# Ilhan Omar - A thread about her marriage and immigration history. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 20, 2019, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ilhan-omar-a-thread-about-her-marriage-and-immigration-history/837347 "2019-07-20T12:32:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 15
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2019, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ilhan-omar-a-thread-about-her-marriage-and-immigration-history/837347/282 "2019-08-16T20:08:36Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > Physical models of the universe are all just hypotheticals that match the known facts. How about you start with one fucking fact, like whether or not Elmi is her brother? ---
**Author:** ![Lance\_Turbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lance_turbo/32/6156_2.png) [@Lance\_Turbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lance_Turbo)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2019, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ilhan-omar-a-thread-about-her-marriage-and-immigration-history/837347/283 "2019-08-16T21:04:35Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > Are you saying that Omar marrying her brother has a similar amount of evidence towards it as the theory of relativity does? Note that in his latest bisexual threeway theory Elmi and Omar are not siblings. Crazy right? His conspiracy theory that ‘fits the facts’ does not even include the conspiracy that spawned this thread. It’s a completely different conspiracy theory. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2019, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ilhan-omar-a-thread-about-her-marriage-and-immigration-history/837347/284 "2019-08-16T21:24:59Z")
> [@Not\_Carlson](#): > > I don’t. That’s why I’m choosing to remain highly skeptical of the accusation. That’s not exactly what you said. You said you are skeptical of it but you remain open to the possibility she’s done something wrong. Let’s try it this way: EXACTLY WHAT THE FUCK HAS SHE DONE THAT MAKES YOU THINK SHE MIGHT HAVE DONE SOMETHING ILLEGAL LIKE MARRYING HER BROTHER? ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2019, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ilhan-omar-a-thread-about-her-marriage-and-immigration-history/837347/285 "2019-08-16T21:31:22Z")
> [@Lance\_Turbo](#): > > Note that in his latest bisexual threeway theory Elmi and Omar are not siblings. > > Crazy right? His conspiracy theory that ‘fits the facts’ does not even include the conspiracy that spawned this thread. It’s a completely different conspiracy theory. It’s not even a theory, though. It’s _fanfiction_. ---
**Author:** ![Not\_Carlson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bc79bd/32.png) [@Not\_Carlson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Not_Carlson)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2019, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ilhan-omar-a-thread-about-her-marriage-and-immigration-history/837347/286 "2019-08-17T00:02:58Z")
> [@DrFidelius](#): > > “Highly skeptical” does not equal “recognize bullshit.” True. Maybe I’m a credulous skeptic. > [@Monty](#): > > EXACTLY WHAT THE FUCK … ? Clearly there’s no room for fence-sitters in this conversation. Or in this case, even just peering over the fence. From where I stand, these accusations look and smell like bullshit, but I am rather shortsighted, so let me just take a closer look… _“Get the fuck away from the fence!”_ you say. _“GET RIGHT THE FUCK AWAY FROM THE FENCE!!!”_ So, to be clear, I dooooooooooon’t think Ilham Omar has done anything wrong. I doooooooon’t think she’s hiding anything. The only thing that makes me go “Hmmm…? is that, according to a _clearly biased_ news source, someone who _allegedly_ shares her ex-husband’s name has both claimed to be the person photographed with her and has denied knowing her. That’s it. What it means, I don’t know. I’m happy to wait and see. (Although less happy with sanctimonious finger-wagging from one side and angry shouting from the other.) ---
**Author:** ![Not\_Carlson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bc79bd/32.png) [@Not\_Carlson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Not_Carlson)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2019, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ilhan-omar-a-thread-about-her-marriage-and-immigration-history/837347/287 "2019-08-17T00:13:52Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > Physical models of the universe are all just hypotheticals that match the known facts. … > Are you aware of anything that works better by making a priori assumptions and telling people to not review the whole spectrum of possibilities? So far you’ve hypothesized that Omar’s father may have been some kind of war criminal, that Omar may have married her bastard half brother to get him into college, and that Omar may have been in a polyamorous relationship with two bisexual men. Now you’re bringing Einstein and universal theories of everything into the discussion? Are you Dirk Gently? You’re going way beyond Just Asking Questions. You’re telling tales. As **Lance Turbo** has pointed out, your polyamory hypothesis completely ditches the incestuous marriage hypothesis. And yet it’s equally salacious. **OP:** _Ilham Omar married her brother._ **Sage Rat:** _Yep, I reckon I can find some evidence for that. But how about this? Ilham Omar was in a polyamorous marriage!?