Democratic leaders call for Omar to apologize for 'anti-Semitic tropes'

[George II]

Source: CNN

By Kate Sullivan, Ashley Killough and Eli Watkins, CNN Updated 1:36 PM ET, Mon February 11, 2019

(CNN)House Democratic leadership issued a joint statement Monday calling for freshman Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota to apologize for comments they said included "anti-Semitic tropes."

The statement from Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and other members of House Democratic leadership said anti-Semitism had to be called out "without exception."

"Legitimate criticism of Israel's policies is protected by the values of free speech and democratic debate that the United States and Israel share," the statement read. "But Congresswoman Omar's use of anti-Semitic tropes and prejudicial accusations about Israel's supporters is deeply offensive. We condemn these remarks and we call upon Congresswoman Omar to immediately apologize for these hurtful comments."

The Monday afternoon statement came as Omar faced increasing backlash after suggesting Republican support of Israel is fueled by donations from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), a prominent pro-Israel group.

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2019/02/11/politics/ilhan-omar-aipac-backlash/index.html

[Dennis Donovan]

1. Anti-Semitic? because she criticized the Government of Israel?

More of this shit???

[Power 2 the People]

3. +1

[Dennis Donovan]

5. Anti-Semitism regards the hatred of a people, not a government.

I welcome anyone to agree with where Netanyahu stands, but I have a distinct disagreement with how fair his position is.

[leftynyc]

19. That's NOT what she's being

asked to apologize for. In fact, her tweet said nothing about Israel whatsoever. She was charging all those in congress who support Israel of doing so only because they get paid. And she HAS apologized. Your post is wrong.

[msongs]

2. is there cause for condemnation if what she said is true? nt

[cp]

4. Let's ask what the Republicans have to gain from stirriing up sh*t

It is possible to be critical of the Israeli government's actions of land-theft and walling-off of Palestinians and be a Jewish ally.

[ck4829]

6. So Republicans can make conspiracy theories about George Soros but Democrats can't invoke AIPAC?

[leftynyc]

20. Both are wrong

and I don't see anyone excusing the right calling Soros a nazi.

[old guy]

8. Don't really see anything to apologize for.

[RAAD2]

9. There Are Lots Of Things One Can't Tell The Truth About

For lots of reasons.

Where is the AIPAC for Palestinians?

Yeah, I thought so.

[PeeJ52]

10. I don't take it as against the Jewish people at all... It's against money in politics...

She should apologize to money.

[niyad]

11. what did Rep. Omar say that wasn't true?

[ck4829]

12. All I know is, if they are shocked at this...

They should see the things Republicans, from Trump on down, say about George Soros.

[niyad]

13. or what the pukes say about anyone who isn't them.

[LiberalLovinLug]

14. Its just too damn easy for Republicans. We eat our own much faster than even they can

They hardly have to lift a finger. Just hand us a knife and fork and away we go.

At least she's right about this.

"I think it is actually exciting because we are finally able to have conversations that we weren't really willing to."

"It is really important for us to get a different lens about what peace in that region could look like and the kind of difficult conversations we need to have about allies,"


I love how our new feisty young injection or reps is bringing new life and is fearless in bringing up issues that the establishment wants quashed.

In fact its very much a tactic on the right to cherry pick and twist an element in order to tarnish and eliminate. Sad to see Democrats jumping on that disingenuous bandwagon. Omar says its all about money, and, even though everything usually IS all about money when it comes to any country, this is twisted to imply she is perpetrating the trope about Jews being greedy. I had to reread in order to finally see this is the mole they are attempting to create a mountain out of.

Why shouldn't that topic be up for debate? You know damn well Republicans are not going to talk about it.

So another news cycle absorbed by talking heads blabbing about yet another Democrat on the chopping block, just what the GOP ordered.

[George II]

15. Democrats shouldn't be making comments that can be...

... construed to be anti-Semitic.

[LiberalLovinLug]

18. sick of the "that can be construed..." defense

Reminds me of the Republican playbook about it never being the right time to talk about gun control. Not even after a mass shooting. If you push for sensible gun control laws, you are automatically a socialist radical that wants to eliminate the 2nd amendment, and then strip all God fearin' 'mericans of their guns.

Dare to suggest that the US gives billions to Israel but they have done nothing much to help Palestinians, and that maybe we should look at this arrangement?, you are automatically a Jew hating Islamofascist terrorist loving Arab who must immediately apologize, and never, never bring up that topic again!

or gasp.....Fox News may "construe" your words. If we are constantly living in fear of Fox News, and catering to their brainwashed audience, we will never win.

[leftynyc]

21. So you feel comfortable telling Jews

what they should find offensive? Do you do the same to African Americans? Tell them what you think THEY should find offensive? I would never presume to do that EVER.

[LiberalLovinLug]

23. Wow, you couldn't have written anything more to prove my point. Thanks

First off, I am not telling anyone anything. As far as Omar, she never mentioned "Jews" at all.
She never said she was speaking only to a Jewish audience, and wasn't. Nowhere did she say how anyone must feel about the contradictions and disparages between the official US positions on Israel and Palestine. If anyone, be they Israeli or non-Israeli want to find her questions offensive to even be raised, then that is on them. She doesn't have any say on how anyone feels about the facts. She's just exposing them and urging a closer look.

But you've conflated it into some kind of monster that involves myself personally, and then why not throw in the history of African Americans into the mix as well. You want to use AA struggles in an attempt to prop up your ridiculous assumptions? Okay.

[leftynyc]

24. She has apologized

so she obviously felt differently than you do.

[LiberalLovinLug]

25. I'm sure she didn't do that for political reasons and appeasing leadership

And she feels differently now. And overnight she now thinks its all hunky dory visa vee the Palestinian Israeli conflict and the US hypocritical foreign policy is just fine now.

[leftynyc]

26. People learn every single day

At least smart people do.

[LiberalLovinLug]

27. i think you forgot "their place" after "learn"

Thank gawd some of us are smart enough to understand what is done for the camera and so Fox News lays off, and what questions remain to be answered from a young passionate, principled Dem rep.

[leftynyc]

28. I didn't forget anything

You have an agenda I'm not the least bit interested in.

[EllieBC]

17. Perpetual victimhood?

Tell me more.

[GeorgeGist]

22. Like pulling strings on a puppet.