Omar and Her Merry Band of Anti-Semites

Omar and Her Merry Band of Anti-Semites
Commentary by Sanford D. Horn
March 6-7, 2019

Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me, is adapted from an Italian proverb, “he that deceives me once it’s his fault; but if twice, it’s my fault.” How many weak-kneed, faux apologies will US Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) offer before people in her party, before her apologists finally come to the obvious realization that she is a flat out anti-Semite?

Omar has been a sitting member of Congress just over 60 days and has offered three apologies, no doubt on a breakneck pace to set some sort of record for shamefulness. This is not the first time Omar’s anti-Semitism has been my focal point. https://sanfordspeaksout.blogspot.com/2019/02/young-dems-old-anti-semitism.html 

It’s one thing to be legitimately critical of Israel due to a political leader or policy one finds objectionable. However, when historical anti-Semitic canards are bandied about like confetti, there is no place for that person - of any background, within the halls of Congress. Calling out Omar has absolutely nothing to do with her background as a Muslim, as she believes, seeking, sympathy.

Omar’s latest bout of anti-Semitism has accused those who support Israel of having dual loyalties. This is offensive not just to Jewish people, but to the large numbers of Evangelical Christians who unabashedly support Israel. See the aforementioned essay for Omar’s other anti-Semitic tropes, some pre-dating her election to Congress. She must be the pride of her district in Minnesota.

US Rep. Eliot Engel (D-NY) expressed his disgust with Omar’s language, calling it “unacceptable and deeply offensive to question the loyalty of fellow American citizens because of their political views, including support for the Israel-US relationship.”

Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, said that the “portrayal of American Jews having divided loyalty is a vile anti-Semitic slur.”

But which is worse, that Omar the anti-Semite is in Congress or that the Democrat leadership rescinded plans to offer a resolution on the House floor on Wednesday, March 6 condemning anti-Semitism. A resolution that was to include the following language: 

“Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That, the House of Representatives - (1) acknowledges the dangerous consequences of perpetuating anti-Semitic stereotypes; and (2) rejects anti-Semitism as hateful expressions of intolerance that are contradictory to the values that define the people of the United States.”

Yet, those words, and those of Engel are meaningless without any force of action to support them. Engel refused to remove Omar from the Foreign Affairs Committee, of which he is the chairman, claiming only the leadership can make such a move. Yet, Engel later said “removal [of Omar] would exacerbate the situation,” and that he is not looking to punish anyone. As of 7 PM Wednesday Omar was not removed from that committee, nor had the resolution been presented to the House.

“Why would you have her on a committee that important, that sensitive to our foreign policy, if she has those kind of anti-Semitic beliefs, unless you’re willing to tolerate it; and it shouldn’t be tolerated. She ought to be removed immediately from the Foreign Affairs Committee,” said US Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA).

In fact, the Democrats said they would probably not mention Omar by name in a potential resolution out of concern for her safety. Further, the Democrats are being pressured internally to include additional language condemning Islamophobia, as well as hateful words and deeds against other minority and/or protected groups. Doing such, would diminish the original intent of the resolution - condemning anti-Semitism and Ilhan Omar. Standing with Omar, are fellow freshman members Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) among others in and out of Congress, such as Linda Sarsour, a Muslim activist refusing to acknowledge Israel’s right to exist.

US Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-NY) offered that there is more than just Omar’s anti-Semitism as a reason to condemn her. Omar has called for leniency of ISIS fighters as well as supports the BDS Movement (Boycott, Divest, and Sanction), and should be named in the resolution, said Zeldin on a Fox News appearance. Ocasio-Cortez and Tlaib also support the BDS Movement. Additionally, Omar has called for the defunding of the Department of Homeland Security, which smacks of treason - my words, NOT Zeldin’s.

US Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) Tweeted, “Anti-Semitism has no place in this Congress or this country. Rep. Omar should be removed from the House Foreign Affairs Committee. We must hold ourselves to a higher standard in office.”

President Donald Trump also Tweeted a condemnation of the Democrats for their inaction. “It is shameful that House Democrats won’t take a stronger stand against anti-Semitism in their conference. Anti-Semitism has fueled atrocities throughout history and it’s inconceivable they will not act to condemn it!”

