The crucifixion of Congresswoman Ilhan Omar

The crucifixion of Congresswoman Ilhan Omar

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. ~ First Amendment to the United States Constitution

How apropos for the Democrats to choose Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent to begin the crucifixion of Congresswoman Ilhan Omar.   I’m sure that the Catholic members of congress won’t even be aware of the hypocrisy as they prance around the House floor with their ashen crosses on their foreheads to commemorate the crucifixion Jesus Christ.

Representative Omar sent the majority of the House of Representatives shrieking in horror when she chastised the cash-engorged congress for representing the desires of special interest of the groups like AIPAC before the interests of the American people.  What Omar said was:

Omar quoted rap lyrics — “It’s all about the Benjamins baby” — to suggest McCarthy’s move was driven by the lobby’s prolific spending. Asked specifically who she was referring to, Omar responded, “AIPAC!”

Gasp, horrors no one ever had the audacity to actually say on camera “members of the Empire’s congress have no clothes,”  It didn’t take long for the shit to hit the fan as AIPAC’s agents in the congress and media immediately and in the harshest of terms called for the crucifixion of Ilhan Omar.  From The Gateway Pundit:

Excerpt:

Jewish Leader: Ilhan Omar Is a Filthy, Disgusting, Hater – Has No Place on Foreign Affairs Committee (VIDEO)

Jeff Ballabon, an advisor to President Trump, ripped Democrat Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) on Monday over her latest anti-Semitic remarks on Varney and Co.  Ballabon says Ilhan has “no place” in politics. He can’t understand why Speaker Pelosi keeps her on the Foreign Affairs Committee.

Jeff Ballabon: I don’t think there’s room in any reasonable setting for Ilhan Omar and normal people. The problem isn’t that she is expressing herself poorly in a matter of debate. The problem is that her beliefs are deeply rooted in hatred and anti-Semitism. She is a hater. I’m going to say it. She is filth. She has no place in Congress. She has no place on the foreign affairs committee. It is amazing that Nancy Pelosi, the Speaker of the House, the most powerful Democrat in America, appears on Rolling Stone, hand-in-hand smiling this week. It’s outrageous… She is a filthy, disgusting, hater.

Sheesh, that guy has no place on TV spouting hatred as debate.  What I gleaned from that clip was this Ballabon guy is saying to congress that because Ilhan Omar stated that members of congress routinely passes laws that benefit their special interest financial backers not that of the American people is a disqualifier.  Therefore Ballabon wants congress to remove Omar from her seat on the Foreign Affairs Committee where she has a platform to question the actions of those acting on behalf of the US government in foreign countries.  After all it was Ilhan Omar who dressed down “death squad” Elliott Abrams on TV.

When asked about where she stands on the censure of Omar, Representative Alexandria Ocasio Cortez said:

"It's not my position to tell people how to feel, or that their hurt is invalid. But incidents like these do beg the question: where are the resolutions against homophobic statements? For anti-blackness? For xenophobia? For a member saying he'll "send Obama home to Kenya? In this administration + all others, we should actively check antisemitism, anti-blackness, homophobia, racism, and all other forms of bigotry. And the most productive end goal when we see it is to educate and heal. It's the difference between "calling in" before "calling out."

AOC was immediately condemned along with Ilhan Oman by their own Party, the AIPAC controlled Democrats.  From OpEd News:

Excerpt:

The Democratic Party Attacks on Ilhan Omar Are a Travesty I'm Jewish and have worked against anti-Semitism for decades. I was sitting a few feet from Omar at Busboys & Poets and I heard nothing-nothing-that smacked of anti-Semitism, overt or coded or otherwise. By Phyllis Bennis

House Democrats were forced to postpone their vote rebuking Omar amid pressure from large numbers of the public and Trump's comment that this was a "dark day for Israel" popped up all over the relevant media venues. And for what?

