….from Ian Reifowitz @ Daily Kos…..
I wouldn’t call it a happy ending, but Democrats are seemingly moving toward putting the controversy over Rep. Ilhan Omar and anti-Semitic language behind them. Earlier this month, the Democratic Party faced the possibility of a damaging split in its coalition after Omar used language that evoked the anti-Semitic trope of Jews having “allegiance to a foreign country” as part of her larger commentary about the broad issue of Israel/Palestine.
Ultimately, after some intense debate, Democrats in the House came together unanimously and supported a resolution that featured a strong, thorough condemnation of anti-Semitic rhetoric, including the specific language Omar used, but which also denounced Islamophobia and other forms of hate. To their everlasting shame, 23 House Republicans voted against the resolution, while open white supremacist Rep. Steve King bravely declared himself “present.”
In my post about the issue, I went into detail about why Omar’s language was problematic, but refused to classify her as an anti-Semite, as someone who hates Jews or wishes them harm. Going forward, I stated that my main concern was:
whether she is interested in learning that spreading anti-Semitic slurs is wrong, harmful, and unacceptable, and whether she is willing to change. We’re now at two strikes on that front, just since she was sworn into Congress, and that’s on top of the 2012 tweet. Any more suggests a serious problem. But I remain optimistic.
Ten days after the House passed the aforementioned resolution, Rep. Omar published a new op-ed piece in the Washington Post in which she laid out her views on U.S. foreign policy, including on the matter of Israel and the Palestinians. She did, in fact, criticize Israeli policy. Nevertheless, in this piece Omar confirmed my optimism about her going forward. And that’s what I want to talk about today.
Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) said she has received an increase in death threats since President Trump shared an edited video on Twitter that featured images of the 9/11 terrorist attack with Omar’s comments spliced in between….
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House Speaker Pelosi has asked the Capitol Police to check on the House lawmaker’s security due too numerous threats of harm directed at Rep. Omar….