Ilhan Omar Shreds Kevin McCarthy For Fostering Extreme Racism

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With the GOP about to take control of the House after winning a thin majority in this year’s midterms, House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy is continuing to push the idea of removing Democratic members of the chamber — including Ilhan Omar — from key committee assignments.

Omar has faced criticism for supposed anti-Semitism on her part — something she has honestly addressed and that has been simultaneously spoken of by Republicans as seemingly more serious than it actually was. Accidentally or just perceptibly playing into a historically anti-Semitic conspiracy theory or system of thought is objectively not the same thing as speaking at a conference in Florida put on by a white supremacist — the latter of which is what Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) did earlier this year. And where is Kevin directing his ire? Omar, of course. In two instances noted by Axios that have drawn the Congresswoman criticism, she has expressly sought to either apologize or clarify her stance. In the later case, she listed the United States, Hamas, and Israel together among perpetrators of atrocities while discussing a body based in Europe known as the International Criminal Court, to which the U.S. has expressed opposition.

Greene, meanwhile, has also formerly attracted serious concerns for having expressed apparent support for physical violence against prominent Democrats. (The social media activity in question was from before her time as a Congresswoman.) And how about Paul Gosar’s video that was edited to depict committing physical violence against Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez? What about Trump saying on his alternative social media platform Truth Social that all those detained in connection to the Capitol riot should be released? He didn’t distinguish between nonviolent and violent offenders, or any other category — he said everybody. What about Lauren Boebert repeatedly comparing Omar herself to terrorists, based on nothing but her Muslim religion and background?

“Whether it is Marjorie Taylor Greene holding a gun next to my head in campaign ads or Donald Trump threatening to ‘send me back’ to my country (despite the fact that I have been a proud citizen of the United States for more than 20 years), this constant stream of hate has led to hundreds of death threats and credible plots against me and my family,” Omar said. “At the same time, they have openly tolerated antisemitism, anti-Muslim hate and racism in their own party. Newly-elected Whip Tom Emmer said prominent Jewish Democrats ‘essentially bought control of Congress.’ And McCarthy himself accused Jewish Democrats of trying to ‘buy elections.’ Instead of doing anything to address the open hostility towards religious minorities in his party, McCarthy is now lifting up people like Marjorie Taylor Greene, Emmer and so many others. If he cared about addressing the rise in hate, he would apologize and make sure others in his party apologized. McCarthy’s effort to repeatedly single me out for scorn and hatred—including threatening to strip me from my committee—does nothing to address the issues our constituents deal with.”

She also noted the broader ramifications of Republicans targeting her, including fostering dangerous animosity against marginalized groups. Check out the Congresswoman’s full statement below: