The Washington Examiner’s Naomi Lim reports that yesterday the House passed an amendment to a resolution with a message to Ilhan Omar: “In rare vote, House sends a message on anti-Semitism to Ilhan Omar.” We have Rep. David Kustoff (R., Tenns.) to thank for this:
The House on Wednesday unanimously passed a broad condemnation of anti-Semitism days after Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., received widespread criticism over her comments on Israel.
The language, which does not mention Omar by name, was approved 424-0 using a legislature procedure that lets the minority party make a last-minute motion to change legislation just before it’s passed. The procedure almost never works for the minority party, in part because the minority usually tries to make radical changes to the bill that the majority quickly rejects.
On Wednesday, however, Republicans used the so-called “motion to recommit” vote to call for the addition of language to a resolution that states it is in the “national interests of the United States to combat anti-Semitism at home and abroad.”
“With an unfortunate rise in anti-Semitism and attempts to delegitimize Israel, the United States House of Representatives must emphasize the importance of combating anti-Semitism and reject all movements that deny Israel’s right to exist,” the amendment states.
The sponsor of the language, Rep. David Kustoff, R-Tenn., indicated the language was aimed at Omar, who has been criticized by both parties for comments they say amount to anti-Semitism.
“This horrific anti-Semitic tone being taken by some Members of Congress must come to an end,” Kustoff said. “The language I offered affirms the United States’ interest in combating anti-Semitism at home and abroad, something my colleagues on both sides of the aisle should and must support. I am proud to stand today in solidarity with my Jewish community as this hate has no place in our country.”
The House easily approved the proposal, marking the first time in several years that the motion to recommit worked.
I take the liberty of setting this forth especially for readers who get their news from Omar’s hometown newspaper. Let’s just say that the Star Tribune hasn’t gotten to this development yet.
House unanimously denounces anti-Semitism in indirect rebuke of @IlhanMN.
The House states that they "reject all movements that deny Israel’s right to exist."https://t.co/hcphY9K3QX
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) February 13, 2019
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