# I will be working to defeat Ilhan Omar in her next election, if she's still around **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [March 9, 2019, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-will-be-working-to-defeat-ilhan-omar-in-her-next-election-if-shes-still-around/830818 "2019-03-09T04:52:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 14
**Author:** ![Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/budget_player_cadet/32/205_2.png) [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Budget_Player_Cadet)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2019, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-will-be-working-to-defeat-ilhan-omar-in-her-next-election-if-shes-still-around/830818/262 "2019-03-17T17:49:35Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > It’s true. The GOP side can tolerate all kinds of hate speech and sexual predation. The Dem side does not. What up with that? > > There are trolls no question. And it is wrong to dismiss all criticism and requests for less insulting and insensitive wording as trolling or as wanting her to disappear or as attempts to censor all discussion of subjects of disagreement. > > Trolls and hate on the GOP side does not excuse anything and does not constitute any argument against criticism from those who want to be on your team. Except… The criticism was bullshit. All of it. She got slagged off for “antisemitic tropes” while accurately describing what a lobbying group does with regards to AIPAC. (Go ahead - try it. Criticize a zionist lobbying group in a way that can’t be called “antisemitic” by bad-faith jerks!) She offered entirely valid criticism of Obama. Beyond that… What is there? Why yes, it would be wrong to tolerate a racist troll in the democratic party. But this isn’t a racist troll - it’s a progressive firebrand beloved by the young. You know, that group you really need to inspire to vote in 2020? Yeah, primarying her seems like a genius idea! Instead of, say, the dude who crossed the aisle to confirm Kavanaugh. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2019, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-will-be-working-to-defeat-ilhan-omar-in-her-next-election-if-shes-still-around/830818/263 "2019-03-17T19:49:05Z")
Obviously I do not agree that I am a bad faith jerk. And I’ve spent enough posts here explaining how easy it is avoid the hateful tropes. And how even easier it is to let them slip out. ---
**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 17, 2019, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-will-be-working-to-defeat-ilhan-omar-in-her-next-election-if-shes-still-around/830818/264 "2019-03-17T20:22:19Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > Obviously I do not agree that I am a bad faith jerk. Who called you one? Or is it something that was “implied”? Were you looking for an insult and managed to convince yourself of one? > [@](#): > > And I’ve spent enough posts here explaining how easy it is avoid the hateful tropes. You’ve spent posts making that claim. > [@](#): > > And how even easier it is to let them slip out. Well, yeah, if nearly anything can be seen as a hateful trope with enough motivational lighting, then all it takes is opening one’s mouth. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2019, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-will-be-working-to-defeat-ilhan-omar-in-her-next-election-if-shes-still-around/830818/265 "2019-03-17T21:14:38Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > > [@](#): > > > > Well, the freshman class in this new Congress is, what, ninety-nine strong? And among them, about a quarter are people of color, I believe. And Omar not the only Muslim. > > … Have they said anything at all that is in any way critical of the country or its direction? > > Is it just that they know that they need to stay quiet, to not draw any attention to themselves, for fear receiving the same treatment as their colleague? > > Looking into Carson’s twitter feed, I see that he recently posted: > > > [@](#): > > > > Great article about a welcome trend. Not only should Congress look more like our nation as a whole, but so should the folks who help my colleagues and I serve our constituents. Let’s keep it up! > > One of the first replies: > > > [@](#): > > > > ARE YOU SPEAKING AS A MUSLIM? > > > > DID YOU SWEAR ON A QUR’AN TO PROTECT THE CONSTITUTION? > > > > DOES THE QUR’AN PROTECT THE CONSTITUTION (I KNOW THE ANSWER TO THIS ONE ALREADY)? > > > > PROTECT THE 1ST AMENDMENT. > > … You’re quoting trolls on Twitter as proof of…what, exactly? That anti-Muslim hatred exists? Who, posting in this thread, appears not to know that anti-Muslim hatred exists? Or if it’s _not_ that you believe you have to make the case that anti-Muslim hatred exists, is it that you believe that because anti-Muslim hatred exists, no one may voice any criticism whatsoever of a Muslim person? If that’s your claim, could you expand on it? I don’t believe you’ve successfully made that case. