Ilhan Omar is a trailblazer. She’s a Somali refugee turned U.S. congresswoman and a Muslim American, and she’s proud of that. But more often than not, Omar wields her ethnic and religious identity as a sword against criticism, shutting down her political opponents with accusations of racism and bigotry. It now seems, however, that Omar is quickly realizing that the sword of identity politics is double-edged, and it comes for even its loudest proponents.
Speaking at the Muslim Caucus Education Collective conference this week, Omar was asked if she and Rep. Rashida Tlaib, another Muslim freshman Democrat, would “make a statement against” female genital mutilation. Omar called the question “appalling” and said she’s tired of being asked questions “normal” American politicians would never be asked.
“Should I make a schedule? Does this need to be on repeat every five minutes?” Omar asked. “Should I be, like, so today I forgot to condemn al Qaeda, so here’s the al Qaeda one. Today I forgot to condemn [female genital mutilation], so here it goes. Today I forgot to condemn Hamas, so here it goes.”
“It is a very frustrating question that comes up. You can look at my record. I’ve voted for bills doing exactly what you’re asking me to do. I have put out statements upon statements,” she continued. “I am quite disgusted really, to be honest, that as Muslim legislators we are constantly being asked to waste our time speaking to issues that other people are not asked to speak to, because the assumption exists that we somehow support and are for [these things].”
Omar’s frustration is understandable and perhaps even justified. Her opinions shouldn’t be confined to a box of Islam-related subjects, just as Marco Rubio should not be limited to topics that affect Cuban Americans, or Tim Scott shouldn’t be asked questions that only have to do with the African American community just because he’s black. Omar was elected to Congress to represent all Minnesotans in her district, not just Muslim voters.
It is also true that many of Omar’s fiercest critics use her ethnic and religious identity against her in an attempt to back her into a corner. Take, for instance, her controversial comments about Sept. 11.
“For far too long, we have lived with the discomfort of being a second-class citizen. Frankly, I’m tired of it,” Omar said earlier this year. “And every single Muslim in this country should be tired of it. CAIR was founded after 9/11 because they recognized that some people did something and that all of us were starting to lose access to our civil liberties.”
Republicans were quick to characterize Omar as pro-al Qaeda — a wild accusation made in bad faith. While Omar’s statement was undeniably callous and shallow, it was not an endorsement of terrorism. But there’s little room for charity and nuance in politics these days, and Omar’s continued rhetorical blunders have only stoked the flames. Here’s another example: A few weeks ago, Omar was asked to directly condemn al Qaeda. She declined to respond, and critics immediately used her silence as further proof she sides with Muslim extremists.
There are plenty of reasons to criticize Omar. She’s a regular peddler of anti-Semitic tropes and her far-left policies threaten American governance. But bad faith attacks only make her, and the identity politics-driven agenda she pushes, more powerful. The more her opponents throw her faith and ethnicity in her face, the more she’ll cry Islamaphobia and racism.
Of course, Omar is more than happy to play the race and religion card when it works in her favor. But when it’s used against her, when she’s asked to condemn female genital mutilation or al Qaeda, she becomes righteously indignant. How dare you attack me, a Muslim woman of color quickly becomes How dare you ask this question of me, a Muslim woman of color.
There is certainly a place for one’s identity: Omar has more standing to talk about issues facing the Muslim American community than anyone else in Congress. But there must be a balance. Elevating one’s heritage above all else, as Omar has done, “artificially bloats it with meaning, until it ceases to be a true and measured pride in one’s given identity,” the American Conservative’s Casey Chalk wrote.
Omar, just like every other politician that falls into the trap of identity politics, operates under its toxic double standard. No one but Omar may speak about her race and religion; everyone else is a bigot. This works until it doesn’t. The tribalist rhetoric Omar throws around has now come back to bite her, and she has herself to blame.
