Progressive Rush to Defend Controversial Anti-Semite

Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) remains defiant, despite her latest anti-Semitic trope, thanks to the backing of the ascendant progressive wing of the Democratic Party.

While anti-Semitism in American politics hasn’t risen to the level of the U.K.’s Labor Party, it has become a thorn in the side of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who’d like to devote all of her energy to undermining President Trump. 

Omar’s boisterous allies promise to make Pelosi’s task as difficult as possible. (The Hill)
 

But this time, Omar is holding her ground, and supporters such as fellow progressive freshman Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) are speaking out.

Ocasio-Cortez said advancing a resolution to rebuke Omar should have only been done as a last resort if efforts to address the remarks privately didn’t work. 

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Progressive Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), who with Omar is one of the first two Muslim women elected to Congress, also tweeted that her fellow freshman is “being targeted just like many civil rights icons before us who spoke out about oppressive policies.”

The House resolution, which could receive a vote as soon as Wednesday, does not mention Omar at all. But it was thrown together after she accused people who back Israel of pushing allegiance to a foreign country.

Other – mostly older – Democrats like Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) think the party’s decision to pass a resolution criticizing Omar is appropriate.

“I’m not Jewish. And I’m not a member of AIPAC. And I’m offended. You don’t have to be Jewish to take offense at age-old tropes and stereotypes that led to some horrible things in the 20th century,” Connolly admitted.