_ > [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > The evidence is that they’re hiding something, that Elmi (likely) calls Omar’s daughters his nieces, and that Omar lived with both of her husbands at the same time. Pigeonholing the “something” to “brother marriage” isn’t a disproof, it’s just pigeonholing. Heck, both of my dad’s ex-wives still get together from time to time. And I’m an ex-Mormon! Now from just those two pieces of information you could hypothesize that my family is a polyamorous cult and that my mum and stepmum are lesbian lovers! The actual facts are quite mundane and would completely negate such an outlandish idea. But the actual facts are none of your business. So I guess I _must_ be hiding something shameful or nefarious! And you’re still hung up on the “niece” thing! As others have repeatedly told you, Elmi doesn’t have to be Omar’s brother or the family’s gay “uncle” to call Omar’s child “niece”. If the Elmi who posted that picture is the same man who was married to Omar for a time, isn’t that reason enough for him to consider Omar’s child (not his own) his “niece”? ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2019, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ilhan-omar-a-thread-about-her-marriage-and-immigration-history/837347/288 "2019-08-17T01:02:34Z")
> [@Not\_Carlson](#): > > True. Maybe I’m a credulous skeptic. Go find a dictionary. Look up those two words. This > [@Not\_Carlson](#): > > Clearly there’s no room for fence-sitters in this conversation. > Or in this case, even just peering over the fence. > From where I stand, these accusations look and smell like bullshit, but I am rather shortsighted, so let me just take a closer look… > _“Get the fuck away from the fence!”_ you say. _“GET RIGHT THE FUCK AWAY FROM THE FENCE!!!”_ > > So, to be clear, I dooooooooooon’t think Ilham Omar has done anything wrong. > I doooooooon’t think she’s hiding anything. does not mesh with this > [@Not\_Carlson](#): > > The only thing that makes me go “Hmmm…? is that, according to a _clearly biased_ news source, someone who _allegedly_ shares her ex-husband’s name has both claimed to be the person photographed with her and has denied knowing her. That’s it. > > What it means, I don’t know. I’m happy to wait and see. > (Although less happy with sanctimonious finger-wagging from one side and angry shouting from the other.) You weasel. ---
**Author:** ![Not\_Carlson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bc79bd/32.png) [@Not\_Carlson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Not_Carlson)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2019, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ilhan-omar-a-thread-about-her-marriage-and-immigration-history/837347/289 "2019-08-17T03:49:05Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > Go find a dictionary. Look up those two words. That was meant to be a self-depreciating joke. > [@](#): > > This… does not mesh with this Saying I DON’T think Omar did anything wrong, but I DO wonder why [alleged] photo guy has [allegedly] denied knowing her doesn’t mesh? Is it OK if I say I’m 95% confident the allegations against Omar are bullshit? Is it OK if I say _ **if** _ Alpha News [which DOES seem obscenely biased against Omar, and a blatantly right-wing agenda-pushing rag in general] has in fact talked with the guy in the photos [allegedly Omar’s one-time husband Elmi], and _ **if** _ he actually made the statements that they claim he made, _ **then** _ that would present an apparent oddity, _ **but** _ would still _ **not** _ be evidence that Omar married her brother? Because that’s where I’m at right now. > [@](#): > > You weasel. That’s harsh. Considering I’ve tried to make it clear that I still think the accusations against Omar are more than likely bullshit. Have I crossed you somehow? I am genuinely miffed. Throughout this thread I’ve been pointing out how the OP’s accusation and Sage Rat’s JAQing off look and smell like bullshit. Is 95% not good enough? Call me a sucker if you must, but don’t call me a weasel. ---
