Should Democrats censure Rep. Ilhan Omar??

[kentuck]

Some believe her comments have been anti-Semitic and that she has shown a tendency to these types of comments.

Others may believe that she was voted into office by her fellow citizens in Minnesota and it is up to them to change her if she does not represent their political beliefs?

Republicans see it as an opportunity to portray the entire Democratic Party as anti-Israel and they will get FOX News to promote it.

What should the Democrats do if the "anti-Semitic" remarks continue?

[superpatriotman]

1. No

They should concentrate on taking the republic back from the dominionist cult that’s stacking the courts and destroying all that is good about America.

[Va Lefty]

17. This post!👍

[PufPuf23]

18. Right on. nt

[jrthin]

20. +1000

[Voltaire2]

23. No shit.

[procon]

24. Absolutely spot on!

[Devil Child]

44. Right on!

[lilactime]

56. Thanks for saving me a post!

[VOX]

64. A-effing-men! Direct fire at the REAL threat to democracy.

Never take the spotlight off the goddamned fascistic trumpists

[walkingman]

80. Totally agree!

[kacekwl]

83. No, absolutely not.

I don't think she said anything wrong. How about we concentrate on the shit that has come out of trump co. daily and stop beating ourselves up.

[Cartoonist]

2. 23 repubs voted yes to bigotry

Make that the story.

[democratisphere]

3. It is simple. Omar needs to STFU and the Democratic leadership needs to tell her so.

[wellst0nev0ter]

25. So... censor her

got it.

Also, nothing she said was antisemitic.

[democratisphere]

26. Don't need that formality. Just saying it privately should be enough.

[wellst0nev0ter]

28. That's still a chilling effect

On free expression and open debate. We should be better than that.

[democratisphere]

32. The last thing we need to do is give the evil redumbliCON empire

words or comments they can twist into propaganda weapons.

[wellst0nev0ter]

33. Stop letting repukes

dictate the boundaries of our discussions. Why give them a preemptive win?

[lapucelle]

74. Do you stand by your claim that the Congresswoman said "The Obama administration was more secret

and 'polished' in its cruelty than Trump..."

You can listen yourself because you have ears, don't you?

https://soundcloud.com/ilhanomar/obama2

"What is happening now is very different."

Then she goes on to say that the Obama administration was more secret and "polished" in its cruelty than Trump was, meaning they operated in a way that is more palatable to people like yourself.

https://upload.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=11905484

[wellst0nev0ter]

75. Yes Omar said

The Obama administration was not openly reveling in the cruelty like Trump is, and they were better at glossing over it.

It doesn't matter, the Obama administrion's treatment of migrant children and the drone programs both harmed innocents and they are hard to defend.

[lapucelle]

77. Just to be clear, you claimed last night that Rep. Omar said,

"The Obama administration was more secret and 'polished' in its cruelty than Trump..."

and then posited a theory that the secret and polished cruelty was done that way so that the Obama administration might

operate[] in a way that is more palatable to people like [a DU poster].

Do you stand by your claim?

[politicaljunkie41910]

60. No, just ignore her for now. She will get the message. We don't need to be fighting among ourselves

at this time. We have bigger fish to fry. As the old saying goes, "If a tree falls in the woods and no one heard it, did it make a sound?"

[Vinca]

4. I think Democrats need to make this story go away. Unless they plan to censure Trump

for his myriad racial/ethnic/misogynistic slurs, they need to let Omar go back to being a Congresswoman rather than a target.

[Paladin]

5. If she finds time to trash Obama again: Yes.

I don't believe her prior comments were anti-Semitic. But I do have my limits with Rep. Omar, and she's testing those limits.

[wellst0nev0ter]

27. She mentioned

That the Obama administration jailed migrant kids and engaged in drone attacks, which are both documented facts.

Why are people acting so precious and thinking those are controversial statements?

[wellst0nev0ter]

42. Quote?

Otherwise, don't bother.

[wellst0nev0ter]

48. Obama escalated the program

And the program killed innocent civilians in wedding convoys. Point?

[wellst0nev0ter]

53. So if someone

drone strikes your family, would you feel better if it was an accident?

Muslim lives are always devalued.

[wellst0nev0ter]

61. Since Somalia is part of the drone program

The issue hits close to home for Omar

[Persondem]

46. Here it is ...

From ... https://www.mediaite.com/online/politico-reporter-fires-back-after-rep-ilhan-omar-claims-obama-comments-distorted/


As she saw it, the party ostensibly committed to progressive values had become complicit in perpetuating the status quo. Omar says the “hope and change” offered by Barack Obama was a mirage. Recalling the “caging of kids” at the U.S.-Mexico border and the “droning of countries around the world” on Obama’s watch, she argues that the Democratic president operated within the same fundamentally broken framework as his Republican successor.

