# Shady self-dealing by Ilhan Omar **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [August 14, 2020, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shady-self-dealing-by-ilhan-omar/918058 "2020-08-14T06:56:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2020, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shady-self-dealing-by-ilhan-omar/918058/22 "2020-08-15T06:26:17Z")
> [@SlackerInc](#): > > Again, he’s married to Minnesota Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan, arguably the Native American who has achieved the highest executive political position in U.S. history: [Charles Curtis of Kansas](https://www-history-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.history.com/.amp/this-day-in-history/charles-curtis-of-kansas-becomes-first-native-american-senator?amp_js_v=a3&_gsa=1&usqp=mq331AQFKAGwASA%3D#aoh=15974722690289&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&_tf=From%20%251%24s&share=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.history.com%2Fthis-day-in-history%2Fcharles-curtis-of-kansas-becomes-first-native-american-senator) becomes the first Native American to be elected to the United States Senate on January 23, 1907. His tenure later as Herbert Hoover’s vice president made him the highest-ranking Native American ever to serve in the federal government. ---
**Author:** ![Chisquirrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Chisquirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chisquirrel)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2020, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shady-self-dealing-by-ilhan-omar/918058/23 "2020-08-15T06:37:47Z")
> [@SlackerInc](#): > > This story was not “old” to me. I only learned about it yesterday, from the August 13 episode of the Slate Gist podcast. Maybe you should pay more attention. It was a central “issue” in the primary, repeatedly harped on by Antone Melton-Meaux. If you haven’t heard about it until now, I don’t know how anyone could trust how in touch you claim to be. ---
**Author:** ![Banquet\_Bear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banquet_bear/32/373_2.png) [@Banquet\_Bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banquet_Bear)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2020, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shady-self-dealing-by-ilhan-omar/918058/24 "2020-08-15T06:44:32Z")
> [@SlackerInc](#): > > I didn’t complain about Peterson here (surprisingly). But I did on Twitter: …what you did on twitter doesn’t matter. And it isn’t surprising you didn’t complain about Peterson here. Just as it isn’t surprising who you chose to focus this thread on instead. > [@SlackerInc](#): > > Again, he’s married to Minnesota Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan, arguably the Native American who has achieved the highest executive political position in U.S. history: It is the height of irony (considering what it is you are accusing Omar of doing) to use the job (and the ethnicity) of the **wife** of the reporter in question to lend credibility to the actual reporter. The accomplishments of his wife belong to his wife, his reporting should stand on its own. And what is it exactly that Weber brings to the table? Absolutely nothing that we didn’t already know back in April. He is going to be “keeping an eye on her” next term. **That’s it**. She still hasn’t done anything illegal. She will get attacked regardless by Republicans. This is only news because you’ve decided to **make it news.** Here’s the thing. You set the tone, set the narrative. You talk about “flipping the bird to the whole concept of propriety in campaign finance”, but from where I am in the world the idea that at the moment there is any “propriety in campaign finance” in America at the moment made me laugh out loud. America is incredibly corrupt at all levels, and we are literally watching one party trying to steal the election in front of our eyes. We found out today that in the opinion of the Government Accountability Office [acting Secretary Chad Wolf and Ken Cuccinelli](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/congressional-watchdog-finds-acting-dhs-chief-wolf-senior-aide-cuccinelli-n1236735) are **not legally qualified to hold those positions.** But that is barely a wrinkle in the news cycle. We will all forget about it tomorrow. They aren’t going to lose their jobs. Nobody will even start a thread about it. With everything from this to the President openly admitting they are slowing down the Post Office so mess with the next election, of all of the possible scandals you could have chosen to talk about here: why did you pick this particular one? The reporting was over in April. She did nothing illegal. Yesterday a reporter said “he would keep an eye on her.” So what else can you bring to the table here? What do you want to discuss? Do you want to closely examine the personal ethics of everybody standing for the Dems? Because that probably deserves a thread of its own. But even then the levels of corruption would still pale in comparison to what we are seeing from this administration and its spoxes. ---
