Congresswoman Omar ignites new anti-Semitism controversy with comments on AIPAC

SaveWeyard · Feb 10, 2019

Update: After Nancy Pelosi and other Dem leadership issued a statement in which they condemned anti-Semitism but also made reference to the "shared values and strategic interests" with Israel, Ilhan Omar apologized for any hurt she caused with her statements, but reiterated that all lobbying, including by AIPAC, is a threat to Democracy. Max Rose, the Representative who initially took issue with her tweets and a retweet that was deleted by Omar, accepted the apology and called for us to move on to the larger issue: the hypocrisy of inflated media coverage on this compared to the antisemitism by Kevin McCarthy who in turn has been pushing to label both Omar and Rep. Rashida Tlaib as anti-Semites. His antisemitism, posted after a bomb was sent to Soros' house in 2018, is below:

Original OP below:

To be clear, a "controversy" borne out of accurate statements.

Summary from Politico.

Freshman Minnesota Democrat Ilhan Omar ignited a new controversy on Sunday night when she suggested GOP support for Israel is driven by campaign donations from a prominent pro-Israel group.

Omar singled out AIPAC, one of the most influential lobbying groups in Washington, as the source of those donations.

Omar's comments touched upon a long-running, and particularly ugly, thread of the anti-Semitic movement — that Jewish money fuels backing for Israel in the United States and elsewhere. A freshman Democrat, Max Rose of New York, said, "Congresswoman Omar's statements are deeply hurtful to Jews, including myself."

And the American-Israel Public Affairs Committee is a non-profit that doesn't donate directly to candidates. AIPAC, however, does relentlessly push a pro-Israeli message on Capitol Hill and inside the executive branch, and its members donate to pro-Israel lawmakers and candidates while seeking to defeat those it considers a threat to U.S.-Israeli relations.

On Sunday night, Omar was responding to a tweet from prominent journalist Glenn Greenwald, who said, "Equating [Omar and Tlaib's] criticism of Israel to Steve King's long defense of white supremacy is obscene (McCarthy said it's worse). In the US, we're allowed to criticize our own government: certainly foreign governments. The GOP House Leader's priorities are warped."

In response to Greewald's post, Omar tweeted, "It's all about the Benjamins baby," followed by a music emoji, which suggested that money was calling the tune for McCarthy.

When asked to explain where the money she was referring to came from, Omar tweeted: "AIPAC."

An Omar spokesman said the tweets "speak for themselves."

Some choice reactions.

accurately describing how the Israel lobby works is not anti-semitism

AIPAC wants "AIPAC" to be synonymous with "Jews" and "pro-Israel" to be synonymous with "pro-Netanyahu." Neither are true.

Please learn how to not try to tear down Black Muslim women for having the courage to take on the Israel lobby and defy hegemony in this country. Please learn to not speak for all American Jews. Sincerely, an American Jew who loves and supports @IlhanMN.

Whatever you views on Ilhan Omar or Israel, the idea that a senior pro-Trump Republican congressional leader, who has covered for Steve King for years, gives a damn about bigotry of any kind is just absurd, sorry. Come on, these are not good faith attacks on Omar or Rashida Tlaib

AIPAC doesn't speak for all American Jews, and criticizing them does not make you anti-Semitic. Cut out this nonsense.

sphagnum · Feb 10, 2019

I think her intention would have been much more clear if she hadn't retweeted the guy who accused her of antisemitism. She subsequently deleted it, so it seems like that was an error.

In any event, I'll repost what I said in PoliERA:

"Implying that Americans support Israel because of money alone is offensive enough."

I agree. She should go further and say that many Americans (Republicans, specifically) support Israel because of imperial geopolitical interest, Islamophobia, and insane religious apocalypticism.

Ogami Itto · Feb 10, 2019

She is a fucking hero, fuck the Israeli government.

TheIlliterati · Feb 10, 2019

She's another great freshman democrat. I'm so glad AOC isn't alone.

shadowsdarknes · Feb 10, 2019

It's just become beyond frustrating trying to drive this point home.
Criticizing the Israeli government and the influences that drive our support for that government is not an attack on Jews. Much in the same way critiquing the governments of Arab nations is not an attack on Islam.

Picture everything you'd expect to hear regarding a young Muslim woman in Congress and you've got it. Absurd attacks on her character and religion, accusations of being an inevitable terrorist, etc.

