Watch: Pompeo Doesn't Mince Words, Calls Out Congresswoman on Blatant Anti-Semitism
Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota has been in the news quite a bit recently for her remorseless and repeated use of anti-Semitic tropes that disparaged American Jews and all who support the Jewish nation of Israel.
Though her anti-Semitism has been loudly condemned by many Republicans, Omar’s fellow Democrats have taken a much more reticent path in only subtly denouncing anti-Semitism among other forms of bigotry and hatred more broadly, without specifically naming her and addressing her specific remarks.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had no such qualms about calling out Omar by name, however, during a recent interview with the Christian Broadcasting Network while in Israel on a tour of the Middle East to meet with several regional leaders.
Pompeo sat down with CBN and was asked directly for his thoughts on how Democrats had handled the situation with Omar, specifically with regard to the apparent rise of anti-Semitism within the Democratic Party.
“To see this from a member of Congress like Congresswoman Omar is — I talked about this being dark,” Pompeo said.
“The rise of anti-Semitism in the United States and in Europe and in, frankly, all across the world is something that is deeply troubling,” he continued, “and to see someone — a duly elected congressman — behave in that way, to speak about anti-Semitism in that way, is of great concern. It’s of great concern to me.
“This administration speaks the truth, and anti-Semitism is unacceptable in any form from anyone, but to see it come from one of America’s leaders is just abhorrent.”
The secretary of state is absolutely correct that anti-Semitism is abhorrent, and its rise across Europe and the United States, including among elected members of Congress, is truly of great concern to the vast majority of the American people.
Omar, one of the first two Muslim women elected to Congress, has embraced old anti-Semitic tropes by suggesting that Jewish lawmakers have dual loyalty and that members of Congress who support Israel were bought off by Jewish money.
“I should not be expected to have allegiance/pledge support to a foreign country in order to serve my country in Congress or serve on committee,” she tweeted earlier this month. “I am told everyday that I am anti-American if I am not pro-Israel. I find that to be problematic and I am not alone. I just happen to be willing to speak up on it and open myself to attacks.”
Our democracy is built on debate, Congresswoman! I should not be expected to have allegiance/pledge support to a foreign country in order to serve my country in Congress or serve on committee. The people of the 5th elected me to serve their interest. I am sure we agree on that! https://t.co/gglAS4FVJW
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) March 3, 2019
Unfortunately, as the Democratic Party has veered leftward in recent years, it has come more and more under the control of the extremists in the party’s base who hate Israel and what it represents.
That radical wing has no real problems with those kinds of anti-Semitic remarks.
Whether there remain enough moderate Democrats with the gumption to take on the radicals within their party, or whether they will be chewed up and spit out by their own, has yet to be made clear.
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