Rep. Ilhan Omar went on an anti-Semitic twitter rant over the weekend, prompting a backlash from prominent Republicans and a particularly sharp rebuke from Chelsea Clinton.
Omar, who is the first Somali-American woman elected to Congress, responded to a comment regarding House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) threatening action against Omar (D-MN) and Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) over past allegedly anti-Semitic remarks.
Omar responded to the assertion by using a stereotype about Jews being motivated by money, then accusing a prominent lobbying group, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), of paying members of Congress to support Israel.
“It’s all about the Benjamins baby,” Omar tweeted, a line from a rap song by Puff Daddy which referenced Benjamin Franklin’s image on the $100 bill.
It’s all about the Benjamins baby 🎶 https://t.co/KatcXJnZLV
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) February 10, 2019
Batya Ungar-Sargon, an opinion editor for The Forward newspaper, took a shot at Omar over the money reference saying it was “bad form” and “the second anti-Semitic trope you’ve tweeted.”
Omar responded succinctly: “AIPAC!”
AIPAC! https://t.co/UdzaFUEfrh
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) February 11, 2019
Omar then added fuel to the fire by retweeting a comment about her stereotyping of American Jews as being almost as bad as calling them “hook-nosed.”
@IlhanMN retweeted this comment in response to her “Benjamins” tweet. (She’s since deleted it.) pic.twitter.com/kT0VVdOnqS
— Brandon Conradis (@BConradis) February 11, 2019
Getting Heat
Omar’s drivel is being called out on both sides of the aisle for what it is – naked anti-Semitic thoughts and comments.
House GOP conference chair Liz Cheney (R-WY) immediately called for Omar’s removal from the House Foreign Affairs Committee (yes, this loose cannon has been named to the committee by fellow Democrats).
“This CANNOT be tolerated in our own Congress by anyone of either party.” former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley wrote. “In a time of increased antisemitism, we all must be held to account.”
Perhaps more shocking, some Democrats are piling on as well. Typically the party of unity when it comes to anti-Semitism (see Dem support of Louis Farrakhan and Al Sharpton), even they are calling Omar out. The most prominent of these being former First Daughter Chelsea Clinton.
Co-signed as an American. We should expect all elected officials, regardless of party, and all public figures to not traffic in anti-Semitism.
— Chelsea Clinton (@ChelseaClinton) February 11, 2019
Clinton vowed to “reach out” to Omar on Monday over the comments.
Rep. Max Rose (D-NY) also issued a statement stating, “at a time when anti-Semitic attacks are on the rise, our leaders should not be invoking hurtful stereotypes and caricatures of Jewish people to dismiss those who support Israel.”
Omar’s Sordid History
Rep. Omar has a history of making anti-Semitic comments. In past social-media ramblings, she has claimed Israel “hypnotized the world” and expressed hope that “people will see their evil doings.”
She later dismissed the comments in an interview with CNN saying, “I don’t know how my comments would be offensive to Jewish Americans.”
Aside from that, this fine, upstanding Democrat lawmaker has suggested Senator Lindsey Graham is “compromised” by Russians for being gay, and on multiple occasions has defended the actions of terrorists.
Despite her consistent pattern of bigotry, House Democratic leadership has called her a “thoughtful colleague.”
NRCC Spokesman Michael McAdams says “It’s time for Nancy Pelosi and House Democrats to get serious about the problem within their caucus, and removing Ilhan Omar from the Foreign Affairs Committee is the first step.”