What started as an attempted admonishment of Rep. Ilhan Omar has morphed into a resolution rebuking hate, which was passed resoundingly – including getting the vote of Omar herself.
The original proposed resolution, one said to condemn anti-Semitism, stalled before being brought up for a vote; mostly due to support here in Minnesota – and in Washington – for Omar, the Democratic congresswoman representing Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District. Supporters of the freshman representative – some of the Jewish faith – say recent comments made by Omar were not intended to be anti-Semitic and also point out what they call glaring hypocrisies – especially on the Republican side of the isle – for not calling out those who are anti-Muslim. Omar, who is Somali-born and Muslim, has been the target of death threats since her short time in the U.S. House. The same week the Democratic controlled U.S. House was set to put forth the resolution condemning anti-Semitism it was discovered there is a poster referencing 9/11 with a photo of Omar in the Virginia capitol depicting Omar as a terrorist.
Thus, a new resolution – one far broader and more inclusive – was adopted by a vote of 407-23. The new resolution states, “Resolution 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.”
The controversy for Omar began with a Tweet calling out a pro-Israeli PAC, AIPAC, suggesting it was paying lawmakers to commit to being pro-Israel. In the tweet Omar said, “It’s all about the Benjamins.” Many of the Jewish faith took the reference to money as being anti-Semitic and playing into the stereotype that Jewish people are driven by greed. Those of a younger generation and of the hip-hop community relate to the saying as lyrics from a popular song by the late Notorious B.I.G. Later, Omar questioned some pro-Israeli activists for having “dual loyalties,” again, something seen as anti-Semitic.
Omar and others praised the passage of the revised resolution.
“(The passage of the resolution) is historic on many fronts. It’s the first time we have voted on a resolution condemning Anti-Muslim bigotry in our nation’s history. We are tremendously proud to be part of a body that has put forth a condemnation of all forms of bigotry including anti-Semitism, racism, and white supremacy. At a time when extremism is on the rise, we must explicitly denounce religious intolerance of all kinds and acknowledge the pain felt by all communities. Our nation is having a difficult conversation and we believe this is great progress,” wrote Omar, along with fellow Democratic representatives Rep. Rashida Tlaib (Mich.) and Rep. André Carson (Ind.).
Earlier today (March 8) President Trump weighed in on the resolution calling it “disgraceful” and saying to Democratic Party is “anti-Israel and anti-Jewish.” His rebuke does not seem to square with the facts and his own words.
The resolution was overwhelmingly supported by GOP representatives with only 23 of the House’s 197 Republicans voting against it. Trump’s words were at odds with his previous words, when following an August 2017 rally of white supremacists in Charlottesville, Va. where one woman was killed and many others injured throughout the weekend rally, Trump call the white supremacists “very fine people.” During the rally the white supremacists marched, chanting “Jews will not replace us.”
The House resolution passed March 7 specifically mentioned the Charlottesville incident as intolerable hate.
