Bernie Sanders, Kamala Harris Condemn Effort To Rebuke Ilhan Omar

[Nanjeanne]

Sanders said

Anti-Semitism is a hateful and dangerous ideology which must be vigorously opposed in the United States and around the world. We must not, however, equate anti-Semitism with legitimate criticism of the right-wing, Netanyahu government in Israel,” Sanders said in a statement on Wednesday. “Rather, we must develop an even-handed Middle East policy which brings Israelis and Palestinians together for a lasting peace.

What I fear is going on in the House now is an effort to target Congresswoman Omar as a way of stifling that debate. That’s wrong.

Shortly after Sanders statement, Harris said.

We all have a responsibility to speak out against anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, homophobia, transphobia, racism, and all forms of hatred and bigotry, especially as we see a spike in hate crimes in America. But like some of my colleagues in the Congressional Black Caucus, I am concerned that the spotlight being put on Congresswoman Omar may put her at risk.

We should be having a sound, respectful discussion about policy. You can both support Israel and be loyal to our country. I also believe there is a difference between criticism of policy or political leaders, and anti-Semitism. At the end of the day, we need a two-state solution and a commitment to peace, human rights, and democracy by all leaders in the region ― and a commitment by our country to help achieve that.

Thank you Sen. Sanders and Sen Harris.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/bernie-sanders-ilhan-omar-anti-semitism-statement_n_5c80385be4b0e62f69e98739

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

1. Glad to see these two in agreement again...

Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[CrossingTheRubicon]

2. -10 for both.

Very disappointed in Kamala Harris. I expect more from her.

[Drunken Irishman]

6. +10 for both

[we can do it]

9. Make that +20

[pangaia]

11. + 50 for Kamala.

[rainin]

14. +1000

[still_one]

16. The two responses are not even close. Senator Harris brought up all the issues involved, and

made a point that criticism of Israel is not necessarily anti-Semitic, but at the same time, accusing someone of "dual loyalties" because you disagree with them on these issues is wrong.

Her views were far more balanced, and Presidential, than Sanders, and emphasized her support for a two-state solution, which is the official US. policy.

"We all have a responsibility to speak out against anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, homophobia, transphobia, racism, and all forms of hatred and bigotry, especially as we see a spike in hate crimes in America. But like some of my colleagues in the Congressional Black Caucus, I am concerned that the spotlight being put on Congresswoman Omar may put her at risk.

We should be having a sound, respectful discussion about policy. You can both support Israel and be loyal to our country. I also believe there is a difference between criticism of policy or political leaders, and anti-Semitism. At the end of the day, we need a two-state solution and a commitment to peace, human rights, and democracy by all leaders in the region ― and a commitment by our country to help achieve that."

In fairness to Sanders he has made it very clear that he does NOT support the BDS movement, and has said he supports a two-state solution, much to the disappointment of a good number of his supporters.

My view is that Senator Harris articulated all the issues involved, and what it encompasses completely, while Senator Sanders response was incomplete.

One thing for certain, this will become an issue during the primaries, and will be part of the Democratic debate where questions will be asked if a candidate supports the BDS movement, and the so-called one-state solution, which is another name for the destruction of Israel, or a two-state solution.

It will be interesting to see what happens

[lapucelle]

31. I agree with you. The fact that Harris actually addressed the problematic part

of the congresswoman's speech:

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.

With a this detail:

We should be having a sound, respectful discussion about policy. You can both support Israel and be loyal to our country. I also believe there is a difference between criticism of policy or political leaders, and anti-Semitism.

makes a difference to me as well.

[still_one]

33. She reminded me a lot of President Obama, and it was very Presidential and polished. Yes, she is my

preferential candidate, but I am trying to look at it objectively.

There is no doubt in my mind that the republicans are going to try to use this as a wedge issue, and in my view I have no doubt that Senator Harris would be able to handle that without any problem.

She can think on her feet, and she is quick.

[Mr. Smith]

39. How's that two-state solution thing working out, anyhow?

[lunatica]

22. Make it +1000 for both

Jesus!

[DallasNE]

25. What More Did You Expect And What Is The Disappointment

Differences are to be expected but they must be articulated. As it is, this looks like a cheap shot.

[LanternWaste]

40. Overused trope.

Not very disappointed though. I didn't expect more from you.

[CrossingTheRubicon]

41. ...

[Uncle Joe]

3. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread Nanjeanne.

[still_one]

4. Senator Harris response was far more presidential view, and articulated all the issues involved

[Wellstone ruled]

5. Smart move on both behalfs.

[Kurt V.]

7. K&R

[femmedem]

8. Kudos to both of them.

It takes courage to stand up for someone who's being demonized, lest one be demonized too.

[Farmer-Rick]

18. Exactly what I was thinking.

[riversedge]

10. DU post: What Ilhan Omar Actually said

We all should actually listen to her words. I do not hear any antisemitic remarks.


https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=11890848

Not sure if anyone posted this or not but I found the read fascinating after the brouhaha going on about Omar's recent antisemitic comments. Accusing her of reviving old tropes of 'divided loyalties' seems a stretch for me, particularly since she equated that sentiment to her own family's affection for Somalia. Even though they have no family left there.