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2019, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-will-be-working-to-defeat-ilhan-omar-in-her-next-election-if-shes-still-around/830818/266 "2019-03-17T21:18:11Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > … And it is wrong to dismiss all criticism and requests for less insulting and insensitive wording as trolling or as wanting her to disappear or as attempts to censor all discussion of subjects of disagreement. … Yes. Unfortunately, this basic truth is being rejected. And minds appear to be made up. Still, that basic truth deserves to be repeated. ---
**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 17, 2019, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-will-be-working-to-defeat-ilhan-omar-in-her-next-election-if-shes-still-around/830818/267 "2019-03-17T21:32:16Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > You’re quoting trolls on Twitter as proof of…what, exactly? That anti-Muslim hatred exists? No, that people will find a way to twist any words into something that offends them. > [@](#): > > Who, posting in this thread, appears not to know that anti-Muslim hatred exists? Why do you ask? I did not say that anyone was ignorant of the hatred of Muslims that is rather prevalent. I don’t think anyone is, anyway. Is there anyone that you are thinking of? > [@](#): > > Or if it’s _not_ that you believe you have to make the case that anti-Muslim hatred exists, is it that you believe that because anti-Muslim hatred exists, no one may voice any criticism whatsoever of a Muslim person? No. > [@](#): > > If that’s your claim, could you expand on it? I don’t believe you’ve successfully made that case. No, that’s not my claim. > [@Sherrerd](#): > > Yes. > > Unfortunately, this basic truth is being rejected. And minds appear to be made up. > > Still, that basic truth deserves to be repeated. I’ll agree with DSeid on that as well. He said “it is wrong to dismiss all criticism and requests for less insulting and insensitive wording as trolling”. Who, posting in this thread, has said that “it is wrong to dismiss all criticism and requests for less insulting and insensitive wording as trolling”? ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2019, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-will-be-working-to-defeat-ilhan-omar-in-her-next-election-if-shes-still-around/830818/268 "2019-03-17T22:12:05Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > Who called you one? Or is it something that was “implied”? Were you looking for an insult and managed to convince yourself of one? > > You’ve spent posts making that claim. > Well, yeah, if nearly anything can be seen as a hateful trope with enough motivational lighting, then all it takes is opening one’s mouth. Hmmm. If you read anything other in **BPC** ’s post other than a dismissal of the criticism such as what I have given as coming from bad-faith jerks then I think you are doing some remarkable twisting. Words and concepts referenced by posters in this thread, much more than by Omar, are pretty much at Hymietown and kike level in the way they are experienced by many Jews. I do not believe that we as a group are being excessively sensitive. We are not twisting words. They are particular words and concepts with DIRECT links to the worst vilest anti-Semitic shit out there with centuries of history and many dead. I cannot stop you from supporting their use, stop you from thinking our offense is somehow the result of twisting words looking for offense, and force you to discuss the subjects (whether we agree or disagree about them) in ways that are not so offensive, which again, is easily done by anyone. Your mind _is_ made up that there is no need for you to have any caution in the speech you use and you are dug in in your self-denial about where those specific words and concepts come from. Regarding Omar … again, I think she deserves to have some slack cut, even with that second part retreat from the appropriate apology. The positions of some of her “defenders” OTOH are much worse. The evidence I see in this thread is that the Left here is much closer to Britain’s Left’s overt anti-Semitism than I ever would have suspected or previously believed. ---
**Author:** ![Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/budget_player_cadet/32/205_2.png) [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Budget_Player_Cadet)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2019, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-will-be-working-to-defeat-ilhan-omar-in-her-next-election-if-shes-still-around/830818/269 "2019-03-17T22:32:22Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > Hmmm. > > If you read anything other in **BPC** ’s post other than a dismissal of the criticism such as what I have given as coming from bad-faith jerks then I think you are doing some remarkable twisting. Okay, so you’re probably not a bad-faith jerk. But how, exactly, do we criticize the influence of AIPAC and its financing in Washington without running afoul of antisemitic tropes? (And assume, for a moment, that the people deciding whether or not it’s “antisemitic” [have a vested interest in AIPAC’s good reputation](https://thenib.com/the-usual-suspects?utm_campaign=web-rss-links&utm_source=thenib&utm_medium=rss).) Hell, just looking at the above sentence, it’d be remarkably easy to twist _that_ into “anti-semitic tropes” about jews pulling the strings behind the scenes. Because if we define those tropes broadly enough, then there is no possible non-antisemitic claim to do with the influence groups like AIPAC have, regardless of how valid. Because, at the end of the day, AIPAC is the group deciding whether to call something antisemitic. > [@](#): > > Words and concepts referenced by posters in this thread, much more than by Omar, are pretty much at Hymietown and kike level in the way they are experienced by many Jews. I do not believe that we as a group are being excessively sensitive. We are not twisting words. They are particular words and concepts with DIRECT