What makes a politician human? Is it what the history books remember about his or her term? Is it the ability to captain the great ship America through difficult times, such as a financial crisis? Is it a commitment to serve all the people in the U.S. Is it the ability to feel compassion, relating to even “the least among us?”
That which makes a person human begins with compassion, trying to understand what it was like for a person, walking in her or his shoes. Humanity also involves wisdom and the politician’s own earned place in history protecting all the people in this nation.
Perhaps, we can only define what makes a person human ourselves, but certainly we know what humanity is not. It is not cruel, sadistic, hate-filled, narcissistic, vengeful, greedy, dishonorable, untrustworthy, and all around ugly. That includes in the circle of their family, their friends, the jobs, and even the world in the case of a president.
Freshman Representative Ilhan Omar (D-MN) was asked to compare President Barack Obama and Donald Trump. The Talking Points Memo (TPM) captured her video as she walked down the halls of Congress talking to a Fox News correspondent:
“That is silly to even think, and equate the two. One is human, the other is really not.’
Then, she stepped into an elevator.
Omar on Trump and Obama: “one is human, the other is really not” pic.twitter.com/Mwr3TWS09P
— TPM Livewire (@TPMLiveWire) March 12, 2019
It appeared that Omar compared Obama’s and Trump’s drone policy and actions toward children of refugees as similar, in a Politico report:
‘We don’t want anybody to get away with murder because they are polished. We want to recognize the actual policies that are behind the pretty face and the smile.’
Omar seemed to make a comparison between Obama and Trump in her interview:
‘We can’t be only upset with Trump. … His policies are bad, but many of the people who came before him also had really bad policies. They just were more polished than he wasAnd that’s not what we should be looking for anymore. We don’t want anybody to get away with murder because they are polished. We want to recognize the actual policies that are behind the pretty face and the smile.’
Omar may have been trying to modify her Politico interview, where she criticized President Obama. Or she may just be a direct person who expresses herself authentically.
The representative said that the Fox reporter had taken her comment out of context. She posted the entire interview, but she removed her tweet after people noted that the video did, indeed, support Fox’s claim.
She posted on Twitter after the article came out. Omar claimed her word had been “distorted,” and said she was “an Obama fan.”
Last week, the House of Representatives passed an anti-hate resolution after she made remarks that many believed were anti-Semitic. The resolution did not include her name, but it was clear that authors had her and others such as Peter King (R-IA) in mind. Trump might have been included in their thoughts, perhaps.
Omar has been the subject of many death threats throughout her campaign and brief term. Some have suggested that she needs security.
Featured image is a screenshot via YouTube.
