Politico Reporter Fires Back After Rep. Ilhan Omar Claims Obama Comments 'Distorted'

[DonViejo]

by Tamar Auber | Mar 8th, 2019, 6:54 pm

On Friday, controversial Democratic Congresswoman Ihlan Omar blamed the media for distorting her remarks about former President Barack Obama.

Link to tweet

She also included audio from the interview.

Earlier today, Politico reported Omar said this:

As she saw it, the party ostensibly committed to progressive values had become complicit in perpetuating the status quo. Omar says the “hope and change” offered by Barack Obama was a mirage. Recalling the “caging of kids” at the U.S.-Mexico border and the “droning of countries around the world” on Obama’s watch, she argues that the Democratic president operated within the same fundamentally broken framework as his Republican successor.

“We can’t be only upset with Trump. … His policies are bad, but many of the people who came before him also had really bad policies. They just were more polished than he was,” Omar says. “And that’s not what we should be looking for anymore. We don’t want anybody to get away with murder because they are polished. We want to recognize the actual policies that are behind the pretty face and the smile.”

The content of Omar’s Soundcloud clip does not vary dramatically from Politico’s reporting.

Politico’s Tim Alberta, who sat down with Omar for the interview, responded to the Congresswoman’s Twitter accusations, writing: “Next time, a phone call from your office before the Twitter ambush would be appreciated.”

Link to tweet

Likewise, some reporters have come out in defense of Politico

Link to tweet

HuffPost’s Ashley Feinberg also agreed the quote was presented fairly.

Link to tweet

https://www.mediaite.com/online/politico-reporter-fires-back-after-rep-ilhan-omar-claims-obama-comments-distorted/

[watoos]

1. I am not taking sides in this,

but I am stating one very important fact for everyone.

THE ONLY WAY WE LOSE IN 2020 IS IF WE FIGHT AMONG OURSELVES!!!!!!!!! Republicans are pushing this, that Democrats are in disarray narrative hard.

Look, our last 2 Democratic presidents did some things that weren't very Democratic, that's just a fact. So what? The past is not real, the past is a creation of the mind. The only thing that is real is the present moment. We had better stop infighting and do it quickly in the present moment.

Here's a test for everyone; when Tulsi Gabbard wins our nomination I will gladly run to the polls to vote for her, everyone else agree? If we can all agree about that with Tulsi the rest is a piece of cake.

Let the attacks begin.

[BeyondGeography]

2. She has fallen into the no difference between Bush and Gore trap

Your comment reflects that. You should take a side.

[BannonsLiver]

13. "The past is not real"

[Cha]

44. Then Omar shouldn't have unfairly disparaged Pres Obama.

Ilhan Omar Backtracks After Calling Obama a "Pretty Face" Who "Got Away with Murder"

Democrats didn’t abandon Omar over her comments about Israel. Her criticism of Barack Obama is another matter.

Omar says the “hope and change” offered by Barack Obama was a mirage. Recalling the “caging of kids” at the U.S.-Mexico border and the “droning of countries around the world” on Obama’s watch, she argues that the Democratic president operated within the same fundamentally broken framework as his Republican successor.

“We can’t be only upset with Trump . . . His policies are bad, but many of the people who came before him also had really bad policies. They just were more polished than he was,”

Omar says. “And that’s not what we should be looking for anymore. We don’t want anybody to get away with murder because they are polished. We want to recognize the actual policies that are behind the pretty face and the smile.”

https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2019/03/ilhan-omar-barack-obama-pretty-face

Link to tweet

"They only seperated families when it was determined that the children would be in danger in prison, and the parent couldn't be released due to criminal charges. They always placed children either with relatives or sponsors who were thouroughly vetted."

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=11901011

Link to tweet

[Cha]

3. Busted. Own your words, Omar.

And, apologize to President Obama.

Ilhan Omar Backtracks After Calling Obama a "Pretty Face" Who "Got Away with Murder"

Democrats didn’t abandon Omar over her comments about Israel. Her criticism of Barack Obama is another matter.

Omar says the “hope and change” offered by Barack Obama was a mirage. Recalling the “caging of kids” at the U.S.-Mexico border and the “droning of countries around the world” on Obama’s watch, she argues that the Democratic president operated within the same fundamentally broken framework as his Republican successor.

