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Thomas Friedman: Ilhan Omar Has Come To Be A 'Bridge Destroyer' Between Muslims and Jews
Townhall.com ^ | March 9, 2019 | Timothy Meads

Posted on 03/09/2019 10:51:30 AM PST by Kaslin

New York Times foreign affairs columnist Thomas Friedman had some choice words for Rep. Ilhan Omar after the recently elected congresswoman has displayed antisemitic rhetoric during her short tenure in Congress via her comments about Israel and big money in politics. Friedman said Rep. Omar had a "perfect" opportunity to be a bridge builder between Muslims and Jews but instead has opted to be a "bridge destroyer" because she has not offered "constructive" criticism. 

"Ilhan Omar represents, I believe, the largest Jewish community in the whole upper Midwest...She also represents a Somali immigrant community that have come to our city and enriched it...She was perfectly poised to be a bridge builder between Muslims and Jews, between Arabs and Israelis and rather than that she has come to be a bridge destroyer,” Friedman told the host.

“She was perfectly poised to be a bridge builder between Muslims and Jews, between Arabs and Israelis. ... She has come to be a bridge destroyer,” New York Times columnist Tom Friedman tells @smerconish about Rep. Ilhan Omar’s controversial Israel comments https://t.co/msphDlebuV pic.twitter.com/sqIzxmCEWI— CNN (@CNN) March 9, 2019

Friedman made it known he was not necessarily bashing Omar for criticism of Israel nor foreign policy, but the way in which she went about it. 

"Do you want to make a point? Or do you want to make a difference? Do you want to be constructive or destructive?...There are constructive ways to be critical of AIPAC or this administration right now...But when you come in and start throwing around these tropes about dual allegiance, about Israel and jews hypnotizing people, no one is going to believe you're innocent here because you are not being constructive. And when you come from this district that is such a strong Jewish and Muslim population, where you're set up to be a bridge builder and all you do is be a bridge destroyer then you are on my criticism list," Friedman said.

As noted by Matt yesterday, Democratic leadership has opted instead to believe that Rep. Omar is not antisemitic, but simply an idiot who does not understand what she is saying. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi recently dismissed Rep. Omar's remarks, saying, "The incident that happened with, I don't think our colleague is anti-Semitic, I think she has a different experience in the use of words, doesn't understand that some of them are fraught with meaning, that she, what, didn't realize."


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Israel; US: Michigan; US: Minnesota; US: New York; US: Vermont; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: antisemitism; berniesanders; cnn; dnctalkingpoint; dnctalkingpoints; israel; jerusalem; letshavejerusalem; mediawingofthednc; muslims; newyork; newyorkcity; newyorkslimes; newyorktimes; nonplayercharacter; nonplayercharacters; npc; npcs; ocasiocortez; partisanmediashills; presstitutes; smearmachine; thomasfriedman; vermont; waronterror
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To: Kaslin

There was a bridge? Really? What was it like? Did they hide what the Koran says about Jews, quotes from after their false prophet realized he wasn’t gonna get them to follow him? Did it come with drains to handle the blood of slain infidels? With boxes to drop in your tax for not being a Muslim? What was this bridge that Islam had to anyone, especially the Jews, else like?


21 posted on 03/09/2019 11:26:02 AM PST by Rurudyne (Standup Philosopher)
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To: Kaslin

It is clear to me that antisemitism and black face is permitted in the democrat party , They take no action on either. So Im calling for Black Face anti-muslim day soon. Muslims did 911!!


22 posted on 03/09/2019 11:31:02 AM PST by guyman
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To: Berosus

Following my last trip to WalMart I thought of a book title: “The World is Fat”.


23 posted on 03/09/2019 11:33:15 AM PST by elcid1970 (My gun safe is saying, "Room for one more, honey!")
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To: proust

He is so puffed up & smug the few times I’ve seen him on tv. Annoying & pointless as h*’ll.


24 posted on 03/09/2019 11:33:39 AM PST by leaning conservative (snow coming, school cancelled, yayyyyyyyyy!!!!!!!!!!!)
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To: Paladin2

Thomas Friedman has been so wrong about so many things, it is a little hard to attribute much weight to his opinions.

