The first Muslim woman in Congress, Minnesota Democrat Ilhan Omar, on Sunday launched yet another anti-Semitic attack, suggesting Republican GOP support for Israel is bought with campaign donations from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC).
The latest Omar brouhaha began with a tweet by journalist Glenn Greenwald, condemning GOP House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy for threatening “punishment for Omar and Rashida Tlaib over their criticisms of Israel. It’s stunning how much time US political leaders spend defending a foreign nation even if it means attacking free speech rights of Americans.”
McCarthy (R-Ca) on Friday attacked House Democrats for tolerating the despicable remarks made in recent weeks by the two anti-Israel Democratic lawmakers, Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich) and Ilhan Omar (D-Minn).
Tlaib suggested Republicans were more loyal to Israel than to the US, referring to the Senate ant-BDS legislation, and said GOP senators “forgot what country they represent.” Omar compared Israel to Iran, saying that when Israel is presented as “a democracy in the Middle East, I almost chuckle.”
Greenwald tweeted that “GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy threatens punishment for @IlhanMN and @RashidaTlaib over their criticisms of Israel. It’s stunning how much time US political leaders spend defending a foreign nation even if it means attacking free speech rights of Americans.”
McCarthy also pointed out that Democrats wish to see Iowa Republican Steve King punished for his unabashed, racist comments, while turning a blind eye to the blatant anti-Semitism of Omar and Tlaib.
Greenwald argued that equating the attacks on Israel by Omar and Tlaib with Congressman King’s “long defense of white supremacy is obscene.” Greenwald added: “In the US, we’re allowed to criticize our own government: certainly foreign governments. The GOP House Leader’s priorities are warped.”
Omar responded to Greewald’s tweet: “It’s all about the Benjamins baby,” as in the hundred dollar bills bearing founding father Benjamin Franklin’s portrait. When she was asked to explain her comment, Omar tweeted: “AIPAC.”
Congressman Josh Gottheimer from New Jersey’s 5th district, tweeted: “For nearly two weeks, Rep. @IlhanMN has avoided meeting with me to discuss why anti-Semitic tropes like these are hurtful to so many Americans. There is absolutely no place for this rhetoric in Congress – or anywhere.”
And AIPAC issued a response saying: “We are proud that we are engaged in the democratic process to strengthen the US-Israel relationship. Our bipartisan efforts are reflective of American values and interests. We will not be deterred in any way by ill-informed and illegitimate attacks on this important work.”