
I suggest everyone examine the context of Ilhan Omar’s comments before leaping to conclusions and attacking the representative.
See Elizabeth Bruenig’s analysis in The Atlantic, “What Ilhan Omar Actually Said”.
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2021/06/what-ilhan-omar-actually-said/619196/
If you keep having to explain the context for your statements, you aren’t very good at your job.
And if you are relying on the Breunigs – who make the Sean Hannitys and Tucker Carlsons look like honest, virtuous reporters – you are in real trouble.
Then stop writing things that you have to express later regret for:
First:
The Minnesota congresswoman’s Sunday evening tweet — “It’s all about the Benjamins baby,” a reference to $100 bills — drew immediate denunciations from Republicans and fellow Democrats, especially Jewish members of Congress.
Then:
In response, Omar said her intention was never to offend “my constituents or Jewish Americans as a whole. . . . This is why I unequivocally apologize.”
Next:
“We have seen unthinkable atrocities committed by the U.S., Hamas, Israel, Afghanistan, and the Taliban.”
Followed by:
“I was in no way equating terrorist organizations with democratic countries with well-established judicial systems.”
The MINNPOST comments here are just the ramblings of casual readers, but, we get this opportunity to read them, edit them and decide about them before you hit POST.
Omar is US Representative and her words have meaning and consequence. It is OK to have higher expectations before she hits POST.
Are you the only person in the U.S. who has never heard of $100 bills referred to as “Benjamins,” because of the portrait of Franklin on the face?
I’m not exactly an expert in American slang, but even I had heard that term outside any possible connections to Israel or Jews.
You completely missed the point. The term “Benjamins” doesn’t have anything to do with Jews. Its the meaning – that the motivation was all about the money.
It was pretty offensive, and Omar rightfully apologized.
In fact, and precisely, what she said was that Kevin McCarthy’s support for Israel is about the Benjamins. I don’t think that Kevin McCarthy is Jewish. The statement wasn’t about the motivations of Jews, and it wasn’t offensive, it was stating the obvious about a corrupt congressman (and perhaps, by synecdoche, a corrupt congress).
And responding to your earlier comment, no, we shouldn’t criticize a Democratic leader, when doing so supports false equivalences and distracts from the Herculean effort to focus the mainstream media and the oblivious public on the existential threats to our society actively posed by those who initiated the bad-faith outrage. “Squirrel!”
But there is no question, Rep. Omar should unplug her tweeter and express her positions in full, considered paragraphs.
I find your defense of the Benjamins comment truly disturbing.
I could cite a number of Jewish groups explaining why the comment was so offensive, but instead I will just post Omar’s own words:
“Anti-Semitism is real and I am grateful for Jewish allies and colleagues who are educating me on the painful history of anti-Semitic tropes. My intention is never to offend my constituents or Jewish Americans as a whole.
We have to always be willing to step back and think though criticism, just as I expect people to hear me when others attack me for my identity. This is why I unequivocally apologize.”
One would think that Omar’s own words would be enough. But there is a strain of anti-semitic bigotry and hate on the left that can’t accept them. To a lot of people, Omar’s statement was every bit as offensive as those by the Republican wingnuts. And like the supporters of Greene and Boebert, the hardcore defenders of Omar (who won’t even take her at her word) don’t care what the others think.
The Democratic leadership has to speak up because Omar hurts Democrats. Every time she opens her mouth and says something like that, it puts swing district Democrats – the ones who built the majority and give the Democrats the power they have – in a tough spot.
Frankly, putting the twitter away would solve a lot of problems. Omar apologies and/or clarifies her comments, and while this still hurts Democrats and provides a windfall to Republicans, she at least isn’t the hater that some of her supporters want her to be.
To those who make endless apologies and excuses for Israeli apartheid; what great “morality” are you preaching.
Mr. Dolan makes a compelling argument. The mantle of Trump’s vicious “anti-furr-iner” campaign against American citizens has been eagerly embraced by the GOP in repeated antisemitic accusations aimed at Democrats, especially women of Middle Eastern and African heritage. Yet, when its own white member, Marjorie Taylor Greene, equates Covid safety measures with the treatment of Jews during the Holocaust, it takes days to hear a perfunctory rebuttal from House Minority Leader McCarthy who, in the same breath, accuses Pelosi of “completely ignoring” the rise of antisemitism in the Democratic Party.
