Omar says some Republicans do not need a Muslim in Congress: ‘These individuals are OK with Islamophobia’

Monday, January 30, 2023

BY JULIA MUELLER

Rope. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) speaks at a press convention on committee assignments for the 118th US Congress, on the US Capitol Building on January 25, 2023, in Washington, DC KEVIN DIETSCH/GETTY IMAGES

Rope. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) stated Sunday that some Republicans are “okay with Islamophobia” in response to questions on efforts by Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) to forestall her from remaining on the House Foreign Affairs Committee. .

“You remember Donald Trump coming into my state and saying, ‘Muslims, Somali refugees are infiltrating our country.’ You remember [Rep.] Marjorie Taylor Greene [R-Ga.] coming to Congress after [Rep.] Rashida [Tlaib (D-Mich.)] and I swore in and said, ‘Muslims are infiltrating Congress.’ You remember [Rep. Lauren] Boebert [R-Colo.] said I was a terrorist. What did McCarthy do? He said: ‘She apologized, and we don’t have to worry about her Islamophobia. It never happened,” Omar stated on CNN’s “State of the Union.”

“And so these people are okay with Islamophobia. They’re okay with trafficking in their own ways of anti-Semitism. They’re not okay with a Muslim having a voice on that committee,” Omar stated.

McCarthy focused Omar, the primary Somali-American and {one of the} first two Muslim ladies elected to Congress, for elimination from overseas affairs. He additionally started out reps. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) and Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) of the House Intelligence Committee.

Omar’s elimination requires a vote of the whole House, whilst Swalwell’s and Schiff’s removals could be carried out by McCarthy alone due to Intelligence Committee policies.

“If they want to debate political differences, and that’s something we should all be able to do, but to smear someone and their character, their love for their country and the work they get to do on a committee is wrong,” Omar stated.

“And it’s politically motivated. And in some cases, it’s motivated by the fact that many of these members don’t believe that a Muslim, a refugee, an African should even be in Congress, let alone have the opportunity to sit on the Foreign Affairs Committee.”

Omar has been accused of constructing anti-Semitic remarks concerning US aid for Israel. She has since apologized for the remarks, saying on Sunday that “I may have used words at the time that I did not understand were trading in anti-Semitism.”

“To insinuate that I intentionally stated these {things}, when individuals have study into my remarks to make it sound like I’ve some thing towards the Jewish neighborhood, is so incorrect. … I voted for each single decision — no Republican can say that – which condemns anti-Semitism. My work is evident, says Omar.

Democrats have rallied round Omar, Swalwell and Schiff.

McCarthy formally blocked Schiff and Swalwell from the intelligence committee earlier this week, however the speaker will want a House vote to approve his plans for the overseas affairs committee. Some Republicans have come out to say they oppose taking away Omar.

Omar stated Sunday that she hopes the GOP lawmakers who’ve stated they’re going to aid her will hold their phrase in terms of a vote.