# Anti-Semitism and the accusations agains Representative Ilhan Omar. **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [March 5, 2019, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-semitism-and-the-accusations-agains-representative-ilhan-omar/830568 "2019-03-05T12:57:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2019, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-semitism-and-the-accusations-agains-representative-ilhan-omar/830568/161 "2019-03-07T20:35:18Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Congresscritters \*must \*be loyal to America. They should be loyal to their constituents. > [@](#): > > However, it’s perfectly Ok to be loyal to a local company based on 'what’s good for xxxx, is good for America". I would have any issue with a Congressman representing Detroit to support the automobile industry there. Jobs, you know. Detroit and the american automobile industry in general, sure. Ford at the expense of Chrysler, no. > [@](#): > > Senator Scoop Jackson was known as “the senator from Boeing”, and no one thought that was all that bad. I hadn’t heard of that, and now that I have, I do consider it to be bad. I didn’t like when the CEO of Boeing got to be deputy of the DOJ, and I liked it even less when he became acting AG. Hmmm, having not heard of “scoop jackson” I google, and wikipedia tells me that he was a senator in the 40’s and early 50’s. Is that relevant? > [@](#): > > And FYI, the NRA doesn’t really lobby that much on behalf of gun _manufacturers._ It’s gun _owners, - maybe_ around a third of all Citizens. We’re not getting into this here. Whether or not it was a “correct” statement, the question was whether it was offensive. ---
**Author:** ![MortSahlFan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@MortSahlFan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MortSahlFan)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2019, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-semitism-and-the-accusations-agains-representative-ilhan-omar/830568/162 "2019-03-07T20:36:37Z")
> [@SIick](#): > > Why is anti-Semitic any worse than Israelis being anti-Palestinian? > > Have you seen the way the Israelis treat the Palestinians? > > Somebody says something bad about Palestinians and no one bats an eye. I agree and would add most Semites are Arab. \ ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2019, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-semitism-and-the-accusations-agains-representative-ilhan-omar/830568/163 "2019-03-07T20:37:37Z")
I tried to locate this Pledge that Cynthia McKinney and all other Congresspeople supposedly had to sign, but all I could find were references to McKinney’s “bombshell” comment, plus one site that said the Pledge was Top Sekrut and they couldn’t reproduce it, but instead posted an alleged U.K. version which lawmakers over there were similarly compelled to sign and are lying to their constituents about having supported. :dubious: My favorite part of the linked McKinney interview: \*McKinney: "So, yes I first handedly and also frontally was assaulted by the presence of the pro Israeli lobby. Press TV: Were you physically assaulted? McKinney: Well, politically assaulted to such an extent that my father had to ask the question publically, 'what does stoned mountain Georgia have to do with Israel? What I was doing was servicing the needs of my constituents and I was not allowed to do that because I did not toe the line on US policy for Israel. "\* McKinney appears to have spent _way_ too much time on Stoned Mountain. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2019, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-semitism-and-the-accusations-agains-representative-ilhan-omar/830568/164 "2019-03-07T20:54:00Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > But you see those attempts at enforced tribalism mostly from Jews themselves, don’t you? Isn’t the pressure not to criticize the conduct of Israel’s current government _strongest_ among Diaspora Jews? Dude, do you even know what you sound like? > [@](#): > > Let’s hope not. But I don’t think you can dismiss it so absolutely, especially not when considering how so many others currently in office have been outwardly bigoted for years. And some, I’m sure, are good people. :rolleyes: I’ll grant you that plenty of people are probably using this as an opportunity wave their Islamophobia around and get away with it. But I think a good many people are rightly pissed about a legit issue. > [@](#): > > Omar’s accusations, if you want to call them that, were of her _colleagues_, for being influenced to follow the interests of a foreign government that expresses them in the language said colleagues best understand. The history of previous generations in other countries \*should \*not provide a blanket excuse for that to be done, or to shout down any questioning of it. But that’s what’s happening, including in this thread. Maybe, maybe not. > [@](#): > > It does indeed. The context of Omar’s statement was present-day politics in the US. Not quite. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2019, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-semitism-and-the-accusations-agains-representative-ilhan-omar/830568/165 "2019-03-07T21:09:33Z")