What is antisemitic about “unthinkable atrocities” committed by the U.S., Hamas, Israel, Afghanistan and the Taliban? These countries and groups, as well as countless others, are terrorists when they commit crimes against humanity. It might serve to study up on the No Bun Ri massacre (Korean War), My Lai massacre (Vietnam), March Across Samar (Philippine-American War), Canicatti massacre (WWII), and the list goes on for the U.S. alone.
She isn’t wrong in that the US and Israel have committed atrocities. But the comparison to Hamas and the Taliban is absurd – which is something Omar later clarified. It was just inflammatory nonsense from someone who has made numerous anti-Semitic statements (for which she apologized) in the past.
Why are people defending this? It doesn’t help anyone, except Republicans. It undermines her message of justice for Palestine. Why aren’t people interested in her being an effective advocate. This is the behavior that is no different than conservatives with Greene.
Please post the exact statement where she COMPARED the US and Israel to the Taliban. That you won’t , cause she never did.
Both the U.S. and Hamas have both committed war crimes. Country Time Lemonade and the kid down the block both sell lemonade.
Obviously, in both examples, the two entities are not equivalent, but in both examples the facts presented are incontrovertible and apply to both entities, and thus there is a point of comparison.
And this all leads to Rep Omar’s point: that all war crimes should be pursued in an international court of law. The salient fact is that the U.S. has not opted into this particular international court, and Omar’s argument is that it should. The comparison is not absurd: that court does already pursue charges of war crimes against terrorist organizations. Why should the U.S. be exempt? And why should its war crimes not be considered equivalent to other nations’ or terrorist organizations’?
American exceptionalism is a farce, and your belief in it is clouding your judgement. Humble yourself and your pride in your nation, and you’ll see the comparison is fair.
If you stretch hard enough you can justify just anything.
And if your point is that Omar isn’t an anti-Semite, I will buy that. She has acknowledged and apologized for her offensive statements.
The problem is that Omar is a terrible politician. When she does something like this, she undermines whatever point she was trying to make. She is a Republican enabler.
If anyone deserves to be heard, telling the truth, it’s Ilhan Omar.
Her lived experience is more important to an understanding of the Muslim experience than any who have commented here.
What is the big deal? Have we denied our own dark history so much that we now must judge in DEGREES of horrible comments about the sins of the past?
Shall we say apartheid in Israel is worse than the 400 years of degradation suffered by African Americans?
Shall we say Israel’s taking of lives includes the demolishing of people’s homes for collective punishment with the Tulsa massacre now being commemorated? Shall we blame every Palestinian for the acts of teenagers throwing rocks or for the actions of Hamas?
Omar has inflamed passions with her bluntness. She isn’t as tied to the status quo privilege that is so proud to be an American but too blind to see what has been done in all our names.
The blaming and bullying of Omar makes me support her even if she offends all of us with something too harsh about past events.
I say, “Let God judge her.” Why not save your piety for sorting out our own ugly past and trying to do better in the future, sans defensiveness and backlash?
She is a remarkable woman and we should be proud that she has been elected by constituents who needed such a voice.
Every time Omar has said something anti-Semitic, she follows up with a clarification and/or an apology. The fact that many on the left don’t accept her own apologies and clarifications just demonstrates how deeply ingrained anti-Semitism is on the left.
I choose to take Omar at her word and believe that she speaks carelessly and is not an anti-Semite. But her careless words are still a problem. There is nothing helpful or truthful about them. They don’t advance any of her causes The Republicans like to use her as a bogeyman, but when she makes these kinds of comments, they don’t even have to lie. Omar becomes a Republican enabler. It doesn’t matter to her – she can alienate tens of thousands of voters in her own district and still win. But in competitive districts – the ones Democrats need to win to hold power – Omar’s words are damaging.
If Omar can admit her mistakes, I don’t know why her supporters can’t. I would rather see her become an effective member of congress and advocate for her causes, than someone who enables Republicans and jeopardizes swing-seat Democrats.