Omar has the right of free speech, but words have consequences, and others have the same free speech to condemn her for her words. Such consequences should not only cost Omar her spot on the vaunted Foreign Affairs Committee, but will hopefully find Omar facing both a primary opponent in 2020, and if emerging victorious, a strong GOP opponent that will appropriately represent the people of Minnesota’s Fifth Congressional District.

Updating this fluid story on Thursday, March 7, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) used her weekly press conference to defend Omar speaking with ignorance. “I don’t think she [Omar] understood the full weight of the words… I feel confident her words were not based on an anti-Semitic attitude.” 

“I don’t believe Rep. Omar didn’t know what she was saying… these were pointed, bigoted, anti-Semitic comments,” said Zeldin from the House floor about Omar, questioning the Democrats as to why she was not mentioned in the resolution.

“Of course her comments were anti-Semitic. Of course she understood her words,” said US Rep. Chris Stewart (R-UT).

In addition to Ocasio-Cortez and Tlaib, 2020 presidential hopefuls senators Kamala Harris (D-CA), Bernie Sanders (D-VT), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) also pledged their support of Omar.

Pelosi added that Omar would not be singled out by name in a resolution that would be so inclusive of all hatred, racism, bigotry, anti-Semitism, anti-Muslim, anti-gay, anti-black, and anti-white supremacist verbiage as to make it virtually meaningless. Pelosi also found time to condemn Trump from the House floor expecting better from him as president.

Engel, speaking from the House floor said that while he will vote for the resolution, he is very disappointed there is not a separate resolution condemning anti-Semitism.

US Rep. Ted Deutch (D-FL) emphatically called for “strong condemnation of anti-Semitism” and the “dual-loyalty trope - I take personally, as the son of a World War II veteran.”

US Rep. Elaine Luria (D-VA), who served 20 years in the US Navy, spoke from the House floor as a Jewish veteran, presented an impassioned litany of her service accomplishments asking if she has to prove her loyalty to her country, the United States.

None of this should have been necessary had the Democrats censured Omar in the first place, punished her by removing her from the Foreign Affairs Committee the way the GOP pulled US Rep. Steve King (R-IA) from his committee assignments for his comments regarding white nationalism. One anti-Semitic member of Congress, Ilhan Omar, has repeatedly made anti-Semitic statements followed by disingenuous apologies until the most recent remark, sans apology. 

The resolution presented in Congress could have been issued on one page, not seven, and could have had the full throated support of all members except Omar. Here is the text of H. Res. 183, which completely lacks the strength it was intended to have: https://docs.house.gov/billsthisweek/20190304/BILLS-116hres183-SUSv1.pdf 

“Condemning anti-Semitism as hateful expressions of intolerance that are contradictory to the values and aspirations that define the people of the United States and condemning anti-Muslim discrimination and bigotry against minorities as hateful expressions of intolerance that are contrary to the values and aspirations of the United States.”

Instead, the version that passed overwhelmingly 407-23, was so watered down it was like a drink during Prohibition. It became so insignificant, Omar voted in favor, as did the entire Democrat caucus, while 23 GOP members voted against, including Zeldin, who is Jewish, because of the weakness of the language.

“If you’re against everything, you’re against nothing,” said historian Victor Davis Hanson, also condemning the Democrat’s lack of intestinal fortitude. 

Omar and OAC, who both appear on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine along with Pelosi and US Rep. Jahana Hayes (D-CT), are being labeled the new faces of the Democrat Party. Omar, AOC, and Tlaib are more than the faces of the Democrat Party. They represent a dangerous turn that is beginning to antagonize some of the senior membership of their party. On another issue AOC declared “I’m the boss!” Perhaps this is why senior “leadership” of the Democrats balked at presenting the resolution of outright condemnation of anti-Semitism straight up, and that the triumvirate of Omar, AOC, and Tlaib have co-opted the Democrat Party for their own sinister machinations. The so-called Democrat leadership demonstrated that by standing for absolutely nothing, they will fall for anything, including but not limited to the toleration and acceptance of anti-Semitism.

Sanford D. Horn is a writer and educator living in Westfield, IN.