Deleted member 6730 · Feb 10, 2019

shadowsdarknes said:
It's just become beyond frustrating trying to drive this point home.
Criticizing the Israeli government and the influences that drive our support for that government is not an attack on Jews. Much in the same way critiquing the governments of Arab nations is not an attack on Islam.

Picture everything you'd expect to hear regarding a young Muslim woman in Congress and you've got it. Absurd attacks on her character and religion, accusations of being an inevitable terrorist, etc.

It's ironic maga bros think that someone is attacking their religion by attacking someone else's religion.

JakeNoseIt · Feb 10, 2019

Anti-semitism from the Trump admin is fine, but when this woman points at the obviously evil things AIPAC does, she is the anti-semite?

Good. Good. Fine.

Otherist · Feb 10, 2019

God, we desperately need more prominent figures fighting this point and not folding when the inevitable media groupthink and backlash kicks in. I'm almost willing to believe that some actual progress could be made.

manchego obfuscator · Feb 10, 2019

speaking as an American Jew, I'm very glad she said what she said and anyone ostensibly on the left who joins every reactionary pro-Israel org and hack pundit in throwing her under the bus can go fuck themselves.

yes, of course, donor money plays an outsize role in shaping American support for Israel. this isn't some sort of secret Protocols of the Elders of Zion conspiratorial cabal shit; it's pretty much in the open and not all of said donors are even Jewish. you're just not allowed to talk about it

Kirblar · Feb 10, 2019

OP is missing some serious context on what caused this to blow up on the left side of the aisle.

Her first tweet that set off the storm was this:.

Followed by this:

Bonen no Max'd · Feb 10, 2019

Mearsheimer and Walt literally wrote a book on the Israel lobby and its role in American politics, she's right

Deleted member 11413 · Feb 10, 2019

Considering that lawmakers are so eager to sign away fundamental American freedoms to appease Israel, I think her comments are pretty spot-on. It's not anti-semetic to criticize Israel's government.

Stinkles · Feb 10, 2019

Kirblar said:
OP is missing some serious context on what caused this to blow up on the left side of the aisle.

Her first tweet that set off the storm was this:.

Followed by this:

Wait. Joshua's Zeitz's tweet seems to align with Tlaib's (AIPAC) criticism. Is he making a broader attack on her other stuff?

Ogodei · Feb 10, 2019

The reaction she's getting from some on the left is making me madder than it should. This country needs to stop supporting the Palestinian Genocide.

Sinfamy · Feb 10, 2019

AIPAC promotes ethnic cleansing, and has huge bipartisan support, especially from Kamala Harris in this election cycle.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SlVw9Zz15Q

A darling of neocons.

AcademicSaucer · Feb 10, 2019

if people in the US are rightfully worried about Russian meddling in their democracy they should know that israel and Saudi Arabia's influence over all branches of your government is way stronger and pervasive

sphagnum · Feb 10, 2019

Stinkles said:
Wait. Joshua's Zeitz's tweet seems to align with Tlaib's (AIPAC) criticism. Is he making a broader attack on her other stuff?

Read the bottom. Omar presumably didn't do that before she retweeted it.

Kirblar · Feb 10, 2019

Stinkles said:
Wait. Joshua's Zeitz's tweet seems to align with Tlaib's (AIPAC) criticism. Is he making a broader attack on her other stuff?

This is Omar, not Tilab.

Deleted member 24149 · Feb 10, 2019

Meanwhile the right is ready to seize all over this to dunk on the democrats.

Tomohawk · Feb 10, 2019

Prop-up israel govs apartheid of Palestinians no one bats an eye, criticize their lobbying and everyone loses their shit.

Watchtower · Feb 10, 2019

sphagnum said:
I think her intention would have been much more clear if she hadn't retweeted the guy who accused her of antisemitism. She subsequently deleted it, so it seems like that was an error.

In any event, I'll repost what I said in PoliERA:

I know you're mainly targeting the Republican side of things, but you're forgetting one other key aspect: pride in ethnic heritage, bordering on nationalism. And that piece is important because that's where people on the left start falling in this same line.

A freshman Democrat, Max Rose of New York, said, "Congresswoman Omar's statements are deeply hurtful to Jews, including myself."

