House Republicans, led by Minority Leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), will press ahead with a privileged resolution to strip Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) of her place on the House Foreign Affairs Committee following remarks she left appearing to compare the USA and Israel to terrorist regimes, Hamas and the Taliban — but Democrats say they won’t take action against Omar.
As The Daily Wire reported Sunday, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) refused to condemn Omar for her opinions, calling Omar a”valued” member of the Democratic caucus, and insisting that a statement Pelosi made last week on Omar’s remarks wasn’t a”rebuke,” but rather a message of”thanks” for a”clarification” Omar issued late Thursday.
Last week, Omar wrote, in a tweet, “We must have the same level of accountability and justice for all victims of crimes against humanity. We have seen unthinkable atrocities committed by the U.S., Hamas, Israel, Afghanistan, and the Taliban.” She later said that she was referencing cases before the International Criminal Court while in conversation with Secretary of State Antony Bliken, but didn’t point to specific examples of Israeli and American”atrocities” or”crimes against humanity.”
According to Punchbowl news, Rep. McCarthy is expected to fast-track a movement to eliminate Omar from her committee assignment, similar to what Democrats did with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) after her own controversial remarks. The movement is marked as”privileged” placing it ahead of other House business.
Eight Republicans sent a letter to Pelosi late last week, according to Fox News, demanding that the Speaker take her action against the Minnesota Democrat, reminding Pelosi who”it is the responsibility of the party’s leadership in the House of Representatives to hold accountable egregious words and actions made by Members of the Party.”
Republicans also have pressed forward with another resolution pushing censure against Omar and other members of the”Squad” that rushed to her defense, such as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), who accused Pelosi of”policing women of color.”
Democrats seem to be concerned, but with policing internal battle instead. Following”clarifying” her remarks about Israel, the USA, and”terrorist” activities, Omar lashed out at Jewish Democrats who broke with party leadership and convicted her opinions, and members of the”Squad” quickly followed suit.
Omar accused her colleagues of “harassment” and “Islamophobia.” Ocasio-Cortez accused the group of “constant vilification, intentional mischaracterization, and public targeting of @IlhanMN” and Tlaib tweeted that “Freedom of speech doesn’t exist for Muslim women in Congress. The benefit of the doubt doesn’t exist for Muslim women in Congress. House Democratic leadership should be ashamed of its relentless, exclusive tone policing of Congresswomen of color.”
The harsh words prompted Pelosi to attempt to appear neutral on the matter on Sunday, it appears, but Monday’s Republican movements may prompt more ire.