links to the worst vilest anti-Semitic shit out there with centuries of history and many dead. “It’s all about the benjamins”? Fuckin’ really? Why yes, there are antisemitic slurs about jews pulling the strings and holding outsized influence in positions of power. But… guess what. AIPAC absolutely holds outsized influence in positions of power. And it’s not unreasonable or antisemitic to call that out. > [@](#): > > The evidence I see in this thread is that the Left here is much closer to Britain’s Left’s overt anti-Semitism than I ever would have suspected or previously believed. You mean that bullshit that gets pulled out to [defuse every attempt to pull labor closer to the left](https://www.currentaffairs.org/2019/02/how-to-think-clearly-about-anti-semitism-controversies-in-the-labour-party)? > [@DSeid](#): > > And it is wrong to dismiss all criticism and requests for less insulting and insensitive wording as trolling or as wanting her to disappear or as attempts to censor all discussion of subjects of disagreement. All right, let’s limit ourselves to the criticisms thrown at her by her colleagues in her own caucus in congress. They have advocated she be removed from her committee positions. They have advocated a resolution to censor her. They have stated they intend to primary her in 2020. I’m sorry, but to the degree that there’s a line of criticism that just wants her to be “more sensitive”, it basically _does not matter_. It’s not relevant, because all of the relevant criticism from those with real power boils down to “Shut up or we will make you shut up; disappear or we will make you disappear”. There have been calls to “Call in” by folks like AOC, people saying, “Hang on, let’s maybe not throw on the lynch mob for this woman”, but from the mainstream? It’s _bad_. And for what? One or two insensitive tweets that pale in comparison to the shit brought out on a daily basis by \? An on-point (if harsh) criticism of a former democratic president? Is there a huge side to this I’m missing or something? Did she start talking about the blood libel while I was at that party last night? ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2019, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-will-be-working-to-defeat-ilhan-omar-in-her-next-election-if-shes-still-around/830818/270 "2019-03-17T23:19:46Z")
The huge side of this you are missing here in my posts anyway is that I am less upset with her behavior than the the words and concepts used by posters here. I’ve [already linked to an article](https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2019/2/12/18220241/ilhan-omars-twitter-tweet-anti-semitism) discussing some how to easily criticize AIPAC without using the tropes. (One that was positive about Omar and spent much time calling out GOP hypocrisy btw.) I’ll just quote again from there. Bolded is how it is easily said. And you do know that ASIPAC _lobbies_ (often wrongheadedly I think) but does NOT make campaign contributions, don’t you? They promote ideas but they are not buying anyone. > [@](#): > > There are two related, yet distinct, kinds of anti-Semitism that have snuck into mainstream politics. One is associated with the left and twists legitimate criticisms of Israel into anti-Semitic conspiracy theories. … > > … There are two problems here: First, the tweet isn’t true. The US-Israel alliance has deeper and more fundamental roots than just cash, including the legacy of Cold War geopolitics, evangelical theology, and shared strategic interests in counterterrorism. Lobbying certainly plays a role, but to say that “US political leaders” defending Israel is “all” about money is to radically misstate how America’s Israel politics work (and discount the findings of the scholars who study it). > > Second, and more important, totalizing statements like this play into the most troubling anti-Semitic stereotypes. The Protocols of the Elders of Zion, an infamous early-20th-century Russian forgery, describes a plot by Jewish moneyed interests to subvert and destroy Christian societies through their finances. This in turn draws on longstanding European anti-Semitic traditions that portray Jews as greedy and conniving. > > After World War II and the creation of the state of Israel, the conspiracy theory shifted. Anti-Semites started using “Zionist” or “Zio” as a stand-in for “Jewish,” using Jewish activism in favor of the Jewish state as proof that they were right all along about the Jewish conspiracy. David Duke, the former Louisiana state representative and Ku Klux Klan grand wizard, released a YouTube video in 2014 that bills itself as an “illustrated” update of the Protocols. The video features footage of leading Democratic and Republican politicians speaking to pro-Israel groups, with the caption “both are in the grips of Zio money, Zio media, and Zio bankers.” > > “Do you really think, in politics, that he who pays the piper doesn’t call the tune?” Duke asks rhetorically. > > Omar is, of course, not coming from the same hateful place as Duke is. But by using too-similar language, she unintentionally provides mainstream cover for these conspiracy theories … > > … Pro-Palestinian activists, writers, and politicians have every right to point out what they see as the pernicious influence of groups like AIPAC. The group is undeniably powerful, and it’s worth mentioning in our conversations about both Israel policy and money in politics. **You can and should be able to say, “AIPAC’s lobbying pushes America’s Israel policy in a hawkish pro-Israel direction,” without saying that it is literally only about dollars from (disproportionately) Jewish donors.