“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 was,” Omar says. “And 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.”

emphasis added. She's trying to back track now apparently, realizing that she screwed up big time.

[wellst0nev0ter]

51. I'd rather take Omar's "screwup"

over these honest mistakes:


https://www.newsweek.com/wedding-became-funeral-us-still-silent-one-year-deadly-yemen-drone-strike-291403

[lapucelle]

57. I'll quote what you said the Congresswoman said...

You can listen yourself because you have ears, don't you?

https://soundcloud.com/ilhanomar/obama2

"What is happening now is very different."

Then she goes on to say that the Obama administration was more secret and "polished" in its cruelty than Trump was, meaning they operated in a way that is more palatable to people like yourself.

https://upload.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=11905484

The Obama administration was more secret and "polished" in its cruelty than Trump...

Did you accurately quote the Congresswoman?

[Paladin]

40. There has never been a perfect U.S. President. Obama is no exception.

That doesn't excuse Rep. Omar---or any other Democrat--- from feeding talking points to Sean Hannity at this point in an impending campaign season, where we are up against the most insane and evil sub-human ever to pollute the Oval Office. I can live with being labelled "precious" with that sort of dangerous situation glaring at us. If trump's idiot hordes manage to put him in office for a second term, participation on sites like DU will be grounds for confinement in internment camps. You know, internment camps---like the ones a Democratic president approved, 77 years ago.....

[wellst0nev0ter]

43. She says people mention Obama

Whenever she criticizes Trump, and that Democrats should do better on certain policies.

Once again, I wonder why that is controversial.

[pamdb]

6. ilhan Omar

Since when is criticizing Israel automatically make one anti-semitic? I had always been a strong supporter of Israel until about 15 years ago, right about the time Bibi Netanyahu came to power. We criticize muslim countries all the time and yet that doesn't make one automatically anti-Islamic. We give a lot of money to Israel, and they are our strongest allies in the area, but they also have universal health care, free colleges, things we seemingly cannot afford. The Palestinians live in Israel as well as the Jews and some them have been there as long as the Jews.

[Chin music]

14. Ironically, they get US foreign aid too. And they have universal healthcare/free college.

And we cant get it here.

[2naSalit]

19. Actually

Palestine was given to the Jews and thousands of Palestinians were displaced, many of which still live in exile after all these decades. We have facilitated this travesty all this time. I have serious misgivings about all this anti-semitism trope shit.

I stand with Ilhan Omar, mind you, my paternal family is from strong Jewish lineage... Levites, in fact, and only one generation back including rabbis. But I don't buy this "I'm a victim because of my religion" stuff. It's the same trope used by the xtians.

This is the crap that bothers me. Free speech for me but not for thee.

[nycbos]

7. At this time no.

But the duel loyally trope is one of oldest anti Semitic tropes. When she makes her next antisemitic comment we should. Not because "Republicans see it as an opportunity to portray the entire Democratic Party as anti-Israel and they will get FOX News to promote it," Burt because it would be the right thing to do.

[manor321]

8. Why are some people pretending last week's vote didn't happen?

Instead they want to continue to pound on this poor woman.

Mark my words, some will continue beating on her until she quits.

[Bettie]

37. That is what a lot of people want

the voices of those new "upstart" congresswomen silenced.

[underpants]

9. I would personally advise her to step back and let the heat die down but censure no

Trust me the RW will stay on her and AOC for a long time but in the real world other stories will pop up. I know this is a fallacy of some sorts but she's waaaay back in the line of Congress people who need to be admonished or even censured - Steve King, Peter King, Nunes, Gowdy (yeah I know he's gone), Cheney (just in general principle), Gaetz, Gym Jordan, Gohmert (simply for stupidity), and as mention above anyone who voted FOR hate last week.

[Chin music]

15. So so true.

Let it go. i think it's a distraction. trump pays ZERO price for hate filled divisive speech daily. Focus on the root of the problem...the gop.

[samnsara]

10. if it continues after (fill in the blank) warnings.. then yes...followed by monetary fines.

[H2O Man]

11. No.

If actual anti-Semitic remarks start, I would think differently.

[2naSalit]

21. +1

[lancelyons]

12. No

NO

I dont take criticism of Israel as anti semitic.

Tropes are very loosely aligned.


There are more Islamic tropes out there and white supremacist tropes.

I dont see any of the folks in the Jewish community coming out and defending the Democrats against what Trump said about Dems being the anti jewish party.

It goes both ways.

