A meeting of House Democrats turned contentious Wednesday as some new members who helped deliver the House majority confronted leaders over a resolution implicitly rebuking Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota over her comments on Israel.
In the party’s weekly closed meeting, Democrats protested the way Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other leaders tried to rush out a resolution this week responding to Omar’s latest remark about Israel. Omar last week suggested the Jewish state’s supporters are pushing lawmakers to pledge “allegiance” to a foreign country.
The draft of the resolution condemning anti-Semitism has angered Omar’s fellow freshmen and their liberal supporters. Pelosi had already said the measure would be broadened to decry anti-Muslim bias. But that didn’t quiet the ranks, and the party’s first major dissension broke out in an uncomfortable confrontation, according to three officials familiar with the episode.
[WATCH: Top Jewish Democrat AGAINST Removing Anti-Semitic Rep. Omar From Foreign Affairs Committee]
Some Democrats hugged Omar, one of two Muslim women in Congress, during the meeting, according to other officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity. She’s also received powerful boosts from fellow Democratic freshmen Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan.
WATCH: Rep. Omar runs away when asked “are you anti-Semitic?” and if she supports a Congressional resolution condemning anti-Semitism:
The text of the resolution remains up in the air, as Democrats are still debating what it will say, whether it will name Omar and whether she will be permitted to keep her seat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell delivered a scathing rebuke to Omar, while calling out the Democrats for simply looking to pass a “symbolic resolution”.
“If House Democrats wanted to, they could pass real legislation to take action against anti-Semitism and shore up America’s relationship with Israel. I know they could — because last month the Senate did just that,” McConnell said.
“The House should take up and pass S. 1, the bipartisan foreign policy legislation that the Senate passed last month, 77 to 23. That legislation walks the walk. It supports Israel and gives local communities the flexibility to combat the so-called ‘BDS movement,’ which is a kind of anti-Semitic economic warfare that opponents of Israel are trying to wage against the Jewish state.”
Asked by reporters Wednesday about the resolution and whether Omar should lose her seat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee because of repeated comments viewed as anti-Semitic, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, the chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, pivoted to Trump.
“We are committed to decisively condemning anti-Semitism, racism, white supremacy, Islamophobia, homophobia, and the rise in hate that has taken place in this country – perhaps coincidentally – over the last two years, since January of 2017,” Jeffries said.
He also ripped into Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell for suggesting there is a rise in controversial remarks among House Democratic freshmen like Omar, accusing Trump of “hateful” comments.
“When has he ever said anything about the hateful remarks that continue to flow out of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue?” Jeffries said of McConnell. “When has he ever said anything about that?”
He added: “Let me just generally say: there’s not a rise of anti-Semitism in the House of Representatives. There’s a rise of anti-Semitic behavior and activity and violence in the country.”
Hey Mitch, you have NEVER spoken up about the tidal wave of hatred from the so-called President.
Don’t ever lecture @HouseDemocrats about intolerance.
We will handle our business.
And you can PIPE DOWN. pic.twitter.com/L7v6NV7yXd
— Hakeem Jeffries (@RepJeffries) March 6, 2019
Rep. Jahana Hayes of Connecticut complained that Pelosi left Democrats out of the loop on the resolution’s details.
“My comments were about the process we are using when concerns arise,” Hayes said in a statement. “As a member of Congress I should not get important information from cable news.”
[DESPICABLE: Iran-Embracing Neturei Karta in US Capital to Support Anti-Semite Rep. Ilhan Omar]
Two people with knowledge of the situation said Hayes was engaged in conversation with a colleague when Pelosi asked her a question. The congresswoman did not respond because she did not hear the speaker address her, these people say. Most lawmakers had left the room at the time.
Then Pelosi said, “If you’re not going to listen to me, I’m done talking,” according to a person in the room.
A senior Democratic aide said Pelosi had earlier acknowledged the issues and said the resolution was not final. One person in the room quoted the speaker as saying the leaders had tried to increase communication so that members stay united and have “a clearer understanding of what our purpose is as a caucus, how we proceed.”
Rep. Katie Hill, D-Calif., said she spoke up in a leadership meeting earlier this week about the original draft being “reactionary” to Omar’s most recent comment. The dissention over the issue, Hill said, “has been building for a while.”
Many have pointed to the fact that Omar was the target of an anti-Muslim poster that appeared last week at the West Virginia Capitol in Charleston, with her picture over an image of the World Trade Center’s burning towers.
“We’re very concerned about that and we want that paid attention to,” said Rep. Karen Bass, D-Calif. “Many members of the D caucus are concerned and concerned over the general rise in hatred that we have seen. And so we want to make clear that we make a stand against all forms of bigotry and hatred.”
That sounds straightforward enough, especially for a party that has celebrated its diversity, criticized Republicans of their lack of it and bristled over racially sensitive remarks from President Donald Trump.