“We can’t be only upset with Trump . . . His policies are bad, but many of the people who came before him also had really bad policies. They just were more polished than he was,”

Omar says. “And that’s not what we should be looking for anymore. We don’t want anybody to get away with murder because they are polished. We want to recognize the actual policies that are behind the pretty face and the smile.”

https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2019/03/ilhan-omar-barack-obama-pretty-face

Link to tweet

"They only seperated families when it was determined that the children would be in danger in prison, and the parent couldn't be released due to criminal charges. They always placed children either with relatives or sponsors who were thouroughly vetted."

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=11901011

[ProudLib72]

12. I agree with the "broken framework" concept

I disagree with her use of Obama, although I know exactly why she said it. She was trying to be sensational to garner attention for her cause. However, this has been a problem all along with those on our side who want to create a "revolution". Everyone gets thrown under the bus. It hurts our side tremendously, while it doesn't make a dent on the RW side.

[wellst0nev0ter]

16. John Avarosis is wrong

Unaccompanied migrant kids were detained and caged under Obama's watch, he just didn't engage in mass family separation like Trump did. I remember it being a pretty big deal when it first surfaced.

https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/immigration/2014/06/18/arizona-immigrant-children-holding-area-tour/10780449/

[Cha]

20. No, Aravois is right.. Omar is Wrong.

"They only seperated families when it was determined that the children would be in danger in prison, and the parent couldn't be released due to criminal charges. They always placed children either with relatives or sponsors who were thouroughly vetted."

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=11901011

[wellst0nev0ter]

21. Learn to read

These are Avarosis's own words

Rep. Omar says Obama was a more polished version of Trump, and suggests — incorrectly — that Obama jailed kids just like Trump did.

The Obama administration jailed kids, period. We may disagree on whether that was necessary, but let's not disagree on the facts, okay?

[Cha]

22. You "learn to read. President Obama

did NOT do it "like trump". Learn the Difference.

[Cha]

24. Ok.. don't care about the vast difference

that was posted to you.

[wellst0nev0ter]

25. Omar and I acknowledged the vast difference

but we aren't turning a blind eye to caged children either.

[Cha]

27. Omar didn't. That's one reason she's in

such deep shit now.

Link to tweet

[wellst0nev0ter]

30. Here's the audio file again

You can listen yourself because you have ears, don't you?

https://soundcloud.com/ilhanomar/obama2

"What is happening now is very different." Then she goes on to say that the Obama administration was more secret and "polished" in its cruelty than Trump was, meaning they operated in a way that is more palatable to people like yourself.

[Cha]

31. All you have are insults.. Omar is Wrong.

"Rep. Omar has deleted this tweet after facing criticism. People, including her supporters, felt that Politico reporter @TimAlberta had characterized her comments accurately in his story."

[wellst0nev0ter]

32. No, this Politico characterization is false

"she argues that the Democratic president operated within the same fundamentally broken framework as his Republican successor."

No, she says she's finding it's time to acknowledge that Democrats engaged in cruel policies as well, not that they are the exact same as Trump. In order to do better, we must fix our own house.

[Cha]

38. NO, the political writer, Tim Alberta, got

it exactly right. It's Omar who got it Wrong.

Most people can see that.

[Trumpocalypse]

49. Once again I agree with you

Happy to see someone acknowledging the uncomfortable facts.

[lapucelle]

42. Wait...did you just say that Omar meant "Obama was more polished and secretive in his cruelty"

and that the difference between his administration and Trump's merely one of optics?

SMH

[Cha]

48. Yes, he did.

[Cha]

47. Don't presume to know who I am. Omar is WRONG AGAIN..

she is the one who won't own up to her own words about President Obama.

Omar deleted her tweet.. that's "secretive". She also tweets she's ".. an Obama fan.." after personally insulting him with ugly attacks. That's Bull.

All ms Omar has are insults.. just like you're trying to insult me.. with your .. "..you have ears, don't you?.. "

[TwilightZone]

28. She didn't acknowledge any difference at all.

As for the goofy assertion that the policies were similar, that's a debunked right-wing talking point.

https://www.politifact.com/punditfact/statements/2018/jun/19/matt-schlapp/no-donald-trumps-separation-immigrant-families-was/

[wellst0nev0ter]

29. Actually, family separation and kid caging did occur

under Obama's watch, just like it says in your link. Omar's exact words were "I would talk about family separation or caging of kids, and people will point out that this was this was Trump, I mean this was Obama."