What is worse. Omars words or the life Palestinians face. If it’s the latter i believe how come Dean Philips and Amy Klobuchar kept silent.
Its not anti-semitism on the left. Rather its apologists for apartheid who’ve made a cottage industry of smearing anyone who question it. I’d rather take Ilhan Omar, when it comes to foreign policy, over other milquetoast democrats like Dean Philips, Amy Klobuchar etc and their supporters who paved the way for apartheid in Israel.
I don’t care how “damaging” her words her. At least she speaks up. When have the other two spoken up or spoken against. Never. Rather they sign on to legislation that would curtail my free speech.
I believe that Rep. Dean Phillips signed on to a sort of strongly worded something that Speaker Pelosi ignored . But kudos to him for one of the few things that I have supported from my Congressperson.
The problem is that Omar’s comments hurt the Palestinians. When she opens her mouth and says stupid things, she undermines the message. The story becomes her and anti-Semitism. She is a horrible advocate.
Careless words are not something Omar introduced. Words people here have used to defame any number of people (I was troubled especially by your blanket condemnation of Bernie Sanders during the primary, which didn’t help the Dem cause either, btw.)
Omar merely lacks the “credentials” to speak offensively, due to her race, religion, and background. The big bully told her to go home. Nothing she has said is as offensive as has been contributed by top leaders in this country.
“…deeply engrained…” anti-Semitism? In today’s world, Muslims are being treated so much worse. Living under ruthless dictators in poverty doesn’t bode well for good outcomes. Wealthy countries have poured weaponry into Muslim countries, made a few rich from oil, and left populations homeless, desperate and dying everyday, many trying to escape their plight. Like the Hmong, left to run for their lives when we left Saigon, we are leaving Muslims who helped us in Afghanistan to be murdered.
Muslims got blamed for Al Qaeda and ISIS, but a rich Saudi scion organized Al Qaeda in Afghanistan and ISIS was made in Abu Ghraib prison.
Let us criticize BEHAVIOR, not perceived beliefs of others. Principled criticism shouldn’t be personal, nor rely on opinion, but on people’s actions.
Ilhan Omar has real enemies here in America, in Minnesota, in her own city. She has been threatened, lied about, accused of a number of things about her personal life– NONE OF IT IS WARRANTED. Anti-Muslim sentiment is no better than anti-Semite.
A lot of people have said offensive things. And Omar (and Muslims generally) have been subjected to a lot of unfair criticism and bigotry.
Neither of those things gives Omar a pass to say stupid and bigoted things. She isn’t making principled criticisms. She is saying stupid and offensive things. She is undermining legitimate arguments. She is enabling Republicans. She represents a very safe district, so she can withstand the huge dropoff of Democratic voters. But people like Dean Phillips, the people who built the Democratic majorities, can’t.
As I keep saying, I believe Omar is simply incompetent and not actually bigoted, because she has apologized. But there is a stain of people on the left every bit as bigoted as those on the right. And I’m glad you brought up Sanders, because his hardcore supporters were the most hateful, misogynistic, bigoted force I have ever seen online. Worse than the Trumpers. I don’t totally blame Sanders for that. I think we can agree that Sanders is a dishonest fraud with a massive ego, but I don’t think he’s a hater. But this group of people – those who won’t acknowledge the harm that Omar herself has acknowledged, are pretty terrible.
The interesting aspect above is the word “said”.
In Omar’s case it’s not “said”, it’s “written”.
Said can be a slip of the tongue. Said is often spontaneous. Written is composed, considered and published. Not spontaneous.
Written and published and then quickly apologized for or clarified shows a lack of competence to do the job.
Her initial 2018 primary victory was not based on political competence, or experience. If that were the case Margaret Kelliher or Patricia Torres Ray would have been elected. Instead she won on: “Wouldn’t it be great to pick someone with a true modern day immigrant story”. And that is fine. it’s just too bad competence could not have made it in there too.
You overlook that even some in the Somali community have criticized her as have some Black activists, and those criticisms were based on her voting record. No doubt some unfairly demonize her, but she also has a habit like some other politicians on both sides of making sweeping generalizations that are more prone to be lightening rods than thoughtful debate.