Questioning how much of US Foreign Policy results from long standing support for Israel and manipulation by pro-Israel Congress members, who have never in decades had their support challenged or even questioned? I applaud Omar for challenging the history of 1981 El Salvador massacres and assassinations by Trump's point man for Venezuela, Elliott Abrams, and no one else did that: that speaks volumes to what she is really all about.

Other Democrats, most notably Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and others within and outside of the House Democratic Caucus, and many progressive groups, like Democracy for America, declared their support for Omar; the Congressional Black Caucus and Congressional Progressive Caucus, have requested more time to review the issues.

Pelosi and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) said on Tuesday that the vote could perhaps occur tomorrow (Thursday) and said that a draft resolution would be updated to include additional language rejecting anti-Muslim bias, while some Democrats maintain that a new would be created.

Associated Press weighed in on this developing story at length:

Omar became the flash point after she suggested last week that Israel's supporters are pushing U.S. lawmakers to take a pledge of "allegiance to a foreign country." It's at least the third time she has forced older, pro-Israel Democrats who run the House into awkward territory over U.S.-Israeli policy.

Republicans have been happy to stoke the furor, with President Donald Trump calling Omar's remarks "a dark day for Israel" and posting a photo of himself in Jerusalem. Inside the Democratic family, meanwhile, leaders are in a bind, torn between a need to admonish Omar for her comments and their desire to defend one of the first Muslim women elected to Congress.

This time Omar is not apologizing. And this time pro-Israel Democrats led by Speaker Nancy Pelosi are not just warning her about the dangers of Jewish tropes. They're expected to offer a resolution condemning anti-Semitism on the House floor.

"Accusations of dual loyalty generally have an insidious, bigoted history," an early draft of the resolution reads in part. "The House of Representatives acknowledges the dangerous consequences of perpetuating anti-Semitic stereotypes and rejects anti-Semitism as hateful expressions of intolerance that are contradictory to the values that define the people of the United States…" 

"There is a lot emotional disquiet about the situation, and it's a good time to restate our values," said Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland, who is Jewish and a member of leadership. "That's what I hope our resolution can do."

Clearly, Omar's remarks about Israel's influence on US policies have precipitated a lot of anger in the House, and diverts attention away from, for example, passing an anti-corruption bill dealing with campaign finance reform, voting rights, and ethics…

The discussion over reprimanding Omar for saying pro-Israel advocates have "allegiance to a foreign country" has manifested the deep divides ideologically among older vs. newer members, and stemmed from the reactions of some old guard Jewish congress members like New York Reps. Eliot Engel and Nita Lowey, when they criticized Omar demanding an apology…

We have to be very strong and forceful in condemning it." However, Engel stopped short of threatening to remove Omar from the Foreign Affairs Committee, which some Republicans have demanded.

In response to Lowey's criticism, Omar tweeted: "I am told every day 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."

Out of the two dozen other Democrats on the Foreign Affairs committee, nearly all did not respond or declined a request to comment on Monday. Member Rep. Juan Vargas (D-Calif.) tweeted that Omar should apologize for "hurtful anti-Semitic stereotypes. Questioning support for the U.S.-Israel relationship is unacceptable."

"Resolutions are all well and good, but Speaker Pelosi is clearly afraid to stand up to Rep. Omar if she continues to reward her with a plum spot on the Foreign Affairs Committee," House Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) Tweeted on Monday.

Senior Democrats in key caucuses pushed for party leaders to pause floor action related to Omar so members have time to digest the content of the resolution.

Liberals had pushed for language condemning Islamophobia after Omar was targeted in a poster displayed at an event sponsored by the West Virginia GOP linking her to Sept. 11, which included a photo of the World Trade Center buildings on fire and a photo of Omar below it. The draft resolution doesn't mention Omar by name but is a direct response to her most recent comments and comes after a string of Israel-related remarks that her colleagues have claimed are anti-Semitic.