**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 15, 2020, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shady-self-dealing-by-ilhan-omar/918058/25 "2020-08-15T06:44:49Z")
> [@SlackerInc](#): > > MPR, of which I am a member, is an extremely distinguished public radio network. We here in Minnesota think it is _the_ premier public radio network in the country Where all the women are strong, all the men are good-looking, and all the children are above average? > [@SlackerInc](#): > > The blame for that outcome rests with voters who made a criminally irresponsible choice, not with Hillary for bad messaging or not visiting Wisconsin or any of that. Then what’s with the outrage and caring that we are outraged? If it’s just local politics, then vent if you want, but it’s not that big a deal. If you think that this will affect the bigger picture, though, then say so and make your case. I mean, my reps a republican. I could rant all day about him. Ohio’s embroiled in a pretty serious political bribery scandal involving _nuclear reactors_, and I don’t hear a tenth the outrage I hear about concerns about her personal life or possible minor infringement on best accounting practices. ---
**Author:** ![Chisquirrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Chisquirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chisquirrel)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2020, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shady-self-dealing-by-ilhan-omar/918058/26 "2020-08-15T06:53:55Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > Where all the women are strong, all the men are good-looking, and all the children are above average? Lake Wobegon IS in Minnesota, though not in SlackerInc’s district, IIRC. That said, MPR is a damned fine radio station, though I would be hard pressed to call it the best. ---
**Author:** ![Chisquirrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Chisquirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chisquirrel)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2020, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shady-self-dealing-by-ilhan-omar/918058/27 "2020-08-15T06:54:40Z")
> [@Banquet\_Bear](#): > > Yesterday a reporter said “he would keep an eye on her.” Is this the same reporter that will be providing evidence of Omar marrying her brother any day now? ---
**Author:** ![LegendsofClear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/77aa72/32.png) [@LegendsofClear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LegendsofClear)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2020, 10:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shady-self-dealing-by-ilhan-omar/918058/28 "2020-08-15T10:47:40Z")
Well Omar has definitely made one enemy: > **[Ilhan Omar stole my husband, DC mom claims in divorce papers](https://nypost.com/2019/08/27/my-husband-dumped-me-for-rep-ilhan-omar-dc-mom-says-in-divorce-filing/)** > > A Washington, DC, mom says her political-consultant husband left her for Rep. Ilhan Omar, according to a bombshell divorce filing obtained by The Post. Dr. Beth Mynett says her cheating spouse, Tim… ---
**Author:** ![Fiddle\_Peghead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddle_peghead/32/3506_2.png) [@Fiddle\_Peghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiddle_Peghead)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2020, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shady-self-dealing-by-ilhan-omar/918058/29 "2020-08-15T16:13:54Z")
> [@Banquet\_Bear](#): > > …so we’ve established that the statement " I doubt that more than six people outside of Minnesota even knows who she is" is not only absurdly ridiculous hyperbole (as you’ve already acknowledged) , and that you are in agreement with pretty much everyone (except the OP) that this story won’t do anything to hurt the Dems at the next election. The fact that I used the word “literally” in my second post is not an acknowledgement of anything, certainly not that it was hyperbole, because I was just being sarcastic about the “six people” to make a point. I guess you didn’t pick up on that. My apologies. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2020, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shady-self-dealing-by-ilhan-omar/918058/30 "2020-08-15T16:20:51Z")
She married a man who left his previous wife for her? Is this relevant to anything? ---