But much about the resolution remains up in the air, including what it will say, whether it will name Omar and whether it will get a vote on the House floor this week as Pelosi originally intended, Democrats said. Also unclear is whether Omar will get to keep her seat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
There was clear dissention among the Democrats on whether a resolution condemning anti-Semitism was even necessary, given that the House voted on a similar measure already.
“I’m not sure we need to continue to do this every single time,” said Rep. Pramila Jayapal, the co-chairwoman of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.
The upheaval was a striking change from the heady first days of Democratic control, which installed Pelosi as speaker for the second time. Omar is among the most prominent freshman, as evidence by her appearance on the cover of Rolling Stone’s March issue with Pelosi, Hayes and Ocasio-Cortez. The resolution has created friction among Pelosi and all three of the women in the photo.
Omar, one of two Muslim women in Congress, has declined to comment, but a series of remarks about U.S.-Israel policy have forced the Democrats to respond. Pelosi, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Eliot Engel and other Democrats condemned Omar’s remarks about divided loyalties. She did not apologize.
Our relationship and support for @Israel is built on common values and democratic principles. On shared interests, close partnerships, and deep friendships. The members of the Senate support Israel because so many Americans support Israel.
— Leader McConnell (@senatemajldr) March 6, 2019
Racial and religious hate mongering deserves swift condemnation. I’m glad the House of Representatives is taking up a resolution to reject antisemitism. But I’m sorry it had to be prompted by the repeated invocation of hurtful stereotypes by a Democratic member of the House.
— Leader McConnell (@senatemajldr) March 6, 2019
(AP / YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
14 Responses
This Omar rashanta bit off more than she can chew. They will chew her right out of office. Just wait. Her and dimwit AOC and the other loser. That Palestinian dog. All three. Bounce them out of there so fast. People are not that stupid.
Best part is, these three rabid dogs are handing Trump another 4 years on a silver platter.
I wish you were right. Unfortunately people are that stupid. The American people have demonstrated that fact again and again.
Bulldozer, I agree that in general people aren’t stupid. Fortunately for Omar, her particular district is in a very left leaning district around Minneapolis. Just as I had to endure years of misfortune living in Debbie Wasserman Shultz’s district in South Florida, certain districts seem to always want the lousy politician. In this case, Omar will say something like she is supporting women’s rights for abortions and gay marriages by the next election, and her voting base will applaud. They’ll say they want her because she cares about the environment and will look to tax or close down heavy industry in the US.
Thank you for your support, Senator.
Bulldozer, wishful thinking. Halevai you were right
Steve King, an anti-Semite, sat in Congress for years and no one said boo. The Republicans, many, supported the likes of Roy Moore. There’s plenty of blame to go around. But the democrats haven’t ignored the situation or the other lady either. As you know someone said “there were fine people on both sides”!
Rabbosai-
Lfi aniyos dayti , your anger is misguided.
The AOC’s , Omar’s , Jeffries’ of the world will always exist and their influence will be determined by numerous factors .. but one thing we can always count on – is the few Yiddin that are in very real echelons of power to take a vacation when any substantial issue affecting the Jewish community arises . I submit a very famous and heimishe senator’s twitter page as a fine example of a yiddishe political leader’s concern and proactivity in the matter. He’s concerned with global warming today , and yesterday , and last week . Very convenient.
It’s always the McConnell’s that bail us out . ( see exhibit B 25 years ago Senator Al D’amato voted out of office by New Yorkers for Sen. Abrams .. wasn’t as if D’amato did much for Yiddin other than argue and rant on TV and every media forum on behalf of yiddishe causes 34/7 . Abrams ? Not sure what happened to him as this was pre-global warming emergency we now face .
He may have been busy with other things . Exhibit C – Rudy Guiliani ?
There are many more letters .. but I won’t overstay my welcome .
I’ll just rest my case .
I can’t believe a majority of people will be so stupid in 2020 to vote for climate change activism, infanticide, and open borders, over pro-Americanism and boosting the economy.
I can’t believe that the majority of Americans will vote in 2020 for a far left agenda led by upstart Congressmen (or women)
Bulldozer Omar and Tlaib represent a heavily populated Muslim district.
This ashanta Omar is ugly inside and out
rt,, your alliance to Democrat party is so obvious, no matter what. RE: “democrats haven’t ignored the situation” ? you are either gullible fool or a Democrat troll. May be both.
why is hakeem Jeffries defending her, how is he better than Charles Barron whom we were told to vote against?
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi defended Rep. Ilhan Omar on Wednesday, telling reporters that while Omar had made anti-Jewish remarks in recent weeks, she had not been “intentionally antisemitic.” rt, are you proud of YOUR Jew-hating, America hating, humanity hating Democrat Party?