Israel, though “deserving” of criticism, was criticized in the “wrong way” by Ilhan Omar? Anti-Semitism is all subject to the same limitation, there is no “right way” to deliver it.

Ilhan Omar was supposed to have fled Somalia, because of “religious persecution”. Well, the persecution, such as it was, was NOT coming from anyone of Jewish connections, so she cannot blame THAT on the Jews or even the Zionist Jews. The “religious persecution” was being administered by OTHER Muslims, and most probably, it was because she was the “wrong kind” of Muslim.

Muslims are in far greater danger from other Muslims, than ever they could be from any other religion or ideology.


25 posted on 03/09/2019 11:35:47 AM PST by alloysteel (History will be kind to me for I intend to write it. - Winston Churchill)
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To: 353FMG

Yes, she’s a spy and a traitor, but no, we are NOT toast.
She’s going down.


26 posted on 03/09/2019 11:46:38 AM PST by Veto! (Veto! (Political Correctness Offends Me))
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To: Kaslin

And they were such good friends.....


27 posted on 03/09/2019 11:48:22 AM PST by faucetman (Just the facts, ma'am, Just the facts)
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To: leaning conservative; Steely Tom
Steely Tom said it best:

Thomas Friedman rants like a fool and embarrasses himself on a regular basis. He’s a professional virtue-signaler, nothing more.

28 posted on 03/09/2019 11:50:21 AM PST by GOPJ ("Newspeak": Republicans lie, Democrats misspeak. Democrats plan, Republicans scheme. Howie Carr)
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To: Kaslin

I think it’s more correct to say that political Islam, but I repeat myself, not a single political muslim, perhaps I repeat myself again, is the problem.


29 posted on 03/09/2019 11:54:04 AM PST by tinyowl (A is A)
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To: Kaslin

When Friedman’s book “From Beirut to Bethlehem” came out, I was visiting Muslim friends in LA. Lebanese family who arrived penniless in about 1920, opened a little corner grocery store, worked very hard, created a $100,000,000 empire of supermarkets and shopping malls. Immigrants like this are wonderful. And they came legally.

Anyway, we decided to have a Christmas buffet featuring Arabic food, because, after all, Jesus lived in the Middle East and would have had that diet, not turkey.. Beirut is about 150 miles from Bethlehem.

I was on the phone with the matriarch in Dearborn for days, buying and cooking the right stuff. It was a terrific Christmas. Everyone loved the idea and more importantly, loved the food.

My muslim friend was a doctor, his brother a movie director in partnership with a Jewish guy, their sister an attorney and a very attractive young woman. No veils in sight.

I’m not against muslim immigration as long they are legal immigrants and we know and approve of who they are.

This Omar monstrosity needs to be deported immediately..


30 posted on 03/09/2019 12:00:41 PM PST by Veto! (Veto! (Political Correctness Offends Me))
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To: Veto!

She is NOT going down.
She is being protected by every side for fear of being called racist.


31 posted on 03/09/2019 12:06:29 PM PST by 353FMG
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To: alloysteel
"Muslims are in far greater danger from other Muslims, than ever they could be from any other religion or ideology."

Also, non-Muslims seem to be in greater danger from Muslims than almost everybody else [except psychopaths, Communists, H->!, etc]

32 posted on 03/09/2019 12:11:47 PM PST by Paladin2
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To: alloysteel
Muslims are in far greater danger from other Muslims, than ever they could be from any other religion or ideology.

The reason for that is because so many people who call themselves Muslims don't follow the fundamentals of Islam as directed by Allah, and follow the examples set by Muhammad.
They are heretics and should be killed along with us Infidels. - Tom

33 posted on 03/09/2019 12:11:54 PM PST by Capt. Tom
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To: Capt. Tom
"They are heretics and should be killed along with us Infidels. - Tom "

That's helpful?