**Author:** ![orcenio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/orcenio/32/1036_2.png) [@orcenio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/orcenio)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2019, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ilhan-omar-a-thread-about-her-marriage-and-immigration-history/837347/290 "2019-08-17T12:59:30Z")
First Obama’s birth and then Ilhan Omar’s marriage; now Trump seems to have heroically uncovered Representative Rashida Tlaib’s [questionable lineage](https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1162490843619635201) too. Or should I say: ’ “Representative” “Rashida Tlaib”'s questionable “lineage” ’ ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2019, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ilhan-omar-a-thread-about-her-marriage-and-immigration-history/837347/291 "2019-08-17T14:19:34Z")
> [@Not\_Carlson](#): > > That was meant to be a self-depreciating joke. > Saying I DON’T think Omar did anything wrong, but I DO wonder why [alleged] photo guy has [allegedly] denied knowing her doesn’t mesh? > Is it OK if I say I’m 95% confident the allegations against Omar are bullshit? > Is it OK if I say _ **if** _ Alpha News [which DOES seem obscenely biased against Omar, and a blatantly right-wing agenda-pushing rag in general] has in fact talked with the guy in the photos [allegedly Omar’s one-time husband Elmi], and _ **if** _ he actually made the statements that they claim he made, _ **then** _ that would present an apparent oddity, _ **but** _ would still _ **not** _ be evidence that Omar married her brother? > Because that’s where I’m at right now. > That’s harsh. Considering I’ve tried to make it clear that I still think the accusations against Omar are more than likely bullshit. > Have I crossed you somehow? > I am genuinely miffed. > > Throughout this thread I’ve been pointing out how the OP’s accusation and Sage Rat’s JAQing off look and smell like bullshit. > Is 95% not good enough? > Call me a sucker if you must, but don’t call me a weasel. What load of rubbish. The accusations are 100% bullshit. Don’t weasel, and I won’t call you one. That’s more than you’re affording Ms. Omar. ---
**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:** [August 17, 2019, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ilhan-omar-a-thread-about-her-marriage-and-immigration-history/837347/292 "2019-08-17T17:29:36Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > It’s not even a theory, though. > > It’s _fanfiction_. I don’t think they are fans. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2019, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ilhan-omar-a-thread-about-her-marriage-and-immigration-history/837347/293 "2019-08-17T18:04:21Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > I don’t think they are fans. Slashfiction? ---
**Author:** ![Not\_Carlson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bc79bd/32.png) [@Not\_Carlson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Not_Carlson)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2019, 10:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ilhan-omar-a-thread-about-her-marriage-and-immigration-history/837347/294 "2019-08-18T10:08:19Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > What load of rubbish. The accusations are 100% bullshit. > > Don’t weasel, and I won’t call you one. That’s more than you’re affording Ms. Omar. Monty, are you perhaps interpreting my words in post #269 or #283 as deliberately implying or insinuating that Ilham Omar has done something wrong? Because that is in no way my intention. Did you perhaps skip over everything I wrote challenging the **OP** and **Sage Rat** in defense of Omar? Because that’s the only way I can see you interpreting my words that way. I came to this thread to defend Ilham Omar because I think she’s an intelligent and honest person and the type of progressive leader that is very much needed in politics today. And because I see a lot of hateful and dishonest attacks being made on her. But if you’re determined to see me as a weasel, then saying all this isn’t going to make a lick of difference, since you will probably assume that I’m lying. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2019, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ilhan-omar-a-thread-about-her-marriage-and-immigration-history/837347/295 "2019-08-18T17:42:56Z")
> [@Not\_Carlson](#): > > Ilham Omar Now that’s an unfortunate typo. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Not\_Carlson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bc79bd/32.png) [@Not\_Carlson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Not_Carlson)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2019, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ilhan-omar-a-thread-about-her-marriage-and-immigration-history/837347/296 "2019-08-18T23:55:13Z")
