Mogadishu, Somalia-born 36-year-old freshman Congresswoman Ilham Oamar was slammed by 72-year-old President Donald Trump and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) for spewing anti-Semitic tropes on Twitter. Getting elected from the heavily Somali community in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area should come as no surprise where it’s fashionable to embrace Arab and Muslim causes, including the community’s hatred of Israel. Many newcomers to the U.S. from Islamic lands carry the same prejudice often seen in the old country, not realizing that anti-Semitism or racism isn’t tolerated under U.S. law. It was no accident that Omar spewed anti-Semitic rhetoric, the same type that helped get her elected in a heavily Muslim district. Muslim immigrants don’t understand or care to understand the strategic importance Israel plays in U.S. national security, in the Mideast and beyond.
Newcomers to the U.S. carry with them the same prejudices from the old country, something so commonplace, it’s difficult to shift gears in the U.S. where the Jewish community has thrived since Colonial times. “Anti-Semitism has no place in the United States Congress,” Trump said. “I think she should either resign from Congress or she should certainly resign from the Foreign Affairs Committee,” Trump said, calling Omar’s apology “lame.” Omar was forced to apologize or possibly face censure only one month since taking office. In case Omar hasn’t checked, three of the nine U.S. Supreme Court Justices are Jewish, not to mention substantial numbers in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. Whether Omar—or the community she represents—likes it or not, Jewish Americans are heavily represented in government, education, the media, health care, arts & entertainment and all over American business.
Spewing anti-Semitic rhetoric, especially for a freshman Congresswoman, shows incredibility bad judgment, not because it’s against the U.S. Constitution but because it’s against the American Way. Whatever happens or doesn’t happen in the Mideast, it’s no basis to use ethnic or religious slurs. “We have to always be willing to step back and think through criticism, just as I expect people to hear me when others attack me for my identity,” Omar tweeted. “This is why I unequivocally apologize.” “It’s all about the Benjamins baby,” Omar tweeted Feb. 8, referring the American-Israel Public Affairs Committee [AIPAC], the premier Jewish lobbying group in the U.S. Omar insinuated that members of Congress are paid off by AIPAC and other Jewish groups. “Congresswoman Omar’s use of anti-Semitic tropes and prejudicial accusations about Israel’s supporters is deeply offensive,” said Pelosi.
Based on Omar’s apology, it’s clear she doesn’t really understand what she did wrong, other than get slapped for making anti-Semitic remarks. Within the Somali and Arab community, Omar’s remarks were par for the course, echoing the long-held views of Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan. Farrakhan routinely makes anti-Semitic remarks preaching from the Nation of Islam pulpit. He influenced the thinking of former Rep. Keith Ellision (D-Mich.), who’s now serving as co-chairman of the Democratic National Committee. “We condemn those remarks and we call upon Congresswoman Omar to immediately apologize for these hurtful comments,” Pelso said. Whether admitted to or not, there are deep divisions in the Democrat Party about the U.S. policy toward Israel. Many in Congress reject Trump unambiguous support of Israel as the U.S.’s closest Mideast ally.
Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee Eliot Engle (D-N.Y.) was stunned by Omar’s tweets. “It’s shocking to hear a Member of Congress invoke the anti-Semitic trope of Jewish money,” Engel said, stopping short of calling for Omar to resign from the Committee. It should come as no surprise to anyone that Omar would hold prejudice against Jews and Israel, knowing what’s said in the Somali and Arab community. Omar holds her sympathy for Palestinians, wholeheartedly backing the “Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions [BDS] movement against Israel. Omar tweeted in 2012 that “Israel has hypnotized the world, may Allah awaken the people and help them see the evil doings of Israel,” said Omar, referring to Israel’s treatment of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. With deeply held beliefs like that, no one can believe her recent apology was sincere.
Flying to El Paso, Texas for a campaign rally on the border wall, Trump said Omar “should be ashamed of herself.” “I think it was a terrible statement and I don’t think her apology was adequate,” urging Democrats to remove Omar from the Foreign Affairs Committee. Omar’s public remarks and actions on BDS clearly show her anti-Israel attitude is no fluke but deeply held beliefs. It’s going to be difficult for her Democrats colleagues to accept her anti-Semitic attitude, something that mirrors the Somali community. When it comes to newcomers to the U.S., the government must do a better job of preparing immigrants to park their bigotry at the door when they accept residency and citizenship in the U.S. Whatever happens overseas, Omar must put her first priority on defending the Constitution and all that it stands for. Her views from the old country must stay at the door.
