Today Congresswoman Ilhan Omar carried her anti-semitism too far, drawing an explicit rebuke from Nancy Pelosi. First, Omar tweeted a familiar anti-Semitic trope: support for Israel is “all about the Benjamins.”
It's all about the Benjamins baby 🎶 https://t.co/KatcXJnZLV
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) February 10, 2019
In response to a question, she explained that AIPAC has bought Congress:
AIPAC! https://t.co/UdzaFUEfrh
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) February 11, 2019
Actually, AIPAC doesn’t make political contributions.
Finally, she retweeted a criticism that included a reference to hook-nosed Jews. Her intent in doing so was not clear, and she later deleted the retweet:
3. Did she not read the full tweet? pic.twitter.com/0Ikkjt6edO
— Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) February 11, 2019
That was too much for Nancy Pelosi. She tweeted a remarkably blunt reproof of the freshman Congresswoman:
In our conversation today, Congresswoman Omar and I agreed that we must use this moment to move forward as we reject anti-Semitism in all forms. https://t.co/UpZA3DNgQs pic.twitter.com/1Z6rH65e3M
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) February 11, 2019
The caption of the leadership statement says it all: “Democratic Leadership Statement on Anti-Semitic Comments of Congresswoman Ilhan Omar.” Will that finish Omar’s political career? It should, but probably won’t.
UPDATE: Rep. Omar has released a statement that includes a grudging apology:
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.
I’m not sure who has attacked Omar “for her identity,” but she apparently thinks that is relevant. Iowahawk parodied Omar’s apology. It’s not a laughing matter, but ridicule is good:
It was never my intention to offend the people of Nebraska as a whole, I only wished to express concern about the general inferiority and incompetence of their football team and corn farming. For this I unequivocally apologize.
At the same time, we must remember Nebraska sucks.
— David Burge (@iowahawkblog) February 11, 2019
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