In a stunning about-face, Democrats have caved to intense pressure from Jewish organizations and will introduce a resolution which leadership claims will “confront” that anti-Semitism that has erupted in the party since they took control of the House in November.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the media have teamed up to tout the “diverse” new freshman class of women who were elected as the party’s new face but in reality, that “diversity” has allowed for vile Jew haters like Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar and her foul-mouthed cohort Rashida Tlaib to become prominent voices.
In Omar’s case, that voice refuses to be silenced when it comes to bashing Jews and promoting anti-Semitic tropes and following her latest outburst, she came under intense fire from not only top Jewish Democrat Eliot Engle but also organizations led by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) which made it clear that Pelosi isn’t going allowed to let her renegade newbie off with just a slap on the wrist with a limp noodle this time.
Today I wrote to @SpeakerPelosi asking for Congressional resolution rejecting #antiSemitic statements like those made by Rep. Omar & making clear that no matter the political party, the House is united in condemning #antiSemitism. Full letter here: https://t.co/Zt1aJAB2lz pic.twitter.com/8aMNzktPKu
— Jonathan Greenblatt (@JGreenblattADL) March 4, 2019
Following the ADL’s outcry, there will be a formal resolution introduced on Wednesday to chastise the Somali-born radical although it will likely fall far short of removing her from her position on the influential House Foreign Affairs Committee.
#BREAKING: House Dems to vote on resolution in response to Rep. Ilhan Omar's latest Israel remarks https://t.co/Zkzh3hRWZ5 pic.twitter.com/PWLCtL8ZHl
— The Hill (@thehill) March 4, 2019
Via The Hill, “House Dems to vote on resolution in response to Omar’s latest Israel remarks”:
Staffs from the offices of Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.) and Rep. Ted Deutch (D-Fla.) worked on the resolution over the weekend.
The senior Democratic aide said the resolution, which was first reported by Politico, was being drafted before the Anti-Defamation League sent a letter on Monday urging Democratic leaders to consider a resolution condemning Omar’s remarks.
The aide cautioned that the formal text of the resolution has not yet been finalized.
It won’t be the first time the House has voted in recent weeks to condemn anti-Semitism in response to comments made by Omar about Israel. Omar last month apologized after suggesting that U.S. lawmakers defending Israel were motivated by money, writing on Twitter that “it’s all about the Benjamins baby.”
Omar’s latest remarks at the bookstore event last week came while arguing that critics calling her anti-Semitic were trying to silence debate in bad faith.
“I want to talk about the political influence in this country that says it is OK for people to push for allegiance to a foreign country,” Omar said.
Omar doubled down on her comments over the weekend, despite criticism from Engel and House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.), both of whom are Jewish.
“I should not be expected to have allegiance/pledge support to a foreign country in order to serve my country in Congress or serve on committee,” Omar tweeted.
Our democracy is built on debate, Congresswoman! I should not be expected to have allegiance/pledge support to a foreign country in order to serve my country in Congress or serve on committee. The people of the 5th elected me to serve their interest. I am sure we agree on that! https://t.co/gglAS4FVJW
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) March 3, 2019
At some point, you would have to think that Nancy Pelosi would decide that Omar is more trouble than she’s worth but as the latest cover of Rolling Stone magazine can attest, it’s not going to be easy to mitigate the damage that has already been done.
A picture is worth 1,000 words but @aoc, @IlhanMN, @JahanaHayesCT and Nancy on the cover of @RollingStone is worth millions of dreams to women and girls across America.
To them we say: know your power. Know your worth. Have a plan. And be ready. #WomensHistoryMonth pic.twitter.com/tCp84ixRw2
— Nancy Pelosi (@TeamPelosi) March 2, 2019
Meanwhile, the calls are mounting for Omar to be booted off the committee that she had no business being on in the first place with due to lack of experience and her biased, bigoted history.
Jewish groups want Ilhan Omar dropped from Foreign Affairs Committee https://t.co/k7BFJt0923 pic.twitter.com/ykFW7KfrT6
— New York Post (@nypost) March 4, 2019
Democrat Ilhan Omar refuses to stop making anti-Semitic comments.
Clearly her apology for her past anti-Semitic remarks was not sincere.
She has no business serving on the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
— Ronna McDaniel (@GOPChairwoman) March 4, 2019
Pelosi has done a fine job painting herself into a corner this time and if she is too tough on Omar, she runs the risk that “the boss” Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez will sic her Twitter mob on her.
A.F. Branco Cartoon – A-OK https://t.co/iJVrfw94G6 #AlexandriaOcasioCortez #AOC #NancyPelosi pic.twitter.com/iv42YQq8Bs
— A.F. Branco Cartoons (@afbranco) March 4, 2019
You have to admit though that it’s fun watching Nancy squirm as she slowly loses control over the extremists that she helped to enable.