Criticism of a politician’s voting record or agenda is absolutely fair and democratic. If anyone can do it, it is her own peers and constituents. I think Nancy Pelosi tried to tame the zealous exuberance of the “squad” when they took Congressional seats and instantly became targets for GOP fundraising and fearmongering. I get what others are saying– sometimes outspokenness is unwise from a political strategy viewpoint– I understand that and cringe too when Dem missteps seem to hurt our cause.
Then today I see another chapter in the use and abuse of Ilhan Omar’s statements to discredit her “truths”– from Marc Thiessen, A WAPO columnist, AEP spokesman and famous Neo-Con from the Dubya invasions.
He rips her good and illustrates again why I will defend her right to speak and proselytize for the oppressed. Thiessen attacks the young rep with a vengeance: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/06/15/pelosis-excuses-vile-bigotry-ilhan-omar-are-disgraceful/
You are being disingenuous when you claim this is about her voting record. Its about her boneheaded statements, her ethical lapses and campaign finance violations. He lies about her marriages. Paying millions of dollars to her lover/husband’s campaign firm. She is every bit as corrupt as the Trump family.
Rep. Omars is a high level elected official. She has been a professional political operative all her adult life. I should not have to devote a significant amount of my time cleaning up messes she went out of her way to make. Why doesn’t she know better?
I just am not interested in her lived experience. When I vote for someone, and I have voted for Ilhan twice, it wasn’t her lived experience I was voting for.
It’s a made-up mess. People only complain about what she said, because it bruised their ego, and because it challenges their sense of American exceptionalism and its frequent exemption from international law.
To my Jewish friends its not a made up mess. Some people take anti-Semitism pretty seriously. Telling them its made-up doesn’t really cut it.
Again, Omar has acknowledged her statements have been hurtful and apologized. Why can’t her supporers do the same?
My Jewish friends are all supporters of Rep Omar
I voted for her opponent because he was a far superior candidate. I could not agree more that it would be nice if Rep. Omar would think before she speaks or writes. I have no expectation she will quit being anti-semitic, even while I agree with some of her criticism of Israeli actions and policies. She could try only attacking the policies without equating Israel or the US with the Taliban, but that requires finesse and subtlety that evidently is beyond her ability.
I have extremely low expectations, as she has not shown any ability to grow into it. Getting only 58% of the vote should be seen as a real disaster for an incumbent in a overwhelmingly Democratic district.
I’m tired of every criticism of the Israeli government and its actions being twisted into being “antisemitism.” It is not. The Israeli government is not the equivalent of the Jewish people any more than Donald Trump is the equivalent of the American people. The actions of the Israeli state are not the equivalent of the Jewish people any more than the Vietnam War is the equivalent of the American people. This is the very foundation of the First Amendment. It is not a coincidence that the First Amendment contains references to both freedom of speech and freedom of religion. It is in the very fabric of the United States of America that a nation is not a religion and a religion is not a nation. It does not matter that other countries don’t believe that, it’s what THIS country enshrined in its Constitution.
Omar’s words aren’t even foolish. They’re simply not coming from the mouth of a white, Christian male. The absurdity of the firestorm against Omar every time she gets anywhere close to mentioning Israel is not just tiring, it’s obvious. What gets me is that seemingly intelligent people seem bent on taking offense at things that simply are not offensive, especially when taken into context. Even out of context, until it is conveniently interpreted by the Right, Omar’s words are not generally offensive.
All of the entities that Omar mentioned have committed crimes against humanity. That’s a fact. Period. If you get all bundled up over putting those four, very guilty, entities into the same sentence for the same crime, you might want to re-evaluate your critical thinking skills. The point is that we shouldn’t be supporting human rights violations and unprovoked violence, regardless of who the actor is, including ourselves! It was a very clear point to anyone not primed to be outraged by a brown Muslim woman who wasn’t born American.
For crying out loud, Omar could state that she donated money to a pro-Israel group, and not only would the Right completely twist it back into the “Benjamins” statement (which was patently not antisemitic), but a bunch of liberals would get on board with it. I don’t know why a bunch of liberals go along with the faux outrage of the Right (who wholeheartedly support every antisemitic trope Trump said), but I know why the Right does it–because it’s easy to assert that a Muslim absolutely is antisemitic, no matter what she says, and have a significant part of the population eat it up. And it’s almost always a she that gets pounced on by the Right. It certainly doesn’t hurt that she’s not white. Trifecta!
