U.S. lawmaker apologises after House leaders condemn comments as anti-Semitic

[webfact]

U.S. lawmaker apologises after House leaders condemn comments as anti-Semitic

 

FILE PHOTO: U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar (D-MN) participates in a news conference to call on Congress to cut funding for ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement), at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S., February 7, 2019. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democratic lawmaker Ilhan Omar apologised on Monday after party leaders condemned her comments about the pro-Israel lobby in the United States as using anti-Semitic stereotypes.

 

"Anti-Semitism is real and I am grateful for Jewish allies and colleagues who are educating me on the painful history of anti-Semitic tropes," Omar, who was elected for the first time to the U.S. House of Representatives in November, said in a statement.

 

"My intention is never to offend my constituents or Jewish Americans as a whole," she said, adding that she "unequivocally" apologised.

 

Omar was criticized by both Republicans and Democrats for saying on Twitter that the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, a pro-Israel lobbying group, was paying U.S. politicians to support Israel.

 

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other Democratic House leaders condemned her remarks earlier, calling for an apology and saying anti-Semitism must be confronted and condemned.

 

"Legitimate criticism of Israel's policies is protected by the values of free speech and democratic debate that the United States and Israel share," they said. "But Congresswoman Omar’s use of anti-Semitic tropes and prejudicial accusations about Israel's supporters is deeply offensive."

 

Chuck Schumer, the Senate Democratic leader, said on Twitter, "Rep. Omar's use of anti-Semitic stereotype was offensive and irresponsible."

 

Even before her most recent comments, Republicans had criticized Democrats for appointing Omar to the House Foreign Affairs Committee and called for her to be removed from her seat because of past statements critical of Israel.

 

(Reporting by Patricia Zengerle; Editing by Kieran Murray and Leslie Adler)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-02-12

[Chomper Higgot]

Did anybody answer the accusation Omar made by proving it incorrect?

[riclag]

 She's On the Foreign Relation Comm ,not very diplomatic! It's good that her opinions are being showcased through the media for all to see!

[Chippy151]

 

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Omar was criticized by both Republicans and Democrats for saying on Twitter that the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, a pro-Israel lobbying group, was paying U.S. politicians to support Israel

That's not anti-semitic.

[dexterm]

Of course it's All about the Benjamins.

 

There are thousands of PACs (political action committees) lobby groups from labor unions to the NRA who contribute to candidates' election funds.

 

AIPAC is simply one of them, and they sure as hell aren't going to fund candidates critical of Israel.

The story is much ado about nothing.

 

She didn't say anything anti Semitic. Ironically, it's the Zionist lobbyists themselves who have deliberately introduced the anti-Semitic trope, in an attempt to spin her comments, which just simply state the obvious: if you want a politician to vote your interests, then give them money to get elected. 
 

[Cory1848]

2 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Did anybody answer the accusation Omar made by proving it incorrect?

There’s a pretty good opinion piece by Dana Milbank in the Washington Post about this (“Ilhan Omar’s Tweets Were Appalling”). I guess, sure, AIPAC, like any other lobbying group, contributes to the campaigns of people they like (although they would need to do it through a PAC -- frankly, I’m not sure how lobbying groups operate in terms of funneling cash). It seems to me that the keyword here is “tropes”: god knows how many people I’ve talked to make the leap from “AIPAC lobbies for pro-Israel interests” to “AIPAC dictates US foreign policy.” People perceived that Omar was skirting with such stuff in her tweets, fairly or not. She apologized, she keeps her committee seats, and everything is cool. But I think the bigger picture is, the Democrats want to maintain the high ground in the whole bigotry/racism issue over the Republicans, and mildly censuring one of their own over something like this helps them do that.

Edited February 12, 2019 by Cory1848

[Prissana Pescud]

5 hours ago, Chippy151 said:

 

That's not anti-semitic.

It will always be called anti Semitic even if it is the truth. Such is US Semitic dominated politics

[Thomas J]

9 hours ago, webfact said:

U.S. lawmaker apologizes after House leaders condemn comments as anti-Semitic

She is speaking with a person who is on record of voicing approval for the killing of Jews. Certainly not a good optic.  It will be interesting to see how Democrats handle this given that they are calling for Governor Ralph Northam to resign following a decades old picture of him in blackface they said disparages black americans.  That seems pretty tame compared to showing an open kinship to someone who celebrates the killing of Jews. 

