Posted on 02/11/2019 12:54:02 PM PST by yesthatjallen
Freshman Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) apologized on Monday for tweets suggesting that American lawmakers were motivated by money to defend Israel.
Omar's apology came after she spoke with Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), who along with other House Democratic leaders called on her to apologize for the "use of anti-Semitic tropes" about Jewish people and money.
"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 through criticism, just as I expect people to hear me when others attack me for my identity. This is why I unequivocally apologize," Omar, one of the first two Muslim women elected to Congress, said in a statement.
But Omar stood by her criticism of the American Israeli Public Affairs Committee's (AIPAC) special interest influence.
"At the same time, I reaffirm the problematic role of lobbyists in our politics, whether it be AIPAC, the NRA or the fossil fuel industry. It's gone on too long and we must be willing to address it," Omar said.
Omar on Sunday retweeted journalist Glenn Greenwald responding to a story about House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) promising "action" against her and fellow freshman Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) over their views critical of Israel.
"It's all about the Benjamins baby," Omar wrote, referring to money.
Omar then tweeted that AIPAC was paying American politicians to support Israel. AIPAC doesn't directly donate to political candidates but does sponsor regular congressional delegations to Israel.
Pelosi, along with the other top members of the House Democratic leadership, issued a joint statement condemning Omar's comments and called on her to apologize.
“We are and will always be strong supporters of Israel in Congress because we understand that our support is based on shared values and strategic interests," House Democratic leaders said in the statement. "Legitimate criticism of Israel’s policies is protected by the values of free speech and democratic debate that the United States and Israel share."
"But Congresswoman Omar’s use of anti-Semitic tropes and prejudicial accusations about Israel’s supporters is deeply offensive. We condemn these remarks and we call upon Congresswoman Omar to immediately apologize for these hurtful comments," they wrote.
Multiple House committee chairmen who are Jewish also condemned Omar's comments.
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.) said that Omar's tweets were "deeply hurtful and offensive."
"While of course our nation’s leaders are free to debate the relative influence of a particular organization on our country’s policy-making process, or the factors that make our system of governance imperfect, there is an expectation of leaders—particularly those with a demonstrated commitment to the cause of justice and equality—that they would be extremely careful not to tread into the waters of anti-Semitism or any other form of prejudice or hate. Rep. Omar failed that test of leadership with these comments," Nadler said in a lengthy statement.
And House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.) similarly accused Omar, who serves on his panel, of invoking an "anti-Semitic trope."
"I fully expect that when we disagree on the Foreign Affairs Committee, we will debate policy on the merits and never question members’ motives or resort to personal attacks," Engel said in a statement.
Monday wasn't the first time that Omar had been accused of using language offensive to Jewish people.
Omar previously under fire over a 2012 tweet amid the Gaza War in which she wrote: “Israel has hypnotized the world, may Allah awaken the people and help them see the evil doings of Israel. #Gaza #Palestine #Israel.”
Omar backtracked last month, writing in a tweet that "It’s now apparent to me that I spent lots of energy putting my 2012 tweet in context and little energy is disavowing the anti-semitic trope I unknowingly used, which is unfortunate and offensive."
I have previously posted that the dummocrap party should now properly be known as the Communist USA party. They have co-opted the party, moving it to the far left. By no means should anyone mistake the dummocrap party today with the dummocrap party of our fathers. The commies' deity is the party and the government, not G-d. Remember, religion is the opiate of the people. Karl Marx said so. So let the incredibly stupid, gullible, corrupt Repubs get with the program. You don't shake hands with the Devil without counting your fingers afterward. There should be no "bipartisan" deals, as those would be heavily skewed toward the commie position. There can be no compromises with people like this, people whose goal is the destruction of our nation, opening it up to every piece of illiterate uneducated diseased prolific garbage that staggers over its open borders. It's time for a squadron of sheriffs to flank Trump on all sides. Instead, we have McConnell dinosaurs, Collins, Murkowski, and other traitors.
The instant adoration of AOC should be taken as HANDWRITING ON THE WALL, in bold font. That a complete imbecile like her should instantly catapult to daily quoting in the national news is scary and it's an omen. That 2 muzzlime women should have made their way into our Congress, complete with their kneejerk antisemitism and hatred of America should scare the heck out of Americans. It means there were enough muzzlimes concentrated in a given area to elect one of their murderous own. It means someone was asleep on their watch and let them in. And the fact that this muzzlime animal has NOT been censored by the dummocraps clearly shows that they APPROVE of what she said. Keep that in mind. The new commie-dummocrap party is the party of no borders, antisemitism, no limits to spending, even if they beggar us all. G-d should help us, with the fruit of years of libtards controlling education in this country coming ripe just about now, all those new young naive misled voters who have been brainwashed into being unchallengingly receptive to their Pied Piper tune.
She herself is an unsolicited apologist for CAIR
I think Omar thought Cortez was in charge of the U.S. House of Representatives and that trashing Americans was now fair game. It sounds like Nan got her straightened out. That’s good. LOL.
AND an unsolicited LOBBYIST for CAIR
Apology not accepted. Heck, Minnesota owes us all an apology for this muslim crap.
Muslitards lie. It’s part of their cult. She will go to her grave hating the Jews and Christians and America as founded for that matter.
Take it up with the Bush clan. Muslim invasion of Minnesota started with GHW Bush.
The Democrat National Socialist Party. Has a certian ring to it.
It’s not an apology when you’re coerced to do it.
“It’s all about the Benjamins, baby!”
Just a couple or so years in the USA and already she’s sounding like Cleopatra Jones! Is this a great country, or what?! ;)
Yep. the nose is in the tent.
What happens when your largest city has a muslim enclave in it.
I thought Valarie Jarrett had her back, no?
It amazes me that people are shocked that a Muslim Jihadist hates Jews and Israel..well hit me with a feather LOL..if she were not in Congress, she would be on a bus in Jerusalem blowing herself up..its what people like her do..she should NOT even be allowed to be in this country..her “Marriage” to her brother is a SHAM, does anyone here actually believe she is banging her brother..throw her ass out!
I could be wrong but I think there is going to be an ever widening rift between Pelosi and these new breed socialists that have recently been elected. Pelosi wants to be in control and people like Omar and Occassional Cortex have been shooting their mouths off. Doesn’t bode well for votes. Of course who in the hell voted for these idiots in the first place??
Sure, but what's the down side? ;^)
To adapt one of my favorites -- the best part of a Demwit civil war is, everyone wins.
THAT ONE must be closely monitored 24/7 365.
Ha....you do have a point. We can wish. Its almost like watching a train wreck in slow motion. But what a marvelous train wreck it would be.
Plastic face...just rained Omar in...
We know what’s in this vile womans heart. Anti Semitism, anti Americanism. Full devotion and dedication to the evils of Islam
We must dig and dig relentlessly into her past. This is an opportunity we have to drive her into resignation.
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