House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., has rallied around Rep. Ilhan Omar, by offering a series of disgusting excuses for the Minnesota freshman’s repeated peddling of anti-Semitism.
Among the excuses: Her words weren’t “intended” as anti-Semitic; the fact that the statements would be offensive was “unknown” to her; and Pelosi relates to her as former activist herself who knows how activists come into Congress with “enthusiasm.”
Pelosi, who last month demanded an apology from Omar over previous anti-Semitic statements, in the wake of subsequent statements, is now saying “it’s up to her” whether to apologize. She also explained how important it was that a House resolution condemning anti-Semitism doesn’t mention Omar and in fact addresses other forms of hate.
“I don’t think that the congresswoman is perhaps appreciate the full weight of how this was heard by other people, although I don’t believe it was intended in an anti-Semitic way,” Pelosi said.
Asked if Omar should apologize, she said: “It’s up to her to explain, but I do not believe she understood the full weight of the words. When you’re an advocate out there, as I was, so I appreciate all the enthusiasm that comes into the Congress, I told you that before, that was me, pushing the stroller and carrying those signs and so I understand how advocates come in with their enthusiasms. But when you cross that threshold into Congress, your words weigh much more than when you’re shouting at somebody outside. And I feel confident that her words were not based on any anti-Semitic attitude, but that she didn’t have a full appreciation of how they landed on other people where these words have a history and a cultural impact that may have been unknown to her.”
This is complete garbage. Omar has had repeated interventions from people trying to explain the anti-Semitic overtones of her words.
Last year, the Pioneer Press reported, “leaders of Minneapolis’ Jewish community fashioned what could be described as an anti-Semitic intervention of Omar” over previous anti-Semitic statements she had made.
Omar had years ago tweeted, “Israel has hypnotized the world.” In January, she claimed, “In all sincerity, it was after my CNN interview that I heard from Jewish orgs. that my use of the word ‘Hypnotize’ and the ugly sentiment it holds was offensive.”
After a series of anti-Semitic tweets last month, Omar wrote, “Anti-Semitism is real and I am grateful for Jewish allies and colleagues who are educating me on the painful history of anti-Semitic tropes.” She then went on what was described as a “fence-mending tour” with Minnesota Jewish leaders.
Then, in a matter of weeks, Omar was at it again, spreading the dual-loyalty smear by saying, “I want to talk about the political influence in this country that says it is OK to push for allegiance to a foreign country.”
Now we’re supposed to believe Pelosi that Omar was completely unaware of the impact of her words? That after multiple interventions, she still doesn’t get it? That she’s so ignorant yet somehow innocently stumbles on all of the leading Jewish stereotypes?
Just last month, in response to the earlier comments, Pelosi along with Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said, “Congresswoman Omar’s use of anti-Semitic tropes and prejudicial accusations about Israel’s supporters is deeply offensive. We condemn these remarks and we call upon Congresswoman Omar to immediately apologize for these hurtful comments.”
Yet now, Pelosi has changed her tune.
After a rebellion within the caucus made clear that even a resolution generically condemning anti-Semitism was too heavy of a lift for Democrats, they are now pursuing a broader resolution. “I thought the resolution should enlarge the issue to anti-Semitism, anti-Islamophobia, etc., anti-white supremacy, and that it should not mention her name. And that’s what we’re working on. Something that is one resolution. We should be addressing these forms of hatred and not mention her name, because it’s not about her. It’s about these forms of hatred.”
Pelosi wants the world to know that the resolution in no way is meant to condemn somebody who has directed venomous hate speech toward Jews. If so, then in the future, she doesn’t get to address questions about Omar by pointing to the resolution as evidence of Democrats taking the issue seriously.
Furthermore, liberals have long pointed out that the rejoinder “All Lives Matter” is offensive because it tries to sideline efforts to focus attention on the unfair treatment of black Americans in the criminal justice system. But now Democrats are taking exactly that approach when they minimize the explicit prejudice that Jews face in the United States, where they are 2 percent of the population but are by far the biggest victims of anti-religious hate crimes.
The reality is that the base of the Democratic Party, and an increasing number of elected Democrats, have a significant level of tolerance for anti-Semitism, which they often attempt to launder as mere criticism of Israel. There was a huge backlash against any attempt to sanction Omar, and many rallied to her defense.
Pelosi is terrified of the resurgent Left. And so, she did what many leaders throughout history have done in the face of spreading anti-Semitism: She threw Jews under the bus.