**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:** [August 15, 2020, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shady-self-dealing-by-ilhan-omar/918058/31 "2020-08-15T21:23:00Z")
It’s either naïve or disingenuous to suggest this doesn’t matter in politics, especially in a state like Minnesota where many people still have fairly traditional values around marriage and family, even if they don’t vote for the party that styles itself as the exemplar of family values (or at least used to before Trump). The guy who previously represented Omar’s district, Keith Ellison, was able to move up to statewide office as Attorney General, although his race was much closer than other DFLers running statewide (I myself left that ballot line blank, but I have been pleased with his performance in office—particularly the way he has taken on businesses who refused to follow health orders during the pandemic). But I can’t imagine how Omar could ever do the same. > [@k9bfriender](#): > > I mean, my reps a republican. I could rant all day about him. Ohio’s embroiled in a pretty serious political bribery scandal involving _nuclear reactors_ , and I don’t hear a tenth the outrage I hear about concerns about her personal life or possible minor infringement on best accounting practices. This is the fallacy of relative privation. > **[Fallacy of Relative Privation: All Problems Are Relative](https://academy4sc.org/video/fallacy-of-relative-privation-all-problems-are-relative/)** > > Isao wants to convince his coworker Tazuki that their company needs to focus on reorganizing their marketing sector. Their ads are played at terrible hours, the graphics of posters look atrocious… It’s far from the biggest problem in the world, but it doesn’t have to be for it to be discussed on a major media podcast by significant figures in the political class. Nor does it have to be for someone to talk about it here, or we need to shut down at least 99% of all threads. We also have to hold our own party to a much higher standard than we expect from the other side. That’s why so many Minnesota DFLers, including me, called for Al Franken to step down. which led indirectly to our having the current lieutenant governor Flanagan, as it happens. Tina Smith was lieutenant governor, but then she was appointed to the Senate to replace Franken and Flanagan took her place. Speaking of Smith, she is a great example of how this all actually could matter in a very significant way that has nothing to do with Trump. She is locked in an uncomfortably tight race right now to win election to a full term. The most recent polling listed on 538 has her only three points ahead. 😬 It’s easily possible that the US Senate could come down to a single seat margin one way or the other this fall. That one seat difference could make an enormous difference in terms of what Joe Biden can get accomplished next year, what judges he can appoint, etc. And Smith’s opponent constantly flogs Omar as representing “DFL values”. (DFL stands for Democratic-Farmer-Labor, which is the name of the state party here in Minnesota.) Minnesota Republicans clearly believe Omar hurts the party’s brand in the state, even outside her district, and I am inclined to believe they are correct. She is a polarizing figure, and Weber noted in that same podcast interview that this month was the first time she ever even got more than 50% of the vote in any of her primaries. And of course he said he talked to many people who voted for her but are still uncomfortable with her campaign finance shenanigans. > [@Chisquirrel](#): > > MPR is a damned fine radio station It’s a network of dozens of stations. The one here in Moorhead provides the only public radio service in our metro, even though Fargo across the river is six times larger in population. BTW, Lake Wobegon (only one E) is described as being near St. Cloud, which is just past the edge of my gigantic congressional district. I wish I would have asked for one of those CD sets of Prairie Home Companion while I still could, instead of the other swag I took for being a sustaininng member. You always used to be able to get past shows online, so I didn’t think it mattered. But after Keillor’s (weaksauce) MeToo scandal, those decades of shows have been disappeared down the memory hole. That, along with the disappearance of the best episode of Community, “Advanced Dungeons and Dragons” (due to supposed “blackface”), has taught me not to be so sanguine about relying on streaming content instead of physical media. > [@Chisquirrel](#): > > Is this the same reporter that will be providing evidence of Omar marrying her brother any day now? Stop and think about what you are saying (snarking). He is married to the current lieutenant governor, from the same party as Omar. He has been a host on MPR for years. They are discussing this on a podcast produced by Slate, a very liberal media outlet. So that kind of snark is so incredibly poorly aimed, it wouldn’t hit the broad side of a barn. ---