And you know what she is right. We should not give Obama a cookie because he appeared to be less cruel than Trump in that regard. Trump was justifying his policy by pointing to Obama, and all we could do was say "we didn't go THAT far."

You and I should do better.

[Honeycombe8]

36. Trump literally caged children.

Cages. Toddlers sleeping on concrete floors.

Family separation has always occurred in the U.S. under certain conditions. First, families were held together. But certain families then had to be separated at some point....I think maybe if their situation was going to take a long period of time? There was some reason. It wasn't everyone.

The children weren't hastily taken away and shipped hundreds of miles away under cover of darkness, never to be seen by their parents again. Parents didn't know where their children were, under Trump.

I believe the kids, as the normal course of business in the U.S., were kept in rooms or housing. Not cages. They weren't lost, or shipped away without the parents knowing when and where their kids were going.

My guess is that cages were used by Trump because they made the decision to separate all kids immediately, and there simply wasn't enough housing for them. So they put up kennels. They didn't keep records, so the location of some of the kids was unknown, and is still unknown to this day.

This has always been known...that the U.S. HAS to house the children separately, if the family is going to be here a while, because we don't have the facilities to house families. Plus, you don't want kids being housed with other families that have adults. That's not safe. Americans haven't heard horror stories about that procedure before, because it wasn't a horror.

If the same procedures and housing were being used by Trump, you better believe he'd say that, over and over and over again.

It was a totally different procedure, for a different purpose, and done in a different way. The only reason someone would equate the two procedures is to falsely try to paint America as a whole that way.

[SunSeeker]

37. Kid caging did not occur under Obama. That is a right wing talking point.

Last edited Sun Mar 10, 2019, 12:30 AM - Edit history (1)

The Trump administration built those kid cages on concrete. Trump built those border internment camps consisting of tents and little else. These cages and camps did not exist under Obama. Obama did not put kids in chain link kennel cages; kids who could not stay with their parents because the parents were being sent to jail were sent to foster homes or vetted relatives. Obama did not have a policy like Trump of intentionally separating families in order to act as a "deterrent." Obama's policy was to keep families together if at all possible. Stop with the right wing talking points.

[Cha]

39. It wasn't the same at ALL.. and quit trying to make it so.

Omar got it Wrong and so did you.

[brush]

34. At that time many unaccompanied youth were coming.

They weren't just allowed into the country without being detained. They were housed. And those who came with parents were not kidnapped with no way of being united again with their parents like trump is doing.

Get it straight.

[Hortensis]

4. Pattern: Controversial statement, claim of being misrepresented.

Ms. Omar is now self identifying as radical and hostile to the large Democratic Party mainstream, no misunderstanding. Yet another of those tiresome fools who're too busy attacking Democrats and claiming false equalizations with Republican crimes to have much left over for the growing authoritarian nationalism, unquestionably anti-Muslim, on the right.

That strange but hardly uncommon acceptance may be in part because of the growing extremism on the right. We know extremists all hate the cooperation and compromises that democracy requires to function. However their goals may differ, they find much to respect in each other's refusal to accept the compromises that they all see as corruption and despise those in both parties who do. Sometimes to the point of uniting against the center.

And Ms. Omar's orientation is now supported by her identification as leader of a new left-wing "tea party." The old Tea Party's right-wing remnants these days are the far-right Freedom Caucus in congress and Trump's hard-core populists.

The issue for us is how to react to a press that is now slathering for more controversial statements. How well that pays them and rewards her for her behaviors depends on us. And this is about OUR reactions, not the Republicans'.

I say reward good behaviors, denounce bad calmly as morally necessary, and otherwise leave her to her constituents' judgment. They're educated, liberal, diverse people overall, and it's unlikely this is what they thought they were getting.

[manor321]

5. Politico's report was wrong, and I'm glad Omar embarrassed them

Maybe next time they'll think twice about a "Dems in disarray" article.

Yes, politico published the words, but completely mischaracterized the conversation, which comes through clearly in the audio.