Ichthyosaurus · Feb 10, 2019

Ogodei said:
The reaction she's getting from some on the left is making me madder than it should. This country needs to stop supporting the Palestinian Genocide.

I agree but you can't just shout things like that on the internet and expect no-one to care. She's not in a vacuum here, and doing this sloppily will not help her cause.

WhoTurgled · Feb 10, 2019

Fuck israel

Alligatorjandro · Feb 10, 2019

I don't understand why America loves Israel so much.

julian · Feb 10, 2019

I'm Jewish and usually pretty sensitive to this kinda stuff....but I'm having a hard time seeing this one. Lobbying groups give money to push causes. Pretty basic concept.

Muppet of a Man · Feb 10, 2019

Admonishing a Jewish lobbying group that pushes for a Netenyahu far-right national agenda in Israel and its counterpart in the US should be everyone's job. Seems like there are already plenty of liberal Jewish Americans backing her up. Can't stand these fuckers trying to speak on behalf of all Jewish people.

thefit · Feb 10, 2019

Stinkles said:
Wait. Joshua's Zeitz's tweet seems to align with Tlaib's (AIPAC) criticism. Is he making a broader attack on her other stuff?

She noted the money that's tossed to both sides to lobby for Israel and while he agrees with the AIPAC criticism the money part seems to have triggered him wich makes no sense because she was on the money on that too.

Bonen no Max'd · Feb 10, 2019

Ichthyosaurus said:
I agree but you can't just shout things like that on the internet and expect no-one to care. She's not in a vacuum here, and doing this sloppily will not help her cause.

look I don't support apartheid but the ANC and Mandela needs to watch their rhetoric

OtherWorldly · Feb 10, 2019

Ichthyosaurus said:
I agree but you can't just shout things like that on the internet and expect no-one to care. She's not in a vacuum here, and doing this sloppily will not help her cause.

But is she right or wrong
If she is right

Then why do we give AOC a cheer to say the truth about finances so blatantly but not Omar about this ?

Kirblar · Feb 10, 2019

julian said:
I'm Jewish and usually pretty sensitive to this kinda stuff....but I'm having a hard time seeing this one. Lobbying groups give money to push causes. Pretty basic concept.

Check my first post. There's a specific post and an RT that brought out that statement from Max Rose.

woman · Feb 10, 2019

Kirblar said:
OP is missing some serious context on what caused this to blow up on the left side of the aisle.

Her first tweet that set off the storm was this:.

Followed by this:

Wait, why did she RT that second tweet, isn't it criticizing her

JustinP · Feb 10, 2019

Quoting myself:

JustinP said:
If she isn't being anti-semitic she's being super sloppy. Assuming she's doing it in good faith, there's valid criticisms she could be making of Israel but her choices have been counterproductive. If instead she's trying to use her platform to make anti-semitism more acceptable then this sloppiness makes sense and is also vile. I hope she's better than that.

JustinP said:
I assume a lot of us would agree that republicans and organizations like AIPAC construe any critique of Israel as anti-semitic in a bad faith effort to squash criticism. But that doesn't mean it's smart to hand them a gun they can shoot you with by being sloppy. Be specific, consider how your words could be spun — and not just because they'll call you anti-semitic and derail your efforts, but because, perhaps more importantly, you also don't want to give actual anti-semites the wrong idea about you.

Malleymal · Feb 10, 2019

Just read this.

People lose their damn mind if you say something close to negative about Israel. There was nothing antisemitic about what she said. She was talking about the money that goes into politics.

Maybe i don't give a shit about this because people don't give a damn when the president blatantly tweets about Native American genocide.

Get the fuck out of here with this bs.

Ichthyosaurus · Feb 10, 2019

Bonen no Max'd said:
look I don't support apartheid but the ANC and Mandela needs to watch their rhetoric

That your mocking me rather than acknowledging how complicated this subject is culturally and politically for a politician of all things is not a sign you know what you're talking about.

edit: I agree with JustinP.

wisdom0wl · Feb 10, 2019

Alligatorjandro said:
I don't understand why America loves Israel so much.

Because the crazies think Israel is the centerpiece for Jesus to come back.

It's nothing but an apocalypse hard on

sphagnum · Feb 10, 2019

woman said:
Wait, why did she RT that second tweet, isn't it criticizing her

She probably read the first part where the guy says that he disagrees with Israel and missed the last sentence. She deleted the retweet.