34 posted on 03/09/2019 12:25:25 PM PST by Paladin2
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To: Kaslin
“She was perfectly poised to be a bridge builder between Muslims and Jews, between Arabs and Israelis”

She was never going to be that.

That's Friedman projecting.

People do that a lot when it comes to new and unknown politicians, but Tom Friedman ought to have known better.

35 posted on 03/09/2019 12:29:44 PM PST by x
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To: Kaslin
President Trump had it right. We should stop importing people from certain "shit-hole" countries. Maybe if he had said, from countries who do not value the traditions and excellence of the American life style (or culture), his E.O. would not have lawsuits.

I truly don't get why Trump does not ignore these hand-picked district/federal Judges like Obambi did. They have NO authority over the Executive Branch when the CIC makes policy within the Constitutional framework. Perfect example: The socialist House wants to impeach him for firing Comey, among other made up criminality. The President has the absolute authority to FIRE anyone for any reason in the Executive Branch.

I've never been a conspiracy type, but I am now thinking we are heading to a sporadic physical war with these socialist/commies building within the Nation that was once the envy of the world. Many have said it in their own words, "Revolution". What they want is insurrection.

I hope I die before civil war occurs to my beloved Republic. For those alive, remember who the targets are. They are not the riotous pissy cowards of Antifa, nor the uneducated indoctrinated students nor the "gimme-dats". We all know who they are. Think clandestine if it's time to fight. Think secure comms. Think cells. Think talking to fellow Veterans and Active Military. Think neighborhood sympathizers.

To you good folks in the FBI and other Law Enforcement agencies, I am not suggesting anything other than protecting our Republic which you defend every day. Your leadership has failed you with attempting a political coup against our duly elected CIC. Fulfill your Oath if push comes to shove. Do you remember that Oath? I do as a 11 year Navy veteran now 69 years old.

An Oath is Forever.

36 posted on 03/09/2019 12:38:59 PM PST by A Navy Vet (I'm not Islamophobic - I'm Islamonauseous. Plus LGBTQxyz nauseous.)
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To: AdmSmith; AnonymousConservative; Arthur Wildfire! March; Berosus; Bockscar; cardinal4; ColdOne; ...
And here's the money (and nothing to do with Ben Franklins):
Friedman made it known he was not necessarily bashing Omar for criticism of Israel nor foreign policy, but the way in which she went about it.
The Demagogic Party is in favor of the destruction of Israel, just as it is in favor of the destruction the US and the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Thanks Kaslin.

37 posted on 03/09/2019 12:39:33 PM PST by SunkenCiv (and btw -- https://www.gofundme.com/for-rotator-cuff-repair-surgery)
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To: Paladin2
"They are heretics and should be killed along with us Infidels. - Tom " That's helpful?

I am referring to fundamental Muslims who will kill us Infidels if we resist Islam, and the Muslim Heretics who don't want to get Infidel blood on their hands, and don't have a fundamental interpretation of Islam.
The fundamental Muslims will kill them also. - Tom

38 posted on 03/09/2019 12:40:33 PM PST by Capt. Tom
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To: Capt. Tom

As far as I can tell any Muslim can quickly and easily revert to fundamentalism.

Second and Third generation “immigrants” seem to be the most susceptible.


39 posted on 03/09/2019 12:52:42 PM PST by Paladin2
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"...I don't think our colleague is anti-Semitic, I think she has a different experience in the use of words, doesn't understand that some of them are fraught with meaning, that she, what, didn't realize."..

Of course she realizes the meaning of her words and the antisemitism comes from deep within her dark heart.

Nobody with a brain believes Puglosi including herself of course but the DemonRats will keep repeating their mantra to convince their mindless sheep that the mussies are their friends and their future.

The Somali trash living in the Cedar-Riverside district of Minneapolis consider women second class citizens, believe LGBTQ's need to be tossed off buildings and have not a democratic bone in their bodies. But they hate America and want to destroy it, so they are the next chosen people for the DemonRats.

This is a long, long way from you grandfather's working class, union supporting Democrat Party.

40 posted on 03/09/2019 1:16:35 PM PST by Sa-teef
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