House GOP leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) has once again proven his allegiance to what seems like whatever is most politically convenient for him. In the wake of bigoted comments targeting Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) from Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.), McCarthy has opted to stand by the Republican Congresswoman, ranting to reporters about how she’s supposedly apologized enough — although in reality, Boebert has used the attention provided to her by this controversy to spread even more hatred, which McCarthy appears content to ignore.
Denver Post Editorial Board: Since Boebert seems incapable, we'll apologize to Omar for her.
"We apologize to the Congresswoman and to the Muslim community for Boebert's insensitive remarks. Such remarks … have no place in American discourse."https://t.co/RqGdQhz3N7
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) December 4, 2021
Boebert publicly characterized Omar as having made “anti-American” comments after a phone call between the two of them went sideways — which is ridiculous. Engaging in political critiques like so many others doesn’t make Omar “anti-American” in some way. The anti-Trump conservative group known as The Lincoln Project went after McCarthy this weekend, observing on Twitter (in reference to an accompanying headline) as follows:
‘“Kevin McCarthy defends Rep. Lauren Boebert” is all you need to know about the state of the Republican Party.’
“Kevin McCarthy defends Rep. Lauren Boebert” is all you need to know about the state of the Republican Party. https://t.co/kDbJlK0ngi
— The Lincoln Project (@ProjectLincoln) December 4, 2021
Originally, Boebert mockingly compared Omar — who is a Muslim — to a suicide bomber. Boebert has tweeted that she apologizes “to anyone in the Muslim community I offended with my comment about Rep. Omar” — which is a remarkably tepid expression of supposed remorse. Although the full contents of the phone conversation between Boebert and Omar don’t appear to be available, there’s no indication that Boebert has ever directly apologized to Omar for her remarks. The problem here is that Boebert’s refusal to straightforwardly acknowledge the problem with her behavior helps bolster the exact same sort of behavior among those who follow her. She is helping foster potentially dangerous bigotry throughout the ranks of those who claim allegiance to the Republican Party.
“McCarthy is a liar and a coward,” Omar says to @jaketapper on @CNNSotu of his handling of Boebert and her comments
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) December 5, 2021
