Rep. Andy Biggs says criticism of Rep. Ilhan Omar doesn't go far enough: 'She needs to be disciplined'
Congresswoman Ilhan Omar faces new charge from top Democrat of making 'vile, anti-Semitic slur'; reaction from Arizona Congressman Andy Biggs, Republican member of the House Judiciary Committee.
This week, House Democrats had an opportunity to emphasize their condemnation of anti-Semitism. Instead, they chose to obscure the bigotry of one of their own by issuing a blasé statement that weakly disapproves of hate for almost everyone.
Their tepid response reveals that the Democrats are no longer a center-left party, but one that is radically beholden to the left. So long, Speaker Pelosi; we barely knew ya.
One of the oldest anti-Semitic attacks equates Jewish people with money – that government and money are controlled by them. Another bigoted statement accuses them of dual loyalty – they can’t be good neighbors; they can’t be good citizens; their loyalty is questioned. This is anti-Semitism at its worst.
Since the beginning of this session of Congress in January, a new congresswoman, Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., has made not just one or two offensive, anti-Semitic statements, but three. Once may be thoughtless or careless. Twice is concerning. A third offense proves a pattern that indicates a deep-seated set of values. Those values, in this case, are anti-Semitic.
Democrat leadership went AWOL, leaving a vacuum of direction, allowing the most extreme members of their conference to craft a resolution that failed to mention the culprit for her most blatant of anti-Semitic sentiments.
Rather than removing Omar from her post on the important House Foreign Affairs Committee, the Democrats have excused her prejudices.
As if the congresswoman was incapable of understanding that her remarks were highly offensive, Speaker Pelosi said that Omar “did not understand the full weight of the words.” Wow! I’m not sure that Speaker Pelosi even believes that.
Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said that neither side should get too high and mighty because there is imperfection on both sides of the aisle. True. And in this case, the bigotry came from Rep. Omar, but the Democrats are protecting her from the consequences of her anti-Semitism.
Everyone acknowledges that we have faults and flaws on both sides, but that fact should not prevent the Democrats from strongly condemning the anti-Semitic bigotry of one of their own.
The Washington Post reported that Majority Whip Jim Clyburn said the experience of Rep. Omar is “‘more personal’ than that of the children of people who have survived the Holocaust and other atrocities.” Can you imagine him saying that about any Republican who had uttered anti-Semitic statements on a regular basis?
Rather than removing Rep. Omar from her post on the important House Foreign Affairs Committee, the Democrats have excused her prejudices. Speaker Pelosi even appeared with her on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine.
Another freshman, Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., has defended Omar as a civil rights crusader who is legitimately calling into question U.S.-Israel policies. The problem is that Rep. Omar hasn’t mentioned those policies in making her hackneyed anti-Semitic statements. If she were attacking policies instead of the Jewish people, there wouldn’t be this firestorm.
A part of me says that, in the end, her voters chose an anti-Semite for their representative, and they will have an opportunity to cast their ballots for someone else in 2020. But in the meantime, her frequent attacks of the Jewish people will cause pain.
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A bigot who claims free speech must also accept the responsibility for that speech. Democratic leaders and members who have chosen to support Rep. Omar instead of disapprobation and discipline – such as removal from committee assignments and withholding congressional travel to international destinations – have utterly failed to show America that Congress will fight anti-Semitism.
A weak, watered-down resolution deserved congressional defeat.
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