Its all about the benjamins was a movie so that might be more on somebodies mind than a supposed Trope.

[marble falls]

13. No. Not at all.

[NRaleighLiberal]

16. Hell no.

[2naSalit]

22. Nope...nt

[Me.]

29. No

But Nancy needs to have a talk with her and a couple of other freshman women

[empedocles]

30. Given Dem election needs, and Pelosi's unnecessary but costly problems,

the Dem ostrich strategy doesn't seem to be working well. At some point, more needs to be done, imo.

[grumpyduck]

31. Turn it around on the Republicans

Several of them have made comments that can be interpreted as racist. Come right out and say that it's improper for any elected official to make statements like that. Then go back to the priorities.

Don't get caught in the game.

[old guy]

34. No.

[demosincebirth]

36. Tell her to put her brain in gear before she spouts off..

[randr]

39. Criticizing the government of Israel is not anti-semetic

anymore that criticizing the US government is anti American
I hope Rep. Omar helps us grow some skin and in doing so maybe we can help those in Israel who are opposed to their own government.

[sacto95834]

65. Speak Truth to Power Rep Omar

I see nothing wrong with criticizing the RW policies of the state of Israel. The government does not equal race or ethnicity or religion. Is criticizing American policy anti Christian? Hopefully the absurdity is apparent.

I also see nothing wrong in calling out Democratic leadership (in this case Obama) on mistakes that have been made - Drone program. Else we look like hypocrites when we chastise Republican for refusing to do the same to Trump. As many like to rightfully tout our elected representatives should put the nation's interest in front of party.

I don't see any factual mistake made by Omar in her statements. Could it have been worded better? Maybe. But she's right on substance. She has every right to speak her mind on the issues of the day. I applaud her for speaking up for Palestinians. One day history will record it as another instance of apartheid.

As someone said, no president is perfect. But we should strive to do what is right and criticism of what is wrong can only put us on the path to where we as a nation wants to be.

[ornotna]

41. No

I can't believe this is even being considered at this point in time. We have to stop letting the pukes guide our conversations.

[Devil Child]

47. Hard no to censure

Trying to shut down Rep. Omar’s legitimate criticism of the Israeli government and its AIPAC enablers is nothing I support.

If AIPAC view her as such a threat they can feel free to waste some of their donations on primarying her.

[onecaliberal]

49. No, for what? How about Steve king for being a racist pig.

[Demsrule86]

52. No this is bullshit and we are being played...by those who have never censured their racists like

king...let her constituents decide if she is doing a good job. I don't like the way Israel conducts themselves in terms of the Palestinians ad other issues...doesn't make me a racist.

[Owl]

54. NO

[ADX]

55. If someone here on DU had said exactly what Omar said about Obama...

...they'd be facing a DU jury and would have almost certainly had their post removed.

Just sayin'...

[lunatica]

63. If you think that then you weren't around here during the

Obama Administration. Unlike Trump’s MAGATs who give Trump a pass no matter what he does we Democrats don’t do that. You can criticize leaders here.

[Cha]

67. There are rules now.. and what Omar said was not

"constructive criticism". ADX is right.

Ilhan Omar Backtracks After Calling Obama a "Pretty Face" Who "Got Away with Murder"

Democrats didn’t abandon Omar over her comments about Israel. Her criticism of Barack Obama is another matter.

Omar says the “hope and change” offered by Barack Obama was a mirage. Recalling the “caging of kids” at the U.S.-Mexico border and the “droning of countries around the world” on Obama’s watch, she argues that the Democratic president operated within the same fundamentally broken framework as his Republican successor.

“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 was,”

Omar says. “And 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.”

https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2019/03/ilhan-omar-barack-obama-pretty-face

Link to tweet

"They only seperated families when it was determined that the children would be in danger in prison, and the parent couldn't be released due to criminal charges. They always placed children either with relatives or sponsors who were thouroughly vetted."

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=11901011

Link to tweet

[lunatica]

69. The operative word in your title is 'now'

As there are rules now. It doesn’t alter what I said to the poster.

We are still allowed to disagree with certain policy though. It doesn’t mean we disagree with everything.

[Cha]

70. What she said was ugly and untrue.. that's

against the rules.

ADX is right.

[lunatica]

71. That's not what I was talking about

I was talking about giving smart young idealists a chance to learn from their mistakes. Talk of outright condemnation of her isn’t fair. And I use the word fair in the sense that if you are fair you balance everything, old or bad and then come to a conclusion.

One can disagree strongly with someone without being blinded to the point of not seeing the good works of that person.

Or not.