[Cha]

26. No, Politico Got it right..

Link to tweet

Omar only "embarrassed" herself.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

6. The Politico reporter would have done well to clarify what he thought Omar was saying.

Reading her quotes, it appears that both she and he have a different understanding of what was actually being said, and I see both of their perspectives. That happens a lot in interviews, and reporters have a responsibility to ask follow-up questions to ensure what they're writing is accurate. But, it's Politico.

[betsuni]

7. K&R

[dalton99a]

8. An important question she should answer: Why the need to throw Obama under the bus?

Why the need to throw any Democratic president under the bus?

[BannonsLiver]

14. Cuz purity.

[Cha]

18. And, Lies.

Link to tweet

[BannonsLiver]

46. As I read her walk back tweet

It amazes me that she thinks anyone would believe the explanation. It’s just not credible. I think I’d have more respect for her if she would just own up to it instead of assuming we’re all a bunch of gullible dopes.

[betsuni]

41. It shows you're a true believer. False equivalency is essential to the ideology.

[eissa]

10. This woman is tiresome

Hope her district finds someone more suitable, preferably one who doesn’t have foot-in-mouth syndrome.

[wellst0nev0ter]

19. No, the mainstream media apparatus is tiresome

She was saying Trump was bad, but Obama was not perfect either. Yet the beltway press whores spin it into a Dems in Disarray story.

[Cha]

43. No.. wrong again.. Words Matter and Omar

blew it.

Ilhan Omar Backtracks After Calling Obama a "Pretty Face" Who "Got Away with Murder"

Democrats didn’t abandon Omar over her comments about Israel. Her criticism of Barack Obama is another matter.

Omar says the “hope and change” offered by Barack Obama was a mirage. Recalling the “caging of kids” at the U.S.-Mexico border and the “droning of countries around the world” on Obama’s watch, she argues that the Democratic president operated within the same fundamentally broken framework as his Republican successor.

“We can’t be only upset with Trump . . . His policies are bad, but many of the people who came before him also had really bad policies. They just were more polished than he was,”

Omar says. “And that’s not what we should be looking for anymore. We don’t want anybody to get away with murder because they are polished. We want to recognize the actual policies that are behind the pretty face and the smile.”

https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2019/03/ilhan-omar-barack-obama-pretty-face

Link to tweet

"They only seperated families when it was determined that the children would be in danger in prison, and the parent couldn't be released due to criminal charges. They always placed children either with relatives or sponsors who were thouroughly vetted."

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=11901011

Link to tweet

[Cha]

33. Omar is more than "tiresome" she is

is wrong.

She deleted her tweet.

Link to tweet

[DavidDvorkin]

11. We should avoid fighting among ourselves, but we must also avoid becoming like the Republicans

who fiercely defend other Republicans no matter what they say or do. Solidarity, yes, but not mindless solidarity.

[Progressive dog]

15. I never heard President Obama

attack the media for correctly reporting what he said or did. I'm not only upset about Trump, I'm upset about those who say exactly what they mean and then try to deny it.

[Cha]

17. Omar deleted her damn tweet but it lives on..

Link to tweet

[Hekate]

35. I wonder what her DU name was during Obama's administration? Did she accuse him of "spelunking"?

I very much want tnis young woman to succeed, but she is going to have to be a faster learner than she currently seems to be.

[jcmaine72]

40. I don't understand the age we live in.

We've seen this a couple of times now, where someone:

- Says or writes something that people take offense to.
- They get criticized / called out for it
- They deny what they said/wrote or claim it was "taken out of context" or "distorted".
- They reprint or re-upload their original words to prove their innocence.
- And the original materials only prove they said what they said without any contextual distortions.
- And they continue their denials and protestations of innocence.
- And people still believe them.

I don't remember people using the term "doubling down" twenty years or so ago. Back then, I seem to recall those mired in scandal preferring to simply apologize quickly in the hope the scandal would blow over ASAP, usually employing the old "It was an error in judgement on my part" standby.

Today, it seems people just dig a foxhole and hunker down, no matter how cut & dried the case against them is. The worst part about this tactic is that it's insulting to the intelligence of the people on your side. It implies they are stupid and sycophantic enough to accept any BS you feed them no matter what.

I just don't understand it. Simply apologize and move on. Most people have forgiving natures provided you don't continually lie to them.

[LuvLoogie]

45. Justice Democrats are scorched Earth evangelistas.

You will never get them to admit that shiving Democrats from behind is a losing tactic.