In the meanwhile, the Right cries “cancel culture” every time they get offensive intentionally and the public rightly tries to shame them for it. And they built an entire media empire on railing against “political correctness.” None of that counts when they can hit the trifecta. No, Omar is supposed to temper her language (which is not, prima facie, antisemitic). If she speaks her mind, it’s not “saying it like it is” (even though it frequently actually is), it’s a sign that she hates America. She must have every word vetted because she’s…a she…a Muslim…an immigrant…not white. Take your pick.
And, for what it’s worth, it IS her life experience that’s valuable. Because most of us grew up here, taking every advantage for granted. We’re absolutely blind to our advantage, to the point that, so long as no one rocks OUR boat, we don’t question the BILLIONS of dollars that we spend supporting nations that don’t have our democratic ideals front of mind, while millions of Americans right here don’t have access to basic needs, like food, housing, or healthcare.
Thank you, Rachel.
OK, Let’s leave Israel out of the most recent flareup:
“We have seen unthinkable atrocities committed by the U.S., Hamas, Afghanistan, and the Taliban.”
Interesting how she includes the US and somehow forgets the actual genocidal line up:
Germany, Turkey, Russia, China, Balkans, Cambodia, Rwanda, Pakistan, Zaire, Guatemala, South Africa to name a few.
When she thinks about “unthinkable atrocities” why does the US come to mind before these actual “unthinkable atrocities”?
But, I will give her credit. She seems to follow up each of her ill thought out comments with an apology or apology/clarification. Very unTrumpian of her…
Rep. Omar’s comment referenced her inquiry to Secretary of State Blinken about the status of two specific ICC investigations concerning possible war crimes committed by the U.S., Israel, Hamas, Afghanistan and the Taliban. Trump had sanctioned the ICC for pursuing those investigations. The Biden administration lifted the sanctions, but Secretary Blinken testified that he still opposed the investigations. Rep. Omar was questioning him about his position, and asking how, without the ICC fulfilling its role, victims of war crimes (who don’t particularly care who is perpetrating them) might expect justice.
No one in good faith can conclude that her remark was “equating” the U.S. and the Taliban, or elevating those five named entities above all others in their malignancy. Her remark pertained to a specific comment to Secretary Blinken about two specific investigations. If you think the U.S. or Israel should be exempted from the principles and mechanisms of ordered justice that apply to everyone else, then yes, you have an actual disagreement with Rep. Omar (and me). Otherwise you would need to work harder to explain to me what is substantively wrong with her comment.
But many folks don’t seem to care about the actual context and meaning of Rep. Omar’s comment. They are satisfied just to be told by the Republicans and the mainstream media when to punch, and how far down. Frankly, even if Rep. Omar stayed off twitter, as many of us long have urged, and expressed her views in well-formed paragraphs, I don’t know that it would make a difference. The Republicans, the mainstream media, and all the rest with a corrupt interest would mischaracterize her statements all the same, and very few would notice, or care.
“and all the rest with a corrupt interest”
I would differ with you on describing Dean Phillips as having a “corrupt interest”.
Do you say that because of his Jewish faith?
He has sided with and defended Omar in the past, but took exception with her recent comments as expressed through the statement so objected to by Omar loyalists:
“Equating the United States and Israel to Hamas and the Taliban is as offensive as it is misguided. Ignoring the differences between democracies governed by the rule of law and contemptible organizations that engage in terrorism at best discredits one’s intended argument and at worst reflects deep-seated prejudice.
The United States and Israel are imperfect and, like all democracies, at times deserving of critique, but false equivalencies give cover to terrorist groups. We urge Congresswoman Omar to clarify her words placing the US and Israel in the same category as Hamas and the Taliban.”
And Omar defenders like Mr. Dolan should not dismiss an honest, trustworthy, fair minded Representative like Phillips as:
“rushing to co-sign bad faith right-wing attacks”
Purity tests are futile…
Edward –
First, what the heck is this?