**Author:** ![Chisquirrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Chisquirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chisquirrel)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2020, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shady-self-dealing-by-ilhan-omar/918058/32 "2020-08-15T21:44:56Z")
> [@SlackerInc](#): > > It’s a network of dozens of stations. The one here in Moorhead provides the only public radio service in our metro, even though Fargo across the river is six times larger in population. Oh, sorry, missed “network” in my post. Woe is me! 🙄 > [@SlackerInc](#): > > BTW, Lake Wobegon (only one E) is described as being near Saint Cloud, which is just past the edge of my gigantic congressional district. So I spelled it correctly AND was correct in the fact it wouldn’t be in your district. I spent a lot of time as a child in the very towns Lake Wobegon is based on. Guess we’ll have to call it a tie, considering my single missed word. > [@SlackerInc](#): > > Stop and think about what you are saying (snarking). He is married to the current lieutenant governor, from the same party as Omar. He has been a host on MPR for years. They are discussing this on a podcast produced by Slate, a very liberal media outlet. So that kind of snark is so incredibly poorly aimed, it wouldn’t hit the broad side of a barn. He’s going to “follow her closely”, even though nothing has come of it and Omar INCREASED her primary victory spread since APRIL. I don’t give a flying fuck who he’s married to, who he’s talking to, what outlet gave him a microphone, or who he’s sleeping with. This situation has been known, even by Minnesotans-in-exile, for four months, and while it’s not good optically, it’s pretty obvious her actual constituents (not the Iron Rangers that decided a hockey player was a good choice) support her. Like your past assertions that she committed immigration fraud and incest and everything else under the sun, it’s recreational outrage against someone you’ve already spent countless threads and posts slandering. > [@SlackerInc](#): > > I wish I would have asked for one of those CD sets of Prairie Home Companion while I still could, instead of the other swag I took for being a sustaininng member. You always used to be able to get past shows online, so I didn’t think it mattered. But after Keillor’s (weaksauce) MeToo scandal, those decades of shows have been disappeared down the memory hole. That, along with the disappearance of the best episode of Community, “Advanced Dungeons and Dragons” (due to supposed “blackface”), has taught me not to be so sanguine about relying on streaming content instead of physical media. Supposed “[blackface](https://images.app.goo.gl/a9qSTfzirxL6RiC67)” and “weaksauce” MeToo. Any other whinging you can fit in a single post? Maybe we’ve been too mean to Trump for blaming Mexicans and Muslims for all of our problems? It’s not like your _premier_ MPR covered the allegations, including a woman literally paid off or anything… ---
**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:** [August 15, 2020, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shady-self-dealing-by-ilhan-omar/918058/33 "2020-08-15T21:54:11Z")
I will never understand how otherwise intelligent people fail to see even basic nuance on certain topics. In this case, the laughable notion that my antipathy for the left fringe of the Democratic Party would in any way suggest that I have a shred of affection for Trump. I mean, even rock-ribbed conservatives like Bill Kristol and Jonah Goldberg (both of whom I have a lot of respect for) detest the guy. Anyone with principles, at any point along the ideological continuum, would be honorbound to be appalled by him in a multiplicity of ways. And even if you don’t have principles, just having some taste or class would do the trick. So that dog won’t hunt. ---
**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:** [August 15, 2020, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shady-self-dealing-by-ilhan-omar/918058/34 "2020-08-15T22:05:09Z")
> [@Chisquirrel](#): > > Like your past assertions that she committed immigration fraud and incest and everything else under the sun, it’s recreational outrage against someone you’ve already spent countless threads and posts slandering. Speaking of slander. I specifically stated, repeatedly, that I do _not_ believe she committed incest. I very much doubt she had any sexual contact with the brother that no one in her family will talk about, and whose social media presence has been scrubbed. So unless you can show evidence to the contrary, please retract this false claim. I do think there is suggestive evidence for her having committed immigration fraud to get that brother into the country, yes. And her unwillingness to talk about it, plus the refusal of this temporary former husband or anyone in her family to talk about it, does not exactly clear the matter up. As for “everything else under the sun”, that’s a broad and very vague statement. Care to be more specific? ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2020, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shady-self-dealing-by-ilhan-omar/918058/35 "2020-08-15T23:14:44Z")