Ocasio-Cortez in Tweets argued that Democratic leaders should have addressed the issue privately before Omar was "called out" publicly. "One of the things that is hurtful about the extent to which reprimand is sought of Ilhan is that no one seeks this level of reprimand when members make statements about Latinx + other communities (during the shutdown, a GOP member yelled 'Go back to Puerto Rico!' on the floor)," Ocasio-Cortez tweeted.

A senior Democratic aide countered Ocasio-Cortez's criticisms on Tuesday by saying a resolution on the House floor is far from the most severe punishment Democratic leaders could pursue…

A coalition of several Muslim and progressive Jewish organizations, including the Council on American-Islamic Relations and IfNotNow, will hold a news conference today on the Supreme Court steps to support Omar, while Progressive Change Campaign Committee sent out a mass fundraising email in support of those Democratic lawmakers who are defending Omar. Other prominent progressive groups and activists, including Democracy for America, CodePink and Indivisible co-founder Leah Greenberg, underscored their support for Omar on Twitter, using the hashtag #StandWithIlhan.

Is it just me or are the members of congress proving Omar’s point that too many members, many with dual citizenship, put the interests of the Netanyahu’s Israeli government above the interests of the American people?  From Mondoweiss:

Excerpt:

Ilhan Omar is charged with invoking ‘myth of dual loyalty’ — but many Jewish writers say it’s no myth

In an appearance at Busboys and Poets two nights ago Minnesota Congresswoman Ilhan Omar called out Israel supporters for advocating for a foreign country:  “I want to talk about the political influence in this country that says it is okay to push for allegiance to a foreign country.”

Omar’s critique is similar to Rep. Rashida Tlaib saying in January that Senate supporters of anti-boycott legislation “forgot what country they represent.”  Both congresswomen have come under a rain of attack from Israel supporters for these comments. Which is no surprise, given that the two Muslim women are Israel’s strongest critics in the Congress.

Jonathan Chait writes at New York Magazine that Omar’s statement is “much worse” than her last controversy, when she ascribed Israel support to financial contributions from the lobby and then apologized for doing so.

Accusing Jews of “allegiance to a foreign country” is a historically classic way of delegitimizing their participation in the political system….Omar is directly invoking the hoary myth of dual loyalty, in which the Americanness of Jews is inherently suspect, and their political participation must be contingent upon proving their patriotism.

But many Jewish writers and thinkers have raised precisely this “hoary myth” very seriously. They have cited “dual loyalty” as a real factor in the Israel-supporting community, and some have termed it a potential problem. Here’s a list:

–John Judis said in The New Republic in 2007 that the Israel lobby demands “dual loyalty” –and said the Chaits of the world are operating with bad faith when they attempt to blackball the issue:

 [Jewish leaders] want to demand of American Jewish intellectuals a certain loyalty to Israel, Israeli policies, and to Zionism as part of their being Jewish. They make dual loyalty an inescapable part of being Jewish in a world in which a Jewish state exists…

Many Jews now suffer from dual loyalty–the same way that Cuban-Americans or Mexican-Americans do. By ignoring this dilemma–and, worse still, by charging those who acknowledge its existence with anti-Semitism–the critics of the new anti-Semitism are engaged in a flight from their own political selves. They are guilty of a certain kind of bad faith.

–Joe Klein cited the supposed myth of “divided loyalties” in 2008 in the context of the push for the Iraq war by the neocons:

The fact that a great many Jewish neoconservatives – people like Joe Lieberman and the crowd over at Commentary – plumped for this war, and now for an even more foolish assault on Iran, raised the question of divided loyalties: using U.S. military power, U.S. lives and money, to make the world safe for Israel…

–MJ Rosenberg said in 2014 that dual loyalty is a legitimate issue:

I most certainly do believe that dual loyalty is a valid consideration when any group knowingly chooses the interests of a foreign country over their own. Like Israel Firster, it describes reality. The good news for me is that this is not a Jewish community problem but rather the problem with a small group of Jewish organizational hacks, neocons, and rank-and-file true believers (mostly old), etc. The reason [some] go nuts about “dual loyalty” and “Israel Firster” is because they know how valid the charge is when, as with Iran, people knowingly put the interest of Israel’s Likud government above America’s…

–Eric Alterman made extended remarks in 2009 at the 92d Y, celebrating his dual loyalty:

You know, one of the touchiest words you can say when you’re discussing Jews and Israel is the word dual loyalty. It’s sort of one of those words that American Jewish officialdom has ruled out of the discourse. If you say dual loyalty, you’re playing into the hands of anti-semites, because it’s been a consistent trope among anti-Semites that you can’t trust Jews. etc. etc.