“I would differ with you on describing Dean Phillips as having a “corrupt interest”.
“Do you say that because of his Jewish faith?”
It’s a non sequitur, and it’s scurrilous. You ought to retract it.
Second, you chose to react, instead of to read. I related to you the context that demonstrates that Rep. Omar did not in any sense offer an equivalency. You don’t challenge this (and you don’t need to, we’re trying to have a conversation, not a battle, and the context is pretty clear once considered). But you then offer Dean Phillips’s statement that consists entirely of misrepresenting Rep. Omar’s words as asserting an equivalency. I did not accuse Rep. Phillips of having a corrupt interest. In fact I didn’t mention him, and wasn’t thinking of him. But from his statement, he certainly fits the category of those who punch when told to punch. Either he couldn’t be bothered to consider the context and meaning of Rep. Omar’s statement before mounting an official condemnation of her, or it didn’t matter to him. Whether this fits the definition of corruption, or is something else, is another conversation.
Yes, let’s read more carefully:
CH:
“But you then offer Dean Phillips’s statement that consists entirely of misrepresenting Rep. Omar’s words as asserting an equivalency.”
You have accused Phillips of co-signing a statement that entirely misrepresents Omar’s words.
CH:
“No one in good faith can conclude that her remark was “equating” the U.S. and the Taliban”
You have accused Phillips of co-signing a statement that was delivered in “bad faith”
CH:
“But from his statement, he certainly fits the category of those who punch when told to punch.”
You infer that Phillip’s is not expressing his true beliefs, instead just taking marching orders from someone you fail to identify.
CH:
“I did not accuse Rep. Phillips of having a corrupt interest. In fact I didn’t mention him, and wasn’t thinking of him. ”
He helped author the piece that set all of this off. Who were you thinking about?
CH:
“and all the rest with a corrupt interest would mischaracterize her statements all the same, and very few would notice, or care.”
Again, the root cause of all this is the statement cosigned by Phillips and you have indicated that the authors of the statement are mis-stating Omar’s words, operating in bad faith and taking orders from someone else, it is safe to assume that the authors of the statement fall into your broad brush “corrupt interests” classification.
Dean Phillips turned a 70 year red MN CD3 blue. He is one of the reasons we may see significant progressive change in the next few years. In MN CD5 we could match up Joe Stalin against Abe Lincoln and it would be called a toss up race. Phillips has defended Omar in the past. They have adjoining districts. Omar criticized Phillips for not speaking to her first before co signing the letter. Maybe Omar should take advantage of her relationship with Phillips and use him as a sounding board before wading into another Jew/Muslim/Israel/Palestine controversy.
I think AOC should be a future Speaker of the House. She is smart, strategic, prepared. She makes others look stupid when they try to attack her. She rarely mis-steps in her actions, words and writing. All equating to the definition of competence.
I guess we can agree that words matter and they should be carefully chosen, especially when composed, considered and published.
Bizarrely, out of nowhere, you charged me with anti-Semitism. I asked you honorably to retract your charge, and you ignored my request. I have no interest in further dialogue.
Nor do I have an interest in walking thru for you the ubiquitous phenomenon of feigned outrage with which you purport to be unfamiliar. It’s advanced by some, and responded to by others. Here, Dean Phillips didn’t advance it, he responded to it, like Good Democrats always do. I didn’t “accuse” Phillips of co-signing a statement that misrepresents Omar’s words, I noted that he signed such a statement. This is objectively true. In signing the statement, he acted in bad faith. What does this mean about Phillips? I don’t know, you tell me. Actually, don’t tell me. I’m done.
I honorably retract my charge and I humbly apologize.
I just thought it would be interesting to do a religious bigotry “shoe is on the other foot” experiment.
Very interesting results. Seems to be pretty uncomfortable shoes. I guess you agree.
I appreciate your retraction. I didn’t ask for an apology, but thank you. I’m afraid I don’t understand the rest of your comment, but so be it – the expired horse is well-pummeled.
“I’m afraid I don’t understand the rest of your comment”
As you have likely gathered I am no fan of Ilhan Omar.