Amazing how people are obsessing over her. We have a president on his third wife, numerous porn stars, latest wife here under false immigration pretenses, etc, etc, etc, yet people have to keep dredging up inconsequential stuff about Omar. Her husband left his previous wife? The shame! ---
**Author:** ![Fiddle\_Peghead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddle_peghead/32/3506_2.png) [@Fiddle\_Peghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiddle_Peghead)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2020, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shady-self-dealing-by-ilhan-omar/918058/36 "2020-08-15T23:42:02Z")
> [@SlackerInc](#): > > I will never understand how otherwise intelligent people fail to see even basic nuance on certain topics. Tell me about it. If I had a dime for every time someone here made an assumption that I am a die-hard Trump supporter, just because sometimes I make a comment that either doesn’t go along with the latest anti-Trump story, or suggests that on occasion, even (gasp!) Tucker Carlson or another FOX employee makes a good point, I would have a shit-load of dimes. ---
**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:** [August 16, 2020, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shady-self-dealing-by-ilhan-omar/918058/37 "2020-08-16T00:39:02Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > We have a president on his third wife, numerous porn stars, latest wife here under false immigration pretenses, etc, etc, etc, Again, this is the fallacy of relative privation. Besides, Trump _wants_ everything to be about him. Must we always indulge him? ---
**Author:** ![Banquet\_Bear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banquet_bear/32/373_2.png) [@Banquet\_Bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banquet_Bear)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2020, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shady-self-dealing-by-ilhan-omar/918058/38 "2020-08-16T00:48:27Z")
> [@SlackerInc](#): > > In this case, the laughable notion that my antipathy for the left fringe of the Democratic Party would in any way suggest that I have a shred of affection for Trump. …do you concede that your belief that: > [@Interesting podcast conversation between Sam Harris and Charles Murray (of "Bell Curve" fame)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interesting-podcast-conversation-between-sam-harris-and-charles-murray-of-bell-curve-fame/785052/1799): > > I also welcome immigrants from virtually any other part of the world, as long as they are not Muslim. Places you on the alt-right fringes of the Democratic Party, that it is a position that almost no other member of the Democratic Party (publicly) supports, and that even though you may not have “a shred of affection for Trump” that this particular belief of yours pretty much goes against everything that most Democrats believe, and goes against the principals of the American Constitution? ---
**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 16, 2020, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shady-self-dealing-by-ilhan-omar/918058/39 "2020-08-16T00:52:57Z")
> [@SlackerInc](#): > > This is the fallacy of relative privation. No, that would be if I was questioning why you care about your local politics. I am instead asking you why you think that _we_ should care about your local politics. ---
**Author:** ![Banquet\_Bear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banquet_bear/32/373_2.png) [@Banquet\_Bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banquet_Bear)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2020, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shady-self-dealing-by-ilhan-omar/918058/40 "2020-08-16T00:53:32Z")
> [@Fiddle\_Peghead](#): > > The fact that I used the word “literally” in my second post is not an acknowledgement of anything, certainly not that it was hyperbole, because I was just being sarcastic about the “six people” to make a point. …so you don’t concede that the statement " I doubt that more than six people outside of Minnesota even knows who she is" was “hyperbolic”, but you do concede that that statement was “sarcastic.” Uh huh. And you think you “made a point”, but what was that point exactly? ---
**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:** [August 16, 2020, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shady-self-dealing-by-ilhan-omar/918058/41 "2020-08-16T04:00:38Z")
> [@Banquet\_Bear](#): > > do you concede If you want to quote the post there and discuss it, I will be happy to. I’m not going to move a Pit thread here. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shady-self-dealing-by-ilhan-omar/918058.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shady-self-dealing-by-ilhan-omar/918058.md?page=3)