And I find this very confusing because I was raised dually loyal my whole life. When I went to Hebrew school, the content of my Hebrew school was all about supporting Israel. When my parents who I think are here tonight sent me to Israel when I was 14, on a ZOA [Zionist Organization of America]-sponsored trip… [laughter/backtalk] that was a bad idea, yeah– it was drummed into me that I should do what’s best for Israel.

I was at the Center for Jewish History not long ago where I heard Ruth Wisse, the Yiddishist professor at Harvard who happens to be the Martin L. Peretz professor, instruct a group of young Jewish journalists that they should think of themselves as members of the Israeli army. …

–Elliott Abrams wrote in 1997 that Jews must “stand apart from the nation in which they live”:  Outside the land of Israel, there can be no doubt that Jews, faithful to the covenant between God and Abraham, are to stand apart from the nation in which they live. It is the very nature of being Jewish to be apart–except in Israel–from the rest of the population…

What all these writers and thinkers are saying is that allegiance to Israel is actually an important factor in the support for Israel in the United States, to the point that some support Israel’s interests over America’s.

And Judis makes the necessary correlation: When you characterize such discussion as anti-Semitic, you’re acting in bad faith, denying something you know to be true, and seeking to set a redline on an important argument.

That’s just what is happening to Omar and Tlaib. Because they have taken the historic step of supporting Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) targeting Israel, a first for American politicians, they must be maligned at every turn.

Oh ouch.  That stings.  There was nothing wrong with what Ilhan Omar did or said on the Foreign Relations Committee, this is just a neocon-Zionist attack, a kill the messenger fiasco and everyone knows it.  I believe that any censure of Omar for criticizing the excessive control money has over the congress is unconstitutional and an abuse of power.  From Stephen Lendman:

Excerpt:

Smearing Ilhan Omar

Omar and Rashida Tlaib are the first two Muslim women elected to Congress. Representing Minnesota’s 5th congressional district, she serves on the House Foreign Affairs, Education & Labor Committees.

She introduced legislation pertaining to childcare for workers affected by the government shutdown, a separate measure challenging Trump’s Muslim ban from the wrong countries, another proposing lower drug prices, one more guaranteeing back pay for federal contract workers harmed by the shutdown.

Her criticism of Israeli apartheid ruthlessness was unrelated to anti-Semitism, justifiably calling its harsh treatment of Palestinians “evil doings.”  She supports vital BDS activism despite expressing “reservations on the effectiveness of the movement in accomplishing a lasting solution.” It’s the single most effective initiative against Israeli viciousness, essential to continue and build on past successes.

Falsely called anti-Semitic, she said “I don’t know how my comments would be offensive to Jewish Americans. My comments precisely are addressing what was happening during the Gaza War, and I’m clearly speaking about the way the Israeli regime was conducting itself in that war.”

Israeli high crimes affect all Palestinians throughout the Territories, along with their diaspora counterparts by denying their right of return, affirmed under international law.

On Monday, Trump disgracefully bashed her tweeting: “Representative Ilhan Omar is again under fire for her terrible comments concerning Israel. Jewish groups have just sent a petition to Speaker Pelosi asking her to remove Omar from Foreign Relations Committee. A dark day for Israel!”