It is not due to her political beliefs or religion. It is due to her repeated failure to demonstrate competence and judgement in her performing her job duties. As indicated by my belief that AOC has all the characteristics to be a great Speaker of the House someday.
That has not stopped Omar supporters from painting any and all of her detractors as making this decision based on religious bias. I don’t appreciate it, just as you did not appreciate to be accused of religious bias in your views towards Dean Phillips. Not that difficult to understand.
Again, we are explaining what her statement really meant. And if you are explaining, you are losing. But ok, we’ll give her the benefit of the doubt and just agree that she is an incompetent politician and a Republican enabler.
Frankly, given that this is the 6th or 7th arguably anti-Semitic thing she has said, I wouldn’t assume anything about what she meant. That is the context this comes in.
And its great that Omar’s apologists keep saying these statements aren’t anti-Semitic. Very comforting to my Jewish friends. Maybe they can’t explain to black people what is and isn’t racist while they are at it.
This is a reply to Edward Blaise just above, whose response to me has no Reply button.
First, I’m not an Omar supporter; I simply object to Republican feigned outrage, projected by the mainstream media, over and over making Good Democrats run in circles and distracting from the ongoing Republican crimes and corruptions a hundred times worse than whatever the Republicans profess to be outraged about.
Second, I haven’t painted any Omar detractor, and certainly not you, as having religious bias. I don’t know why you keep pulling these things out of nowhere.
Third, I didn’t express a view about Dean Phillips; you inserted Dean Phillips; and frankly, it had never occurred to me that Dean Phillips was Jewish.
Fourth, I didn’t care that you accused me of anti-Semitism, I simply thought it strange that you would do so out of thin air. An unfounded accusation reflects the person making it, not the person against whom it’s made. I suggested a retraction so that you could vouch for your own character. I didn’t ask for an apology. I’m Jewish and if someone wishes to accuse me of anti-Semitism, well, they’re welcome to their own ridiculous point of view.
What I am tired of are people who claim that Omar is being criticized for being critical of Israel. That is an absolute bald-faced lie. There are plenty of people who are critical of Israeli policy without engaging in anti-Semitism. Instead of acknowledging her terrible statements – as Omar has done, to her credit – people would rather just lie about why she is being criticized. They are no better than the most delusional Trump supporters.
“That is an absolute bald-faced lie.” I’m a person who really likes data, Pat. I’d like to you to prove your point because the prima facie case doesn’t support your position (see, for example, Charles’ VERY well-articulated analysis of the context of the so-called offensive statement).
Pointing to the fact that Omar apologizes for her allegedly “terrible statements” (again, an assertion without evidence), only supports that she feels bad for offending people (it doesn’t matter whether the offense was manufactured), not that she admits bad intent. After all, women have been shown (data is good!) to have a much lower threshold for feeling the need to apologize than men, not that they’re more offensive or more wrong than men. https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Behavior-Why-Women-Apologize-More-Than-Men-%3A-Gender-Schumann-Ross/bc3265a52bbe7d7492d6664efdc29ef0d896d865
In fact, I can name a few very prominent men right off the top of my head, who regularly say very plainly, clearly anti-semitic things. They will never apologize for it. Yet, the words themselves, in context, show that they are indeed saying actual, intentional anti-semitic things. So, it seems that apologies are not very reliable indicators on whether someone did something wrong.
And who the heck are these 200 rabbis complaining to Speaker Pelosi about Rep. Omar? Can Jews be white supremacists? Can they be part of the biggest domestic threat to the United States?
I think when a Congressman who represents me equates the United States with the Taliban, there is going to be a problem, and not just with anti Semitism. Certainly, I am entitled to think there is a problem.
When both entities have committed war crimes, regardless of equivalence, there is at least that one point of comparison.
“When both entities have committed war crimes”
Maybe update that to all entities and the big global ALL at that.
It looks to me as though none of the commentors read the article. Ironically, they’re proving the point that Rep Omar is held to a different standard.
Oh she is definitely held to a different standard. She can say, stupid and offensive things repeatedly and her apologists will defend her no matter what. What do those Jews know about anti-Semitism anyway. Omar is just speaking truth to power. SMH.
Each of us is entitled to our own standards and to apply them to our elected representatives in any way we want. Rep. Omar works for us.