The weird right-wing obsession with Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) continued recently with comments from Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.), who claimed at an event that she’d (supposedly) been present when Omar had been seemingly “mistaken for a terrorist” by a police officer at the Capitol complex, as summarized by CNN. Boebert claimed at the same event that she’d then turned to Omar and said that the “jihad squad decided to show up for work today.” Omar, for her part, says that the “whole story is made up,” but the problem remains of Boebert’s willingness to antagonistically single out Omar and others like her on account of their ethnic background.
“I apologize to anyone offended” is a classic non-apology apology. Also, no actual apology here from Boebert to her Congressional colleague for suggesting she might be a suicide bomber. https://t.co/61SuQrFTNh
— Mehdi Hasan (@mehdirhasan) November 26, 2021
Omar is a Muslim and was born in Somalia before becoming a United States citizen. Alongside other Democratic leaders in the House, who joined together for a joint statement, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) called out Boebert this week and demanded a retraction. As the statement put it:
‘Racism and bigotry of any form, including Islamophobia, must always be called out, confronted and condemned in any place it is found. This is particularly true in the halls of Congress, which are the very heart of our democracy. Congresswoman Boebert’s repeated, ongoing and targeted Islamophobic comments and actions against another Member of Congress, Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, are both deeply offensive and concerning. This language and behavior are far beneath the standard of integrity, dignity and decency with which the Constitution and our constituents require that we act in the House. We call upon Congresswoman Boebert to fully retract these comments and refrain from making similar ones going forward.’
Lauren Boebert’s apology for her anti-Muslim attack is empty and frivolous. She must be removed from Congress.
— Scott Dworkin (@funder) November 27, 2021
Interestingly, Boebert offered a sort of apology on Twitter, saying that she “apologize[s] to anyone in the Muslim community I offended with my comment about Rep. Omar,” adding that there “are plenty of policy differences to focus on without this unnecessary distraction.” It’s noteworthy for Boebert to call the controversy “unnecessary” when she’s the one responsible for it. Omar said on her own Twitter account that “Anti-Muslim bigotry isn’t funny & shouldn’t be normalized,” adding that “Congress can’t be a place where hateful and dangerous Muslims tropes get no condemnation.” There’s no indication, though, that Republican leaders intend to take any action against Boebert for the remarks, leaving any potential action — like removal from committees — to Democrats.
Fact, this buffoon looks down when she sees me at the Capitol, this whole story is made up. Sad she thinks bigotry gets her clout.
Anti-Muslim bigotry isn’t funny & shouldn’t be normalized. Congress can’t be a place where hateful and dangerous Muslims tropes get no condemnation. https://t.co/S1APT7RbqW
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) November 26, 2021
