Discussion: Pelosi: Omar Still Doesn't Understand 'The Full Weight' Of Her Comments

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There is a silver lining in all of the angst I see here.

Most of us do not believe that Trumpism will prevail.

Because if we DID, we would be so panic-stricken and alarmed and ALL of our cooperation would be so necessary that Omar would be told that we would look into her issues expeditiously AFTER we got the Menace out of the White House

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Do we really need an encyclopedic list of forbidden words to be voted upon? Why isnā€™t it good enough for everyone who wants to, to revise and extend their remarks after hours, in from of the C-SPAN cameras?

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Leaked footage of the Dem House leadership meeting:

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Mic drop. Close the thread.

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How would you prefer it be handled?

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Perhaps she needs a ā€œmentorā€ in the interim.

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I respect your feelings.

I DO see color and am outraged with every new instance of ā€œ___ing while Black,ā€ whether Barbecuing, selling water or the latest outrage in Chicago ā€œPicking up Trash While Black.ā€

I do NOT lessen the importance of calling out this crap and acknowledging that the prejudice runs deep in our culture and must be changed. I see that at this time in our history, this is finally starting to get the attention it deserves.

I know that I was raised with prejudices and that I must make sure that I am aware of it when it influences my actions.

That being saidā€¦all lives do matter.

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Let the flaming commence, if you must, but I kind of actually agree with Pelosi here that Omarā€™s remarks, while obviously not intended to be anti-Semitic, being directed at the GOP, were nonetheless kind of careless, and this a good learning opportunity. To be clear, I do NOT think Omar should be censured or sanctioned in any way, and a resolution is both silly and unnecessary, but in the same manner, her remarks were needlessly silly, undiplomatic, and unhelpful. Pelosi rightfully is not ascribing any ill intent or any kind of malice to Omarā€™s remarks at all, and sheā€™s not suggesting in any way that no one can criticize Israel or their lobbying efforts. Sheā€™s just pointing out that suggesting ā€œallegianceā€ to Israeli ā€œBenjaminsā€ may carry ā€“ albeit unintentionally ā€“ certain additional implications beyond what was intended. Not sure how that statement by Pelosi is controversial ā€“ tropes about ā€œJewish moneyā€ controlling DC have been a right-wing go-to device for many years. Does anyone seriously deny that? (George Soros as bogeyman, anyone?)

Thereā€™s nothing wrong with criticizing the role of money in politics, of course, and thereā€™s nothing wrong with taking issue with Israel on policy matters, but to deny that a member of Congress saying support for Israel is ā€œall about the Benjaminsā€ is kind of thoughtless and needlessly provocative, and often just plain wrong. And not referring to any particular policy, or any specific lobbying efforts, but just generally to Israeli money buying allegiance and control of members of Congress, does kind of sound like the same general tropes about ā€œJewish moneyā€ even if that was not intended. And right or wrong, the reality is that coming from a Muslim member of Congress, it sounds even worse. Sorry, but thatā€™s reality.

We here at TPM supposedly live a reality-based community ā€“ we can acknowledge BOTH that the GOP is far too uncritical of the Israelis on certain policy matters AND that remarks like these, without specific substance behind them, are not helpful. Those two positions are not mutually exclusive. Frankly, as a Congresswoman, even a newly-elected one, she should have known better than to partake is such a ham-fisted (no joke intended) remark. Hopefully, thanks to Pelosiā€™s great skill, and, Iā€™m certain, Omarā€™s great abilities, this will soon be old news and we ā€“ and they ā€“ can get back to focusing on getting the Crime Family out of the White House. I trust Pelosi ā€“ no reason not to do so.

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Iā€™ve been waiting patiently for Lent to begin when they start baking hot cross buns. Then come Easter thereā€™s panettone. For everyday thereā€™s biscotti, frutta and mandorle. Try to forgive me. :yum:

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As one of Omarā€™s constituents, my perception is that she does not have very good judgment. I wish she had stayed longer in the state legislature to get more experience. I am sympathetic with Nancy on this one. I had hoped it would blow over and people would be on to the next outrage, but somehow itā€™s front and center again today. I wish the Presidential candidates had stayed out of the conversation!

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Well, I found @nemoā€™s suggestion better than what weā€™ve seen lurching in and out of control.

I think weā€™re basically in agreement but differing on the language. Anyway, thanks for considering my argument.

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ā€œI am Jewish. I support Ilhan Omar.ā€

ā€¦

"When Omar spoke of ā€œthe political influence in this country that says it is okay to push for allegiance to a foreign country,ā€ she was speaking specifically of the AIPAC-influenced Combatting BDS Act, a recent bill that would make individual Americansā€™ boycott of Israel punishable with the loss of US government contracts (!).

If thatā€™s not an ā€œeffort to push people into allegiance,ā€ what is it?"

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But up next, green Guinness! SlƔinte!

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Iā€™m very supportive of Omar, but I think Pelosi is correct here.

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Have they made a camera yet that Bernie doesnā€™t to jump in front of?

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Iā€™m with Nancy. I think she handled it well and the resolution condemning racism in several forms is fine.

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Of course! I hope our TPM family will continue to feel open to discussing issues that can hit close to the bone.

GENERALLY, most folks here care about the important stuff. :smile:

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Works for me. Vilification of groups is problematic and we need to be vigilant but this discussion does seem to be taking our eye off the ball.

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