[Prissana Pescud]

There should be no racism in any democratic country.

At the same time truth in politics should be what a democracy strives for.

The lady spoke the truth. 

Semitic politics does dominate much of US policy and Foreign Policy.

So everyone savages her. Because she spoke the truth. Yay USA.

[Dumbastheycome]

5 hours ago, Chippy151 said:

 

That's not anti-semitic.

No it is  not.

But waving the red card by claiming so with the purpose of shutting  down  any discussion of  truth or  fact is typical.

 

[dexterm]

38 minutes ago, Thomas J said:

She is speaking with a person who is on record of voicing approval for the killing of Jews. Certainly not a good optic.  It will be interesting to see how Democrats handle this given that they are calling for Governor Ralph Northam to resign following a decades old picture of him in blackface they said disparages black americans.  That seems pretty tame compared to showing an open kinship to someone who celebrates the killing of Jews. 

Link please.

[SheungWan]

If there is one thing sections of the Left are increasingly unembarrassed about, it is picking up old Nazi 1930s nostrums about the "Jewish Lobby" and running with the same dog-whistle politics. Both extremes happy to swim in the same sea. Rolling up on this thread note the usual suspects.

[Chomper Higgot]

1 hour ago, SheungWan said:

If there is one thing sections of the Left are increasingly unembarrassed about, it is picking up old Nazi 1930s nostrums about the "Jewish Lobby" and running with the same dog-whistle politics. Both extremes happy to swim in the same sea. Rolling up on this thread note the usual suspects.

Perhaps you have the answer to my question at #2?

[dexterm]

2 hours ago, SheungWan said:

If there is one thing sections of the Left are increasingly unembarrassed about, it is picking up old Nazi 1930s nostrums about the "Jewish Lobby" and running with the same dog-whistle politics. Both extremes happy to swim in the same sea. Rolling up on this thread note the usual suspects.

Who said anything about "Jewish Lobby" ..except you?
Looks like you are just as guilty as the OP critics of conflating any criticism of Israel with anti Semitism.

The tactic is the same: throw enough mud, and hope some of it sticks.

 

And when you cry wolf so often, you debase the currency and draw attention away from real anti-Semites (people who irrationally hate Jews simply because they are Jewish.. a form of madness like all racism)

Edited February 13, 2019 by dexterm

[polkop11]

Omar's comments can read as criticism of Congress. If all are uniting against her tweets it means that none wants them to take hold and all are concerned. From Trump who was bankrolled by Adelson to Schumer who is a long time AIPAC darling.

[DM07]

1) I don't see, what she said, as anti-semitic!

2) Here we have the problem with "the left", in a nutshell!

Instead of standing up and calling it, what it is, tail goes between the legs and apologies are offered left and right!

3) Talking about the right: all the ones on the right side, should really get of the high- horse!

And quick!

Their own president and his ilk said way worse things and are unapologetic about it!

When a bigot, homophobe and racist like Mike Pence starts running his mouth, things really become laughable!

But hey...at least, he didn't criticize Israel!

 

 

[quandow]

Her tweet:

"Israel has hypnotized the world, may Allah awaken the people and help them see the evil doings of Israel."

While not politically correct, is she technically wrong? I believe Netanyahu is under investigation just like some other world leader closer to home.

 

https://www.npr.org/2018/12/03/672881913/israeli-police-recommend-indicting-netanyahu-in-3rd-corruption-case-this-year

[BobBKK]

On 2/12/2019 at 11:57 AM, Chomper Higgot said:

Did anybody answer the accusation Omar made by proving it incorrect?

We agree for once.

[bristolboy]

On 2/12/2019 at 5:50 PM, Prissana Pescud said:

It will always be called anti Semitic even if it is the truth. Such is US Semitic dominated politics

Thank you for providing a textbook example of anti-semitism. This is what the real, unambiguous thing looks like.

[bristolboy]

On 2/13/2019 at 1:07 PM, polkop11 said:

Omar's comments can read as criticism of Congress. If all are uniting against her tweets it means that none wants them to take hold and all are concerned. From Trump who was bankrolled by Adelson to Schumer who is a long time AIPAC darling.

Was Adelson Trump's only supporter? And American Jews were so enamored of Trump's position on Israel that 71% voted against him.