House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer announced the House will vote “on a resolution broadly condemning hate” on Thursday after the recent anti-Semitic remarks from Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN).
Hoyer also said “the resolution would not specifically name Omar.”
I guess “broadly condemning hate” means it won’t exclusively apply to anti-Semitism, even though that’s what has been in the news lately since Omar took office in January.
The House has released the resolution. It says:
Condemning anti-Semitism as hateful expressions of intolerance that are contradictory to the values and aspirations that define the people of the United States and condemning anti-Muslim discrimination and bigotry against minorities as hateful expressions of intolerance that are contrary to the values and aspirations of the United States.Whereas the first amendment to the Constitution established the United States as a country committed to the principles of tolerance and religious freedom, and the 14th amendment to the Constitution established equal protection of the laws as the heart of justice in the United States;Whereas adherence to these principles is vital to the progress of the American people and the diverse communities and religious groups of the United States;
It goes on to list how white supremacists “have exploited and continue to exploit bigotry and weaponize hate for political gain.” The Democrats also mentioned the riots in Charlottesville, the murder of nine blacks in South Carolina, and the Tree of Life Synagogue massacre.
The fact is Omar and Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) have caused problems for the Democrats over anti-Semitism. Here are a few examples:
Not any other kind of hate or bigotry. The problem for the Democrats is exclusively anti-Semitism.
The Republicans have quieted down lately over it. Instead, they decided to allow Democrats to “inflict damage on themselves.” From Politico:
But Republicans, who already successfully used procedural tools to rebuke Omar for using anti-Semitic tropes last month, are instead choosing to not respond right now, forcing Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) to pick from a difficult set of options.“I would like to see what the Democrats are going to do,” Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) told reporters Wednesday. “We’ve already led on this issue.”Republicans, who saw years of infighting when they were in the majority, are now relishing watching the other side erupt into chaos and are eager to exploit those intraparty divisions.“They have disarray in their own conference,” said Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) during a pen and pad. “Ultimately, we’ve been very clear that Speaker Pelosi has the full power and authority to take action on her own. And she should. But she hasn’t.”
I do not blame them.
Earlier this week, Politico reported the House Democrats drafted a resolution to condemn anti-Semitism, but did not name Omar in it.
It sounded like they planned to bring it to a vote on Wednesday, but other reports came out that they wanted to add anti-Muslim language into it.
House Majority Whip James Clyburn came to Omar’s defense. From The Hill (emphasis mine):
Clyburn came to Omar’s defense Wednesday, lamenting that many of the media reports surrounding the recent controversy have omitted mentioning that Omar, who was born in Somalia, had to flee the country to escape violence and spent four years in a Kenyan refugee camp before coming to the United States.Her experience, Clyburn argued, is much more empirical — and powerful — than that of people who are generations removed from the Holocaust, Japanese internment camps during World War II and the other violent episodes that have marked history. “I’m serious about that. There are people who tell me, ‘Well, my parents are Holocaust survivors.’ ‘My parents did this.’ It’s more personal with her,” Clyburn said. “I’ve talked to her, and I can tell you she is living through a lot of pain.”Clyburn said that long talks with former Rep. Norman Mineta (D-Calif.), a Japanese-American who was interned during WWII, gave him a special appreciation for Omar’s experiences. And he rejected the idea that the Democrats’ resolution will single her out for condemnation.“She won’t be targeted. We’re going to target those people who had her picture on the Twin Towers,” Clyburn said. “This resolution is going to be inclusive; it’s going to be expansive; and I might just try to add something to deal with that billboard that’s up in Pennsylvania this morning calling John Lewis and other members of the Congressional Black Caucus racists.”
Excuse me? So Omar’s experiences in Somalia gives her a pass to to gush out hatred towards another minority group?
Look, Omar isn’t just criticizing Israel. I have no problem when people legitimately criticize Israel and our foreign policy. I don’t even always agree with Israel and everyone knows I don’t like the majority of our foreign policy.
The fact is, Omar uses classic anti-Semitic language.
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