Cynthia McKinney is a raving lunatic. I wouldn’t take anything she says seriously. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2019, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-semitism-and-the-accusations-agains-representative-ilhan-omar/830568/166 "2019-03-07T21:18:56Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > I tried to locate this Pledge that Cynthia McKinney and all other Congresspeople supposedly had to sign, but all I could find were references to McKinney’s “bombshell” comment, plus one site that said the Pledge was Top Sekrut and they couldn’t reproduce it, but instead posted an alleged U.K. version which lawmakers over there were similarly compelled to sign and are lying to their constituents about having supported. :dubious: > > My favorite part of the linked McKinney interview: > > \*McKinney: "So, yes I first handedly and also frontally was assaulted by the presence of the pro Israeli lobby. > > Press TV: Were you physically assaulted? > > McKinney: Well, politically assaulted to such an extent that my father had to ask the question publically, 'what does stoned mountain Georgia have to do with Israel? What I was doing was servicing the needs of my constituents and I was not allowed to do that because I did not toe the line on US policy for Israel. "\* > > McKinney appears to have spent _way_ too much time on Stoned Mountain. 🙂 Yeah, without seeing this so-called “pledge” I have grave doubts…:dubious:… Congresscitters are allergic to signing things like that. And of course Stone Mountain is the heart and soul of KKK country, so… ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2019, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-semitism-and-the-accusations-agains-representative-ilhan-omar/830568/167 "2019-03-07T21:21:11Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > Hmmm, having not heard of “scoop jackson” I google, and wikipedia tells me that he was a senator in the 40’s and early 50’s. > > Is that relevant? > … He was a Senator from Wash state until **1983** , and the second place Dem candidate from Prez vs Carter. I knew him personally. ---
**Author:** ![fedman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/278dde/32.png) [@fedman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fedman)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2019, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-semitism-and-the-accusations-agains-representative-ilhan-omar/830568/168 "2019-03-07T22:09:44Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > It’s also fair to note how Netanyahu, and the Israel jingo lobby, have an effective tool to shout down any questioning of his government’s actions - the accusation of antisemitism. It shouldn’t, but does, need to be pointed out regularly that Jewry, Israel, and Likud are not synonyms. to show how language gets highjacked, Arabs are semitic just like Jews, so how can she be "anti-Semitic? Anti-Israel is not same as anti-Semitic, even though Israel and American Jews throw that around loosely ---
**Author:** ![fedman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/278dde/32.png) [@fedman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fedman)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2019, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-semitism-and-the-accusations-agains-representative-ilhan-omar/830568/169 "2019-03-07T22:14:50Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Except that’s not entirely accurate. > > First of all, the pro-Israel donors are Americans, not “American-Israeli”. Just because someone happens to be Jewish and pro-Israel does not make them any less American. Besides, to the best of my knowledge, the Israeli government does not donate to American politicians. > > Second of all, she hasn’t accused them of supporting a (minor, local) foreign power; instead, she has accused them of “allegiance to a foreign country.” Support is one thing; allegiance is something completely different, which feeds into the classic antisemitic canard of dual loyalty. After all, an American can advocate that the U.S. support another country and still be a patriotic American, but own who gives “allegiance” - a claim that she does not support in any way - cannot. > > And who she is has nothing to do with the fact that people are criticizing her - she’d get exactly as much heat if she were a white dude. In fact, I’m personally inclined to cut her some slack because of her background. remember the Pollard spy case? The number of American Jews stealing secrets? Israel criticizing Andrew Young for meeting with Palestinians, like they control our politics? ---
**Author:** ![fedman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/278dde/32.png) [@fedman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fedman)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2019, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-semitism-and-the-accusations-agains-representative-ilhan-omar/830568/170 "2019-03-07T22:18:18Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > What you leave out in calling Israel a “foreign power” is that they are an ally of the United States, not an enemy. “Foreign power” invokes the idea of a country working against US interests. But, if we’re allies, we kinda have to try and work within the interests of both countries. > > So treating this like a bad thing invokes a historical issue: that of claiming that people of Jewish