** There is no need and no rational cause to go to the “dual loyalty” or “allegiance to a foreign power” lines from the old hates. There is no reason to Dukishly falsely and simplistically imply that Jewish money is controlling American policy. You’d find many American Jews agreeing that AIPAC is a highly effective and powerful lobbying group that promotes some bad policies. Saying _that_ is not at all offensive. Don’t use the word “cunning” in a conversation about Jews. Don’t accuse Jews of disloyalty or of having their “allegiance” elsewhere. Don’t use any language that sounds like it is implying a “Zionist” control of anything. Those concepts have been part of the popular culture from before Shakespeare’s Shylock so it is unavoidable that they may be ones that come to the tongue. Edit yourself. It is not hard to do. ---
**Author:** ![Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/budget_player_cadet/32/205_2.png) [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Budget_Player_Cadet)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2019, 8:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-will-be-working-to-defeat-ilhan-omar-in-her-next-election-if-shes-still-around/830818/271 "2019-03-18T08:02:07Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > There is no need and no rational cause to go to the “dual loyalty” or “allegiance to a foreign power” lines from the old hates. Courtesy of [The Nation](https://www.thenation.com/article/ilhan-omar-anti-semitism-democratic-party-aipac/), here is her exact words: I know what intolerance looks like and I’m sensitive when someone says, “the words you use Ilhan, are resemblance of intolerance.” And I am cautious of that and I feel pained by that. But it’s almost as if every single time we say something, regardless of what it is we say, that it’s supposed to be about foreign policy or engagement, our advocacy about ending oppression, or the freeing of every human life and wanting dignity, we get to be labeled in something, and that ends the discussion, because we end up defending that, and nobody ever gets to have the broader debate of “what is happening with Palestine?” So for me, I want to talk about the political influence in this country that says it is OK for people to push for allegiance to a foreign country. I want to ask, why is it OK for me to talk about the influence of the NRA, of fossil-fuel industries, or Big Pharma, and not talk about a powerful lobby that is influencing policy.… I mean, most of us are new, but many members of Congress have been there forever. Some of them have been there before we were born. So I know many of them, many of them, were fighting for people to be free, for people to live in dignity in South Africa. I know many of them fight for people around the world to have dignity, to have self-determination. So I know, I know that they care about these things. But now that you have two Muslims who are saying, “here is a group of people that we want to make sure they have the dignity that you want everyone else to have!”…we get to be called names, we get to be labeled as hateful. Notice what she’s not doing. She’s not saying “Jews have a dual allegiance”. She’s not saying “certain jews have a dual allegiance”. She’s saying “AIPAC is pushing for dual allegiance”. AIPAC, which is trying its best to [expand its outreach beyond jews](https://forward.com/news/israel/153025/aipac-not-just-for-jews-anymore/), it may be worth noting. And, last I checked, that’s hardly controversial - they demand that from anyone they support. Marco Rubio pushed a bill that would refuse government funding to people who support BDS; [this is apparently already the norm in some states](https://theintercept.com/2018/12/17/israel-texas-anti-bds-law/). Senators and Congresspeople _repeatedly_ swear to uphold our special relationship with Israel. It’s hardly controversial that AIPAC’s goal is for people to align themselves with Israel’s policy - it’s pretty blatant about it. It’s hardly unreasonable to call them out for doing so. And to claim that this is somehow some antisemitic dog whistle that’s beyond the pale… No, I’m sorry, I don’t see it. And I guarantee most people who aren’t explicitly told about it won’t see it. And it sucks as a dog whistle, because it’s coming from the mouth of someone most American antisemites have zero interest in supporting - a black Muslim woman. Tell me that David Duke said that as a dog whistle? Okay, I buy it. Tell me that Ilhan Omar did as a dog whistle? Naw. Fuck no. And this is supposed to be grounds to kick her out of congress? And hey, look, we still haven’t had that conversation on Palestine, because for some reason, the person who wants to have it keeps getting smeared as “antisemitic”. Huh, I wonder if that’s happened before? I wonder if that’s happened _every single time this discussion comes up_, regardless of who tries to bring it up? It’s a pattern of bad-faith criticism, which is easy to do because “antisemitic tropes” is a very broad list that includes such things as “having influence” or “having money”. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2019, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-will-be-working-to-defeat-ilhan-omar-in-her-next-election-if-shes-still-around/830818/272 "2019-03-18T13:02:41Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > And you do know that ASIPAC _lobbies_ (often wrongheadedly I think) but does NOT make campaign contributions, don’t you? AIPAC functions as a \*broker \*for campaign contributions, as has already been pointed out here. If that matters, I don’t see it. > [@](#): > > There is no need and no rational cause to go to the “dual loyalty” or “allegiance to a foreign power” lines from the old hates. There is no reason to Dukishly falsely and simplistically imply that Jewish money is controlling American policy. But, to whatever extent it’s demonstrably true, why should it be out of bounds to say so? > [@](#): > > Don’t accuse Jews of disloyalty or of having their “allegiance” elsewhere. But many, including some posters here, are doing just that to a prominent Muslim. Maybe the same standards should apply? > [@](#): > > Those concepts have been part of the popular culture from before Shakespeare’s Shylock so it is unavoidable that they may be ones that come to the tongue. Edit yourself. It is not hard to do. Or you can confront it instead of hiding from it. More ignorance might be fought that way. Perhaps the most disheartening aspect of Likud’s AIPAC-promoted policies (not “Israel’s”; they’re not the same thing) is the apparent basis that “It’s finally \*our \*turn to do it to somebody else”. ---
**Author:** ![Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/budget_player_cadet/32/205_2.png) [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Budget_Player_Cadet)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2019, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-will-be-working-to-defeat-ilhan-omar-in-her-next-election-if-shes-still-around/830818/273 "2019-03-18T13:14:31Z")
[Meanwhile, here’s sitting Congressman Steve King encouraging civil war less than a week after a white supremacist killed 50 people in a mosque](https://twitter.com/briantashman/status/1107351894178041859). :rolleyes: I think this forms an important contrast to the Ilhan Omar issue. Republicans can basically say _whatever the fuck they want_, and as long as the party as a whole isn’t dragged through the mud by it, the consequences are non-existent. Even if they break the law - Matt Gaetz was about as blatant as he could possibly be about his witness tampering. Meanwhile, a democratic congresswoman says a few bad things about israel that one could uncharitably interpret as referring to antisemitic tropes, and it’s immediately time to throw them out of the party. We hold ourselves to a standard that is fundamentally unreasonable out of context and practically suicidal in context. Y’know who really likes Ilhan Omar? Young people. Y’know what throwing her out of the party does for you in that demographic? It gives them another stark, brutal reminder that the democratic party really is made up of the kind of dinosaurs who think we have to wait another decade before doing anything about climate change, and who are unable or unwilling to go to bat for us. It gives the demographic least likely to vote and most crucial to democratic victory in 2020 another reason to become more cynical and stay home. Sounds like a great idea! :rolleyes: Imagine if the democratic caucus went after republican congressmen who committed actual fucking crimes as hard as they went after one of their own rank that pissed off AIPAC. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2019, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-will-be-working-to-defeat-ilhan-omar-in-her-next-election-if-shes-still-around/830818/274 "2019-03-18T13:50:18Z")
> [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](#): > > I think this forms an important contrast to the Ilhan Omar issue. Republicans can basically say _whatever the fuck they want_, and as long as the party as a whole isn’t dragged through the mud by it, the consequences are non-existent. Even if they break the law - Matt Gaetz was about as blatant as he could possibly be about his witness tampering. Meanwhile, a democratic congresswoman says a few bad things about israel that one could uncharitably interpret as referring to antisemitic tropes, and it’s immediately time to throw them out of the party. > > We hold ourselves to a standard that is fundamentally unreasonable out of context and practically suicidal in context. I think you’re onto something - maybe Dems need their own billionaire racist sexual assaulter to run for President, since it worked for the Republicans. Then the far left can just hector other Dems into shutting up about this candidate’s failings, because REPUBLICANS DO IT TOO!!! ---
**Author:** ![Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/budget_player_cadet/32/205_2.png) [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Budget_Player_Cadet)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2019, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-will-be-working-to-defeat-ilhan-omar-in-her-next-election-if-shes-still-around/830818/275 "2019-03-18T13:59:51Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > I think you’re onto something - maybe Dems need their own billionaire racist sexual assaulter to run for President, since it worked for the Republicans. Then the far left can just hector other Dems into shutting up about this candidate’s failings, because REPUBLICANS DO IT TOO!!! This bears no resemblance to what I said in or out of context. ---
**Author:** ![Chisquirrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Chisquirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chisquirrel)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2019, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-will-be-working-to-defeat-ilhan-omar-in-her-next-election-if-shes-still-around/830818/276 "2019-03-18T21:19:34Z")
> [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](#): > > [Meanwhile, here’s sitting Congressman Steve King encouraging civil war less than a week after a white supremacist killed 50 people in a mosque](https://twitter.com/briantashman/status/1107351894178041859). > > :rolleyes: > > I think this forms an important contrast to the Ilhan Omar issue. Republicans can basically say _whatever the fuck they want_, and as long as the party as a whole isn’t dragged through the mud by it, the consequences are non-existent. Even if they break the law - Matt Gaetz was about as blatant as he could possibly be about his witness tampering. Meanwhile, a democratic congresswoman says a few bad things about israel that one could uncharitably interpret as referring to antisemitic tropes, and it’s immediately time to throw them out of the party. > > We hold ourselves to a standard that is fundamentally unreasonable out of context and practically suicidal in context. > > Y’know who really likes Ilhan Omar? Young people. Y’know what throwing her out of the party does for you in that demographic? It gives them another stark, brutal reminder that the democratic party really is made up of the kind of dinosaurs who think we have to wait another decade before doing anything about climate change, and who are unable or unwilling to go to bat for us. It gives the demographic least likely to vote and most crucial to democratic victory in 2020 another reason to become more cynical and stay home. Sounds like a great idea! > > :rolleyes: > > Imagine if the democratic caucus went after republican congressmen who committed actual fucking crimes as hard as they went after one of their own rank that pissed off AIPAC. Always nice to point out that Iowa, the state Fucknugget represents, is firmly in the blue column. He’s since deleted the post because he was getting absolutely castrated by his constituents. ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2019, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-will-be-working-to-defeat-ilhan-omar-in-her-next-election-if-shes-still-around/830818/277 "2019-03-18T22:40:21Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > I think you’re onto something - maybe Dems need their own billionaire racist sexual assaulter to run for President, since it worked for the Republicans. Then the far left can just hector other Dems into shutting up about this candidate’s failings, because REPUBLICANS DO IT TOO!!! This. And the same goes for all the left wingers saying “look how successful the Tea Party was: that’s our template for what we should do within the Democratic Party.” :smack: ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2019, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-will-be-working-to-defeat-ilhan-omar-in-her-next-election-if-shes-still-around/830818/278 "2019-03-18T23:03:00Z")
> [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](#): > > … Senators and Congresspeople _repeatedly_ swear to uphold our special relationship with Israel. … > > It’s hardly unreasonable to call them out for doing so. … > > And hey, look, we still haven’t had that conversation on Palestine, because for some reason, the person who wants to have it keeps getting smeared as “antisemitic”. … Cite? Do we call them out for taking support for any of the other orgs that donate many times what AIPAC does? AIPAC is relatively small potatoes, Big Tobacco donates much more and Big Health/Pharma is tops, which is why we dont have UHC here. Has she ever condemned the terrorism from Palestine? ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2019, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-will-be-working-to-defeat-ilhan-omar-in-her-next-election-if-shes-still-around/830818/279 "2019-03-18T23:40:43Z")
My golly, you’re right. Nobody has ever accused a politician of being in the pocket of big Oil or Tobacco. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2019, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-will-be-working-to-defeat-ilhan-omar-in-her-next-election-if-shes-still-around/830818/280 "2019-03-18T23:42:50Z")
> [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](#): > > This bears no resemblance to what I said in or out of context. If what a politician says or does should not affect our support for our party’s leader, so long as they deliver what we want, why shouldn’t Dems line up behind a pervert? R’s did, and their joker is in the White House for still another year and nine months. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2019, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-will-be-working-to-defeat-ilhan-omar-in-her-next-election-if-shes-still-around/830818/281 "2019-03-18T23:56:19Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > ``` > Don't accuse Jews of disloyalty or of having their "allegiance" elsewhere. > > ``` > [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > But many, including some posters here, are doing just that to a prominent Muslim. Maybe the same standards should apply? … I haven’t noticed posts accusing Omar of disloyalty, or of having her allegiance elsewhere. Or did you mean someone else by “prominent Muslim”…? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-will-be-working-to-defeat-ilhan-omar-in-her-next-election-if-shes-still-around/830818.md?page=13) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-will-be-working-to-defeat-ilhan-omar-in-her-next-election-if-shes-still-around/830818.md?page=15)