[Cha]

72. Nonetheless ADX is right.

[lunatica]

73. Yes.

[ADX]

91. I wasn't on DU for a majority of BHO's tenure...

...so my post concerns "now", not "then". That being said, there currently exists an extremely thin line between "criticism" and "bashing" here on DU.

[Cha]

66. You're right.. the things she said about

President Obama were Not "constructive criticism".

Ilhan Omar Backtracks After Calling Obama a "Pretty Face" Who "Got Away with Murder"

Democrats didn’t abandon Omar over her comments about Israel. Her criticism of Barack Obama is another matter.

Omar says the “hope and change” offered by Barack Obama was a mirage. Recalling the “caging of kids” at the U.S.-Mexico border and the “droning of countries around the world” on Obama’s watch, she argues that the Democratic president operated within the same fundamentally broken framework as his Republican successor.

“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 was,”

Omar says. “And 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.”

https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2019/03/ilhan-omar-barack-obama-pretty-face

Link to tweet

"They only seperated families when it was determined that the children would be in danger in prison, and the parent couldn't be released due to criminal charges. They always placed children either with relatives or sponsors who were thouroughly vetted."

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=11901011

Link to tweet

[ornotna]

68. Not quite the same thing

Having your post removed here is hardly equivalent to getting censured in Congress.

[workinclasszero]

59. I think democrats should first impeach the worst criminal traitor evil POS that ever soiled

the white house in the entire history of this country!

But hell no lets let the GOP and Trump identify enemies for us in our own party!! Yeah that's the ticket!

HTF does TRUMP get a PASS and democrats get ATTACKED on a democratic board!?

Being against that right wing POS Netanyahu does not equal antisemitism!

[lunatica]

62. No.

There’s a little thing called the the 1st Amendment.

But I do agree on the new hate speech resolution!

Even though the irony of it is that Omar’s comment probably wouldn’t be included as hate speech. This is nothing more than silencing tactics through intimidation.

[saidsimplesimon]

76. Not censure, she is on my ignore list.

It takes a big ego to run for office. She has been elected and Speaker Pelosi is well equipped to handle neophytes.

[vsrazdem]

78. They should stop eating their own and stick to messaging.

[JCMach1]

79. Why are we focusing on this mess and not HR1?

Asking for friend who dreams of real journalism instead of turning things into Real Congressmen of DC

[Meowmee]

81. Yes more will need to happen

But who knows what will happen. After her second anti semitic statement there should have been a private convo and then take her off the foreign affairs committee.

[theophilus]

82. No. n/t

[no_hypocrisy]

84. No. It isn't treason and an argument to supplant the US Constitution to criticize Israel and AIPAC.

Criticize her logic if you can, but don't censure her. (P.S. Steve King wasn't censured last time I checked.)

[kentuck]

86. I was trying to play the devil's advocate...

I guess I didn't succeed?

For the record, I think the people in her home state sent her to Congress for a reason. I have little doubt, but that the environment, in which we grow up, has formed our minds to the way we think. It is my understanding that she was in something like a refugee camp for about 4 years? She is still a young person.

She represents age-old resentments, in some ways. But, she should be commended for her courage and bravery. She embodies "free speech" in this country.

In my opinion, this is an educational process for us all.

[leftynyc]

85. For all those here (and there are many)

claiming the story is her condemning the Israel government and their actions, you're wrong. Her problem is that she's condemning AMERICANS of dual loyalty, of being "hypnotized" by Israel. If she had stuck to Bibi and Israeli policies, she wouldn't be having these problems. She's attacking AMERICANS and saying they support Israel because of money is straight up, old fashioned, heard it a million times before anti-semitism.

[kentuck]

87. "old fashioned,...anti-semitism"...

And the question is, how should we handle it?

[leftynyc]

89. Her constituents have the last word

But I'd kick her off the foreign affairs committee. She doesn't deserve to be there and gave the mealy mouthed apology to her dual loyalty charge.

[MrGrieves]

88. I woukd like to see her

I woukd like to see her become the establishment that these young members have railed against. That said I am losing all patience with her because she is throwing it away. Her (and others like her) job isn’t to make brash statements in the media, her job is to represent her constituency. She may have personal feelings about issues but it is not her job to use her personal agenda in her capacity as a representative and this is where she loses me. She has to know how her actions and statements will be twisted into her defeat and because she doesn’t seem to be getting it she will not last long or will be made latgely ineffective. This is why people say that these newer members need to get some time under their belt. Show their mettle through their voting record and learn how to make a statement without letting that statement become your own undoing.

[nini]

90. No, but some mentoring won't hurt

Unfortunately she's a target regardless because she's Muslim. She will need to learn how to deal with that crap without adding fuel to the fire. That does not mean to back down, but to play chess with those idiots.