And yet apparently not the most unfortunate blunder I’ve made in this thread. (The biggest of which may have been joining it in the first place.) ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2019, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ilhan-omar-a-thread-about-her-marriage-and-immigration-history/837347/297 "2019-08-19T00:26:20Z")
Gotta hand it to the OP of this thread. Posted to this board one single time, and it’s the first post in this thread. That’s makin’ em count. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2019, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ilhan-omar-a-thread-about-her-marriage-and-immigration-history/837347/298 "2019-08-19T01:11:38Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > Gotta hand it to the OP of this thread. Posted to this board one single time, and it’s the first post in this thread. That’s makin’ em count. That’s some professional trolling right there. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2019, 10:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ilhan-omar-a-thread-about-her-marriage-and-immigration-history/837347/299 "2019-08-20T10:27:13Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > I heard the other day that you were a murderer. Rather than put any effort into gathering evidence for my proposition, I’m going to demand that you do the work of clearing yourself. A more plausible theory is that **Sage Rat** ’s account has been hijacked by a professional right-wing troll who is using it to promulgate the coordinated smear campaign against Omar. For evidence, I present every single **Sage Rat** post in this thread. It’s now up to **Sage Rat** to provide evidence that he’s not a troll and that the mods shouldn’t just shut his account down. Because my theory is just as plausible as the Theory of Relativity. Because that’s how this works. Apparently. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2019, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ilhan-omar-a-thread-about-her-marriage-and-immigration-history/837347/300 "2019-09-04T18:28:57Z")
Apparently her husband now wants a divorce: [Ilhan Omar's husband wants divorce after affair bombshell](https://nypost.com/2019/09/03/rep-ilhan-omars-husband-wants-divorce-after-affair-bombshell-source/) ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2019, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ilhan-omar-a-thread-about-her-marriage-and-immigration-history/837347/301 "2019-09-04T19:22:33Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > A more plausible theory is that **Sage Rat** ’s account has been hijacked by a professional right-wing troll who is using it to promulgate the coordinated smear campaign against Omar. For evidence, I present every single **Sage Rat** post in this thread. It’s now up to **Sage Rat** to provide evidence that he’s not a troll and that the mods shouldn’t just shut his account down. Because my theory is just as plausible as the Theory of Relativity. > > Because that’s how this works. > > Apparently. If you genuinely care about Omar and you genuinely care about the truth, [you can do these things and you are completely liable to completely demolish the right](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=21803030&postcount=221). If you would rather call me a troll than simply prove the right wrong, you should ask why you’re doing the first and not the latter when, purportedly, you are a person who cares about Omar and the truth. Proving the right wrong helps her. Proving that I’m a troll or that a troll took over my account or whatever else doesn’t accomplish jack shit in the world, so if that’s what you’re spending your time doing, then you’re doing jack shit for the world when there’s a very easy and straightforward way for you to be doing otherwise. And let’s also note, I have presented evidence and I have clearly stated that the evidence is not conclusive and is completely copacetic with eventualities where she is innocent. If you’re writing that I have not presented evidence and that I’ve claimed that I know something about her, that I’ve claimed that she is certainly guilty, etc. you should ask how you came to that conclusion. How did you brain decide that something is true which can clearly be contradicted by quotable materials on this very message board and which, presumably, you have seen? I’m sitting here telling you how to disprove the accusations and trying to push you to disprove them. If that’s your definition of a right-wing troll, then you need to question how your brain is looking at the world in modern times. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ilhan-omar-a-thread-about-her-marriage-and-immigration-history/837347.md?page=14) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ilhan-omar-a-thread-about-her-marriage-and-immigration-history/837347.md?page=16)