Arwa Mahdawi for the UK Guardian
The congresswoman faced bad-faith claims of antisemitism at a time when Trump is making America more dangerous for Jews
‘It is fair to say that Omar could have been more careful about her language. It is not fair, however, to intentionally twist her remarks.’
‘It is fair to say that Omar could have been more careful about her language. It is not fair, however, to intentionally twist her remarks.’
This month, Nancy Pelosi tweeted a photo of Rolling Stone magazine, on which she is pictured posing next to three of the new young congresswomen. “A picture is worth 1,000 words but [Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, Jahana Hayes] and Nancy on the cover of @RollingStone is worth millions of dreams to women and girls across America,” Pelosi said. “To them we say: know your power. Know your worth. Have a plan. And be ready.”
While those are very inspirational words, Pelosi could have done with taking them a little more to heart herself. Instead she, and other Democratic leaders, have spent the last week disgracefully pandering to morally bankrupt hypocrites on the right, intent on smearing Omar as antisemitic. While Pelosi was keen to stand next to Omar in a photo touting the diversity of the Democratic party, she has proven rather less keen to stand up for her colleague in the face of bad-faith attacks.
read more at UK Guardian
Did pro-Israel lobby funding influence Democrats’ responses to Ilhan Omar?
Some accused congresswoman of antisemitism while others denounced ‘ugly attacks’ on her
Tom Perkins for UK Guardian
When the Democratic congresswoman Ilhan Omar claimed pro-Israel lobby money influenced American politics, in the way other powerful lobbying groups do, she ignited allegations of antisemitism and sparked a furious debate in her own party. But a look at House Democrats and 2020 presidential candidates’ responses to the resulting row seems to validate her claim.
House Democratic leaders who drafted a resolution initially aimed at condemning Omar’s remarks received millions from the pro-Israel lobby throughout their congressional careers. Congressman Eliot Engel, who accused Omar of using “a vile antisemitic slur”, has taken about $1.07m throughout his career, or about $107,000 per election.
Meanwhile, some of her staunchest defenders took little or no money from the lobby. Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib received no pro-Israel lobby donations during her 2018 campaign, and tweeted that she was “honored” to serve with Omar, who was enduring “ugly attacks”.
Similarly, federal election records available on the Center for Responsive Politics’ OpenSecrets website suggest a correlation between pro-Israel lobby campaign contributions and Democratic presidential candidates’ position on the controversy.
Those candidates who have taken little money from the lobby defended Omar, while those who received the most money criticized her, or were quiet on the issue.
read more:
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/mar/09/democrats-israel-lobbying-ilhan-omar
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of course everyone knows what AIPAC wants AIPAC gets. I doubt if Pelosi could have or dared to say no to AIPAC which its former director once bragged that he can get majority of Congress to sign on any proposal even if such proposal was written on a napkin. AIPAC is self serving using the money it raised ( tens of millions) to serve its only and loyal cause; Israel fleecing tax payers out of tens of billions. AIPAC is an agent of a foreign country.
I understand your sentiment, but an informed person not participating is only in their best interests. We need term limits in government, publicly financed political campaigns, an end to corporations having the same standing as citizens, and more robust third, fourth and fifth political parties.
In the best congress money can buy, Rep. Ilhan Omar is a hopeful breath of fresh air.
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