New York Times columnist Wajahat Ali questioned Republican Rep. Dan Crenshaw’s patriotism and ended up getting leveled by the Congressman.
Ali, who was once named to CNN’s ‘Most Influential American Muslims’ list, jumped at the chance to prop up Rep. Ilhan Omar while simultaneously blasting Crenshaw’s patriotism.
The so-called journalist was responding to comedian Jon Stewart’s viral reaction to members of Congress for not supporting a victims’ compensation fund set up for first responders after the 9/11 attacks.
The number of lawmakers at a hearing over the issue led Stewart to excoriate them as “an embarrassment to the country” and said their lack of concern “is a stain on this institution [Congress].”
Ali decided to brag about Omar’s support for the compensation fund while slamming Crenshaw for not being a co-sponsor. Which, as any decent journalist with the gumption to research facts prior to making accusations would know, was completely false.
“Anytime a Republican says they are ‘patriots’ ask them if they voted to fund the 9/11 Victims Compensation Fund. You know who’s for it? Ilhan Omar,” Ali wrote in a since-deleted tweet. “You know who hasn’t sponsored it? Dan Crenshaw. @DanCrenshawTX, I hope you do the right thing. If not, why aren’t you?”
Crenshaw Levels Him
It took all of a few minutes for followers on social media to point out that Ali was simply flat-out lying or didn’t know how to look up congressional bills.
Why did you lie about something that’s so LAUGHABLY easy to check?https://t.co/vldXipg13z pic.twitter.com/CRMBkyFEzJ
— Andrew Follett (@AndrewCFollett) June 11, 2019
Not to mention, did this guy seriously just question Crenshaw’s patriotism while holding up Omar, a radical anti-American Democrat by any reasonable measure, as a true example of such?
Seriously?!
Crenshaw refused to take the insult laying down, taunting Ali by putting the word ‘journalist’ in quotes and advising him in the future to “check your facts.”
He chided him by saying the word ‘patriotism’ as well, posting an image of a brain scan of the injury he sustained while fighting terrorists overseas. You know, when he lost his eye during his third tour of duty in Afghanistan, and still went back for two more tours?
Hey “journalist,” maybe you should check your facts. I am a co-sponsor. Nice try though.
Also, “patriotism”: https://t.co/3jSAFc5prw pic.twitter.com/1GURun1cr4
— Dan Crenshaw (@DanCrenshawTX) June 11, 2019
Ali Continued to Lie
Rather than admit his mistake, Ali did what most of the mainstream media does – he issued a non-apology and demanded Crenshaw actually apologize to Omar for blasting her previous comments on 9/11, in which she claimed “some people did something” that day.
Thanks for letting me know. I’m glad you did and I have no problem correcting and updating the record with facts. Now try it with your comments about Ilhan Omar. You’ll feel better. Sincerely, a fellow patriot. https://t.co/6bAsYBpxsY
— Wajahat Ali (@WajahatAli) June 11, 2019
It takes a certain amount of either chutzpah or ignorance, perhaps both, to lie, get called out for lying, then continue to insult the person you were lying about.
“I deleted this b/c Dan Crenshaw supported the Fund in May after being a holdout,” Ali said offering ‘alternative facts.’
“Apologies to him for the tweet. I have no problem admitting it & correcting the record with facts,” he added. “For those trying to ‘own’ me, especially as you still promote ‘alternative facts,’ enjoy Tuesday.”
But he didn’t correct the record with facts. Crenshaw wasn’t a ‘holdout’ on something that hasn’t been voted on yet. And Omar is not better for attaching her name to a bill by an earlier date.
At no point should anyone question Crenshaw’s patriotism while lauding that of Omar’s. You’ll only end up thoroughly embarrassed for doing so.
