Ilhan Omar's latest anti-Semitic comments

[Xeuma]

Both things can be true.
AIPAC is a shady organization which essentially bribes politicians so they always support Likud's hawkish policies.
And Omar seems to be all too eager to use anti-Semitic tropes and stereotypes.

I'm not defending AIPAC, per say. They can be subject to legitimate criticism, and I'm not fond of PACs in general. But at least you, of all people, recognize that Omar has said vile things about Jewish people.

Absolutely. Omar's rhetoric is vile. She dresses it up better than David Duke as to give her supporters plausible deniability. Is there a viable primary challenger Democrats could run?

[Xeuma]

When talking about money in politics, I think an important issue is often missed and that is politicians do not change their votes based on who gives them money. Rather, lobbyists give money to politicians who supports their goals. The NRA does not give millions to Rubio to sway his otherwise pro-gun-control stance; they give him millions because of his opposition to gun control. The same goes for any lobbyist. When faced with this reality, I think it becomes a lot harder to say that money is not speech. Politicians are not "bought" per se, but rather invested in.

This is just a long-winded way of saying that Omar greatly overestimates the power AIPAC or any other lobbyist wields in the political landscape.

[Xeuma]

This is just a long-winded way of saying that Omar greatly overestimates the power AIPAC or any PAC wields in the political landscape.

To be clear, AIPAC is a lobbying organization, not a PAC.  It doesn't actually contribute $ to candidates.

AIPAC = American Israel Public Affairs Committee
PAC = Political Action Committee

The "PAC" letters stand for different things in the two cases.

Thanks for the correction!

[Xeuma]

The real problem Republicans have here is not that Omar criticized AIPAC, nor with how she criticized them. Their problem is that she is woman, doesn't have northern-european pale skin, and she's  speaking up.

Republicans had no problem with Trump's long history of anti-Semitic dog-whistling. For example, this tweet, which was widely criticized as anti-Semitic

This tweet by Trump certainly shouldn't be taken lightly by anyone; none of his tweets should. But it still irritates me beyond end that people on here are not only actively defending Omar for her comments, but are deflecting the blame for them upon Republicans.

This. Omar's comments were vile and this isn't the first time she's made the "mistake" of appearing anti-Semitic. Democrats can't claim the high ground on racism if we defend people like Omar. Along with the rest of the populists in the freshman class, she needs to focus less time on twitter making a fool of herself and the Democratic Party and more on serving her district.

[Xeuma]

The real problem Republicans have here is not that Omar criticized AIPAC, nor with how she criticized them. Their problem is that she is woman, doesn't have northern-european pale skin, and she's  speaking up.

Republicans had no problem with Trump's long history of anti-Semitic dog-whistling. For example, this tweet, which was widely criticized as anti-Semitic

This tweet by Trump certainly shouldn't be taken lightly by anyone; none of his tweets should. But it still irritates me beyond end that people on here are not only actively defending Omar for her comments, but are deflecting the blame for them upon Republicans.

This. Omar's comments were vile and this isn't the first time she's made the "mistake" of appearing anti-Semitic. Democrats can't claim the high ground on racism if we defend people like Omar.

I don't see how telling the black woman from Minnesota to shut up and apologize for talking about Palestine or mentioning lobbyists is going to win that ground.

Are you saying that Omar's race excuses her from having to take the responsibility for these comments? Anti-Semitism is something that should not be tolerated no matter who it comes from. This holds true for both white supremacists and Nation of Islam fundamentalists alike.

I think you lack reading comprehension, that isn’t what he said at all.

Furthermore, you going around referring to Omar as an anti Semite or saying she “hates Jews” doesn’t make it any more true.

She opposes the current imperialist and racist ideology of the current government of Israel.

As do I. There's ways to say that without falling into the evil rich Jews trope.

[Xeuma]

Without getting into Omar's tweets specifically, whether or not there was racist subtext or tropes, how she went about getting her point across, all of that... the mainstream media has been relatively silent on this one simple fact. Simply criticizing the Israeli government in and of itself is NOT anti-semetic or racist, and anybody who says otherwise is trying to sell you something. A government is an organization of people (with power) whose actions cannot be blamed on an entire country full of civilians, and people who share that ethnic makeup living abroad.

HOW you critcize Israel can certainly be racist or anti-semetic, obviously.

Newsweek reported the other day that Omar's comments have received 5 times as much coverage on cable news than Steve Kings explicit defense of white supremacy. I don't think we can accuse the media of having been silent on the matter.

I'm accusing the mainstream media of letting viewers that think "condemning the Israeli government in any way whatsoever automatically equals racism" continue to think that. It's just completely illogical on it's face, but explaining the nuance to their viewers is a "no go" for them. That would essentially be telling the viewers that in certain contexts, it's okay to criticize Israel.

Nobody has ever said that except for anti-Semites dressing up their disdain for Jews as opposition to Israel, which begs the question: do you hate Jews, or are you just willfully ignorant?