descent have too much power in our government. She’s even specifically referencing monetary power. She’s just invoking all of the tropes against Jewish people. > > It would be different if her argument was that we shouldn’t be allied with Israel. There’s no reason to bring up money and other trappings, or to imply Israel is a “foreign power” working against our interests, or that people of a Jewish decent have an allegiance to that foreign power. There’s no reason for her to be touching the antisemitic tropes with 10-foot pole, but she keeps doing it. > > And, seeing as the pro-Israel lobbyists are part of the coalition of the Democratic party, it’s entirely understandable that the Democratic Party is wanting to do something to distance themselves from this person who is treating them like the enemy. It makes sense to reiterate that, while it’s okay to not agree with Israel, it’s not okay to be antisemitic. Because this new representative is starting the precedent of antisemitic adjacent rhetoric. > > Her ethnicity is only relevant in that it is one that has traditionally been antisemitic. On its own, it means nothing. But, when someone keeps on invoking antisemitic tropes, one starts to wonder if it’s because of her culture. At the very least, it seems to have not prepared her for the acceptable and unacceptable ways to voice disapproval with the US allyship with Israel–the way that doesn’t come off as antisemitic. really?? There is evidence that Israel sold US secrets to Russia after independence in exchange for Russian Jews exit ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2019, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-semitism-and-the-accusations-agains-representative-ilhan-omar/830568/171 "2019-03-07T22:37:11Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > It’s not because she’s a Muslim, or from the Middle East. When did the Horn of Africa become part of the Middle East? ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2019, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-semitism-and-the-accusations-agains-representative-ilhan-omar/830568/172 "2019-03-07T22:47:25Z")
> [@asterion](#): > > When did the Horn of Africa become part of the Middle East? That’s right, she’s from Somalia. I was mixing her up with Linda Sarsour’s family. (I know Sarsour was born in the U.S.) :smack: Carry on. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2019, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-semitism-and-the-accusations-agains-representative-ilhan-omar/830568/173 "2019-03-07T22:49:30Z")
So based on the news, the Democrats crafted the bill to be a refutation/condemnation of anti-semitism as well as other forms of bigotry, and all Democrats voted for it (including Omar!), while several Republicans voted against it. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2019, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-semitism-and-the-accusations-agains-representative-ilhan-omar/830568/174 "2019-03-07T22:57:25Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > He was a Senator from Wash state until **1983** , and the second place Dem candidate from Prez vs Carter. I knew him personally. Ah, sorry, I skimmed too quickly, he was a rep until 1951 and then a senator till his death in 1983. Still, that’s 35 years ago when he was no longer a senator, and nearly 70 years since he was elected to that position. Not overly relevant to today. And if what you are saying is that he was representing boeing, rather than his constituents, then I still think that that is wrong. ---
**Author:** ![fedman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/278dde/32.png) [@fedman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fedman)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2019, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-semitism-and-the-accusations-agains-representative-ilhan-omar/830568/175 "2019-03-07T23:01:25Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Really, it’s not so much a matter of allegiance to foreign countries as it is lack of allegiance to their own countries. “Dual loyalty” is another way of saying “not fully loyal”. Jews have always been accused of being loyal to themselves only, as traitors hiding among loyal patriots, ready to stab their country in the back in the name of “international Jewry”. It’s why Jews weren’t allowed full citizenship anywhere in Europe until the 19th Century. did American Jews criticize Israel when they massacred American sailors on USS Liberty? Did they criticize Israel when a Hasidic Jew murdered 2 innocent Black kids in Crown Heights and ran away to Israel? Did they criticize Israel when our so-called ally defied US sanctions and sold arms to aparteit South Africa? ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2019, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-semitism-and-the-accusations-agains-representative-ilhan-omar/830568/176 "2019-03-08T00:14:32Z")
This is such a gross problem, because when one argues against an overbroad interpretation of “antisemitism,” inevitably someone comes along and chimes in with genuinely antisemitic nonsense. Fedman, stop doing that. ---