Eleven pro-Israeli groups called on Pelosi and Foreign Relations Committee neocon chairman Eliot Engel, to strip Omar of her Foreign Relations committee membership, using it as a platform for truth-telling on vital geopolitical issues, including criticism of apartheid Israel, correctly saying:

“I want to talk about the political influence in this country that says it is okay to push for allegiance to a foreign country,” adding:  “I want to ask: ‘Why is it OK for me to talk about the influence of the (National Rifle Association), or fossil fuel industries, or Big Pharma, (but) not talk about a powerful lobbying group that is influencing policy” on Israel.

The AIPAC-led Israeli lobby is perhaps the most powerful in Washington, greatly influencing US foreign policy, notably in the Middle East – including support for and promotion of wars of aggression.  In their letter to Pelosi, the 11 pro-Israel groups unjustifiably accused Omar of “strong biases against the State of Israel and the Jewish people” – for her courageous truth-telling they failed to explain.

They criticized her for speaking before the Alexandra, VA-based Islamic Relief USA humanitarian group – falsely called a terrorist organization. 

It supports gender equity and justice, provides food aid to starving people, helps refugees displaced by US/NATO/Israeli wars of aggression, offers disaster relief, helps America’s homeless, and provides healthcare in the US for individuals unable to afford it – not the stuff terrorism is made of, just the opposite.

In response to the fabricated claims, the group said “Islamic Relief USA (IRUSA) acknowledges that certain fringe organizations and baseless online media outlets promote false claims that IRUSA and/or its partners have ties to extremist or terrorist organizations.”  “However, these allegations are categorically false and completely without merit. IRUSA and its partners unequivocally condemn terrorism and violence manifested in any form.” 

Omar responded to unjustifiable criticism of her truth-telling on Israel, saying “I should not be expected to have allegiance (or) pledge support to a foreign country in order to serve my country in Congress or serve on committee,” adding:

“I am told every day 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.”  “My Americanness is questioned by the president and GOP on a daily basis. Yet my colleagues remain silent. I know what it means to be American and no one will ever tell me otherwise.”

“I fight for peace and justice because only those who experience the pain of war, know the joy of peace.”  “Being opposed to Netanyahu and the occupation is not the same as being anti-Semitic. I am grateful to the many Jewish allies who have spoken out and said the same.”

Undemocratic Dems falsely accused Omar of “anti-Semitic tropes” – a bald-faced Big Lie.  Nearly the entire Congress at all times supports Israel, ignoring its apartheid viciousness, its war on Palestinians for over 70 years – none of its officials ever held accountable for their high crimes.

Sharp, sustained criticism of Israel by public figures is long overdue. Most important is ending US political, financial, and military support for its ruthless regimes – fascist rule masquerading as democratic. 

The question here is “where will the members of congress’ allegiance be?”  Will they be loyal to the Constitution’s first Amendment that says Congress shall make no law prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech and the right of the people peaceably to assemble or will Congress amend the first Amendment to appease their Israeli lobby?

The purpose of this whole kangaroo crucifixion by congress is to tamp down any criticism or dissent of the previously determined foreign policy, like the Venezuelan coup, war with Iran, strong arming North Korea, war with Syria, war with Russia, war with China and many, many others.   That is the question that will be answered by their actions.  Do they serve the interests of America or that of a foreign nation?  Kicking off the crucifixion of Ilhan Omar on Ash Wednesday the beginning of the Lenten season to commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus Christ seems apropos.  According to Bible Odyssey:

Jesus was crucified as a Jewish victim of Roman violence. On this, all written authorities agree. A Gentile Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, condemned him to death and had him tortured and executed by Gentile Roman soldiers. Jesus was indeed one of thousands of Jews crucified by the Romans.

Members of congress claim we are a Judeo-Christian Country are we?  Who really is more like Jesus, Ilhan Omar or members of congress?  Who are the peacemakers and who are the war mongers?  Who cares about human suffering, congress or Ilhan Omar?  Who represent all American citizens, those who have no power to speak for themselves, Ilhan Omar or congress?  If Ilhan Omar cannot speak truth to power who can?  So let their crucifixion of Ilhan Omar begin so all can see who their representatives really work for.