OtherWorldly · Feb 10, 2019

Ichthyosaurus said:
That your mocking me rather than acknowledging how complicated this subject is culturally and politically for a politician of all things is not a sign you know what you're talking about.

Nothing complicated. If she is right then she has the right to say it and cheered for it not suspected.

Verelios · Feb 10, 2019

Fiye said:
Meanwhile the right is ready to seize all over this to dunk on the democrats.

Fucking A, of course.

thefit · Feb 10, 2019

Malleymal said:
Just read this.

People lose their damn mind if you say something close to negative about Israel. There was nothing antisemitic about what she said. She was talking about the money that goes into politics.

Maybe i don't give a shit about this because people don't give a damn when the president blatantly tweets about Native American genocide.

Get the fuck out of here with this bs.

You see Native Americans don't have a country being attacked by Muslims so it's not the same at all.

TheDestructiveSquirrel · Feb 10, 2019

Muppet of a Man said:
Admonishing a Jewish lobbying group that pushes for a Netenyahu far-right national agenda in Israel and its counterpart in the US should be everyone's job. Seems like there are already plenty of liberal Jewish Americans backing her up. Can't stand these fuckers trying to speak on behalf of all Jewish people.

AIPAC is not a Jewish lobbying group, they are an Israel lobbying group

Kirblar · Feb 10, 2019

woman said:
Wait, why did she RT that second tweet, isn't it criticizing her

It is. It's what drew out the statement from Max Rose (Freshman Dem from the flipped Staten Island district) https://twitter.com/MaxRose4NY/status/1094783506323042304

Inuhanyou · Feb 10, 2019

Its like i am taking crazy pills. The israeli lobby is well known.

Deleted member 1589 · Feb 10, 2019

She's right

It's so tough to talk about the Israel lobby here before too here before.

For everything I hate about the internet, it really helps in exposing how the Israel government uses positive criticism people throw their way by deeming each and everyone of them anti-semite.

Bonen no Max'd · Feb 10, 2019

Ichthyosaurus said:
That your mocking me rather than acknowledging how complicated this subject is culturally and politically for a politician of all things is not a sign you know what you're talking about.

edit: I agree with JustinP.

AIPAC exists and engages in intense and incredibly successful lobbying to maintain the bipartisan consensus on unconditional support for Israel.

OtherWorldly · Feb 10, 2019

Kirblar said:
It is. It's what drew out the statement from Max Rose (Freshman Dem from the flipped Staten Island district) https://twitter.com/MaxRose4NY/status/1094783506323042304

Where is max rose's tweet about potus racist remarks re: Warren .

SaveWeyard · Feb 10, 2019

So, when y'all criticize leftists for "using the same talking points as the alt-right" when they point out centrist flaws, I can only assume you're arguing in bad faith, because you seem completely fine doing it here.

thefit · Feb 10, 2019

Fiye said:
Meanwhile the right is ready to seize all over this to dunk on the democrats.

From one of the most useless UN representatives in modern history. Go away you useless hag.

Ichthyosaurus · Feb 10, 2019

OtherWorldly said:
But is she right or wrong
If she is right

Then why do we give AOC a cheer to say the truth about finances so blatantly but not Omar about this ?

Because the world is not simply 1's and 0's. There's a lot more to this than being right, including how to say that without coming off as being antisemitic. You can't just say things like that in our complicated world on complicated subjects on top of which she's a female Muslim congresswoman, who is already at a disadvantage in the system. Giving ammunition so the GOP can paint her as antisemitic won't help anyone, which is why politicians need to be skilled at not giving soundbites that will be used against them.

BringBackSonics · Feb 10, 2019

woman said:
Wait, why did she RT that second tweet, isn't it criticizing her

Because sometimes she doesn't really fully realize what or who she retweets.

Ichthyosaurus · Feb 10, 2019

Bonen no Max'd said:
AIPAC exists and engages in intense and incredibly successful lobbying to maintain the bipartisan consensus on unconditional support for Israel.

Yes? That wasn't what I was disagreeing with you about.

OtherWorldly said:
Nothing complicated. If she is right then she has the right to say it and cheered for it not suspected.

Had that been true this wouldn't be a shitstorm to start with. Being right counts for nothing when her enemies will use her words against her, try not giving them ammunition.

Congresswoman Omar ignites new anti-Semitism controversy with comments on AIPAC

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