**Author:** ![LAZombie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b38774/32.png) [@LAZombie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LAZombie)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2019, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-semitism-and-the-accusations-agains-representative-ilhan-omar/830568/177 "2019-03-08T00:17:49Z")
These senators want to make it illegal to organize boycotts against Israel. So many people on this board think it’s perfectly fine to destroy a small business because the owners hold a belief contrary to theirs. Actions have consequences don’t you know? It’s free speech. I guess free speech is not allowed for critics of Israel. > **[Cardin, Portman Amend Israel Anti-Boycott Act - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin](https://www.cardin.senate.gov/press-releases/cardin-portman-amend-israel-anti-boycott-act/)** > > WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and Rob Portman (R-Ohio) have released an updated version of their bill, the Israel Anti-Boycott Act, which includes language clarifying the rights of \[…\] ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2019, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-semitism-and-the-accusations-agains-representative-ilhan-omar/830568/178 "2019-03-08T00:24:22Z")
> [@LAZombie](#): > > These senators want to make it illegal to organize boycotts against Israel. So many people on this board think it’s perfectly fine to destroy a small business because the owners hold a belief contrary to theirs. Actions have consequences don’t you know? It’s free speech. I guess free speech is not allowed for critics of Israel. > > [https://www.cardin.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/cardin-portman-amend-israel-anti-boycott-act](https://www.cardin.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/cardin-portman-amend-israel-anti-boycott-act) That’s not what anti-BDS laws do: > **[The controversy over laws punishing Israel boycotts, explained](https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2019/1/9/18172826/bds-law-israel-boycott-states-explained)** > > A bill encouraging a crackdown on the BDS movement just failed in the Senate. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2019, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-semitism-and-the-accusations-agains-representative-ilhan-omar/830568/179 "2019-03-08T00:44:21Z")
What I want to know – do people here find Palestinians innocent? I am NOT saying that Israel is either. But there are attrocities on both sides – HAMAS, for example, is hardly an organization of charity. The whole region is a mess. It’s not a case of “one side good, one side bad.” So why is it “I support Side X, that means I hate Side Y?” Saying, "hey, Israel has a right to exist doesn’t mean that Palestinians should be shit on, nor does it give Israel free reign, or make them free from criticism. It’s the fact that some people use it as an excuse to let their antisemitism freak flags fly. Just like people do so after 9-11, using it as an excuse to go around and spew all kinds of Islamophobic bullshit. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2019, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-semitism-and-the-accusations-agains-representative-ilhan-omar/830568/180 "2019-03-08T00:53:56Z")
When I Google: Ilhan Abdullahi Omar nationality I get: American Somali So she owns loyalty to two governments, one of which is AFAIK the most pro-Israel of any in the world, and one of which does not recognize Israel as a nation-state. Two of my three children are dual citizens. My daughter is officially loyal to both the United States, and the country it rebelled against, the United Kingdom. So if she favors a trade deal to help Britain weather Brexit, where does her loyalty lie? I don’t have a problem with divided loyalty. Having pure and undivided loyalty may well lead to worse policy decisions. I’d have a little less distrust of Ted Cruz if he hadn’t renounced his Canadian citizenship. It is entirely possible that having a deep understanding of Somali viewpoints helps you better understand the Palestinian narrative. You could say something comparable about any Israeli-American dual citizens in Congress. I don’t think there are any, but I’d be glad to see a few. So Somalis in Congress are fine with me. As a Jew, I do have a problem with having dual loyalty charges thrown up to dismiss my views. > [@asahi](#): > > The conclusion I come to after reading the quote is that Omar has the same problem that a lot of people who aren’t born and raised in the United States have, and that they’re not always fully acculturated. I find it a stretch that she got “it’s all about the Benjamins” from Somali culture. And I think the idea that Jews have some unique dual loyalty problem comes out of European culture. As for hypnotism, I googled: somalia hypnosis and limited the response to prior to 2018. It just doesn’t seem that hypnotism has much to do with Somali culture. I don’t know where she got her animus against my religion from, but would want to see actual evidence she grew up with those memes before blaming Somali culture. I fear that this does have something to do with Trump having lowered standards for what counts as unacceptable ethnic demagoguery. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-semitism-and-the-accusations-agains-representative-ilhan-omar/830568.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-semitism-and-the-accusations-agains-representative-ilhan-omar/830568.md?page=10)