Clitless Congress-Muslim Ilhan Omar The Jews-Hater

 (Staff article from The NPR on 11 February 2019.)

Rep. Ilhan Omar Apologizes 'Unequivocally' For Remarks Condemned As Anti-Semitic: Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., apologized for comments on social media widely condemned as anti-Semitic. House Democratic leaders called the remarks "deeply offensive."

One of the two first Muslim women to serve in Congress has apologized for comments on social media widely condemned as anti-Semitic. Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., said she apologized "unequivocally" following a joint statement released by House Democratic leaders calling on her to do so.

"Anti-Semitism is real," Omar tweeted Monday afternoon, "and I am grateful for Jewish allies and colleagues who are educating me on the painful history of anti-Semitic tropes." She added, "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 questioned the financial relationship between AIPAC, the powerful pro-Israel lobby, and members of Congress in tweets over the weekend. In her apology, Omar added that she still believes there is a "problematic role" for lobbyists, whether it's AIPAC or the NRA. The House leaders' statement, led by Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., called the tweets "deeply offensive."

"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. 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."

The statement was issued jointly with Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, Majority Whip James Clyburn, Assistant Speaker Ben Ray Luján, Caucus Chairman Hakeem Jeffries and Caucus Vice Chairwoman Katherine Clark.

The leadership statement came after two Jewish House Democrats began circulating a letter Monday to their colleagues asking them to join in asking party leadership to condemn anti-Semitism citing "recent rhetoric from certain members within our Caucus."

The letter, by Reps. Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey and Elaine Luria of Virginia, does not name lawmakers but is clearly a reference to freshman Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., who is the target of recent criticism from both the left and the right for comments seen as both overtly and subtly anti-Semitic.

Meanwhile, Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., said in a statement that the GOP will "take action this week to ensure the House speaks out against this hatred and stands with Israel and the Jewish people." McCarthy did not offer specifics, but Republicans are considering options that include trying to force a vote on a resolution led by Rep. Lee Zeldin, R-N.Y., that condemns anti-Semitism broadly and specifically calls out Omar.

"We must speak out when any Member — Democrat or Republican — uses harmful tropes and stereotypes, levels accusations of dual loyalty, or makes reckless statements like those yesterday," the letter stated, a clear reference to Omar's tweets.

Omar is one of the two first Muslim women to serve in Congress; the other is fellow freshman Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich. For weeks, congressional Republicans have criticized Omar's placement on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and both women for what the Republicans see as anti-Semitic rhetoric in their past, but the letter was the first official act by some of their own Democratic colleagues.

Another Democratic freshman lawmaker who is also Jewish, Max Rose of New York, criticized Omar for her tweets. "Congresswoman Omar's comments are deeply hurtful to Jews, including myself," he wrote. Other Democrats, including Chelsea Clinton, also tweeted criticism of Omar's rhetoric.

Separately the Anti-Defamation League, an outside group formed to fight hate speech and anti-Semitism, also weighed in before Omar's apology, citing a tweet where she suggested politicians were being influenced by donations from Jewish groups.

"As Americans and Jews, we expect our politicians to condemn bigotry, not to fuel it. Words matter. At a time when anti-Semitism is on the rise in the U.S. and abroad, Rep. Omar is promoting the ugly, anti-Semitic conspiracy theory that Jews have an outsized influence over politics," Jonathan A. Greenblatt, CEO and national director of the ADL, said in a written statement.

Omar to be kicked off Foreign Affairs Committee

Calls increase for clitless Somali Congressmuslim Ilhan Omar to be kicked off Foreign Affairs Committee for her virulent anti-Semitic diatribes against Israel.

On Sunday night, the freshman Democrat, who was given a slot on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, reacted to a story about Republican House Minority Leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy's plan to "take action" against the anti-Semitism being exhibited on a regular basis by Omar and her " sister" freshman Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich. "It's all about the Benjamins baby," she wrote, using a song reference and slang term for $100 bills to attack Jewish influence in politics.

Earlier today, US Rep. Dr. Mark Green (R-TN) spoke out against the Muslim lawmaker, saying that he agrees with Liz Cheney that we need to kick her off the House Foreign Affairs Committee to which Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) appointed her. President Trump also calls for anti-Semitic Somali Muslim Congresswoman Ilhan Omar (D-MN) to either resign from Congress or at a minimum step down from the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

“What she said is so deep-seated in her heart, that her lame apology, and that’s what it was, it was lame, and she didn’t mean a word of it was just not appropriate,” Trump added. “I think she should resign from Congress, frankly.”

Ten years after Ilhan Omar was born in Mogadishu, the 1991 Somali civil war forced her family to head for a refugee camp in Kenya where they spent four years and she was FGMed. Along with her family, Omar arrived to the United States with refugee status in 1995. Omar was already a teenager.

Despite having predominantly lived in the United States, Omar still carries the broken value systems of all third-world Muslim countries when it comes to how Jews are viewed.

In most Muslim countries — and in un-evolved Muslim communities — Jews are seen as notorious conspirators not worth trusting, even not worth treating with human dignity. This holds despite the fact that Ilhan Omar’s family background is portrayed as being educated white collar workers. 

Her father is reported to have worked as a teacher trainer, while her grandfather is said to have been the director of marine transport in Somalia. Her aunts and uncles are reported to have worked as civil servants and educators. In the U.S., that work ethic branched into democratic citizenship.

And yet, less than two months into office as a Congresswoman of one of the highest caliber nations in the world, Omar cannot refrain from blasting anti-Semitic slurs with disturbing glee. Each slur is followed by hollow and forced apologies, before doing it again.