The main trope I picked up was the unequal emphasis given to the suffering of Palestinians. And why, she asks, can we question the lobbying efforts of corporations, Pharma, the NRA and not talk about an equally powerful lobbying group representing Israel that is influencing our national policy?

I think that's a reasonable question. But it's been marked absolutely taboo by an overall consensus.

That being said, I'm neither Jewish nor Muslim. Irish Catholic here, a woman who has an affection for Ireland. Been there, loved it but have no family that I know of still residing in the country. Does that make me anti-English? I'll confess that's not a question you'd ever pose to my grandmother who--if you had listened to her--would sound as if she stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Michael Collins.

The point is I expected something profoundly offensive in Omar's comments. I was genuinely surprised when I didn't find them because the criticism has been so heated. I've put the link below. See what you think.

https://www.patreon.com/posts/what-ilhan-omar-25142297

[still_one]

21. What exactly does the following mean:

“I want to talk about the political influence in this country that says it is okay for people to push for allegiance to a foreign country.”

Is that criticism of U.S. policy in the area, or is that questioning the motives of those with different policy positions?

Is that the most productive way to discuss this by alleging ugly motivations to others rather than addressing the substantive issues themselves?

[DallasNE]

30. Context Is Everything

How did she set that statement up?(I am not a fan of cherry picking a statement unless there is the full context as well) Below are her words immediately before that sentence. As is clearly stated, she is questioning the process and what it should look like and complains about a response that is designed to end the discussion. And that seems like a fair assessment to me.

" I know that when I hear my Jewish constituents or friends or colleagues speak about Palestinians who don’t want safety, or Palestinians who aren’t deserving I stay focused on the actual debate about what that process should look like. I never go to the dark place of saying ‘here’s a Jewish person, they’re talking about Palestinians, Palestinians are Muslim, maybe they’re Islamophobic.’ I never allow myself to go there because I don’t have to. And what I am fearful of is that because Rashida and I are Muslim, that a lot of Jewish colleagues, a lot of our Jewish constituents, a lot of our allies, go to thinking that everything we say about Israel, to be anti-Semitic, because we are Muslim. And so to me, it is something that becomes designed to end the debate. Because you get in this space, of like, I know what intolerance looks like and I’m sensitive when someone says that 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 about foreign policy or engagement, that our advocacy about ending oppression, or the freeing of every human life and wanting dignity, we get to be labeled in something, and that’s the end of the discussion, because we end up defending that, and nobody gets to have the broader debate of ‘what is happening with Palestine?’"

[still_one]

32. From my perspective this would not have been an issue, if Representative Omar hadn't insinuated that

Last edited Thu Mar 7, 2019, 11:28 AM - Edit history (1)

people who she doesn't agree with on this issue were pushing allegiance to a foreign country.

That is not the way to have a useful dialog.

I am pretty confident when she engages in such dialogs again, she will not going to accuse or insinuate someone of pushing allegiance to a foreign country.

[DallasNE]

36. Let's Change The Setting To Money From Russia

Did money and services from Russia have an impact on the 2016 election and has our policy toward Russia changed following the elections. And lets say your family fled Ukraine in the aftermath of WW II and you were born in this country. Would you think Trump policy in that region has been evenhanded. Indeed, if money didn't drive policy the money would immediately dry up. What is the right word to define the influence money has on policy? Predisposition? That fits pretty closely to Trump's proposal to pull out of NATO to the delight of Putin and Russia. The problem is the money rather than the word used to describe the strings attached to that money. At least that is how I see things. In an earlier post I used the NRA to make the same point.

[still_one]

37. no, let's not. You want to push the alligence to a foreign government theme, do it with someone

else, who thinks that is a good way to have a dialog

[riversedge]

35. Thanks. yes, we need the context of her talk

[ZeroSomeBrains]

12. Good for Senator Sanders and Senator Harris

I give both props for doing the right thing in backing up Representative Omar. I look forward to hopefully hearing similar reactions from the rest of the Democratic field of candidates.

[riversedge]

13. I am glad to see these comments. and agree with them.

[JoeOtterbein]

15. Harris and Sanders just put themselves on the top of the list for

...POTUS for me!

[Evolve Dammit]

17. Now there's a winning ticket. Time to be creative. If only Hillary and Bernie would have....?

[obnoxiousdrunk]

19. Thank you

Bernie and Kamala.

[pdsimdars]

20. Amen. There's a difference between criticizing a right wing government and anti-semitism

[still_one]

23. You are right, inn this case it isn't about anti-semitism, and it could have been about criticism of

U.S. policy in the area, but Representative Omar decided to turn it into questioning the motives of those with different policy positions:

“I want to talk about the political influence in this country that says it is okay for people to push for allegiance to a foreign country.”

Is that that the most productive way to have an open discussion about US policy in the Mideast?

Senator Harris' response was far more complete and encompassing, and included all the issues relating to this controversy

I would bet that Representative Omar will not bring up again an accusation of "allegiance to a foreign country" toward politicians who may disagree with her on policy, but instead focus on why U.S. policy in the Mideast is misguided, and not balanced

[zentrum]

24. +1000 to them both!

[TryLogic]

26. The attack on Congresswoman Omar is totally inappropriate.

From Republicans for obvious reasons.
From Democrats because of concern about losing donations to the party??

[StClone]

27. Countering the Right's narrative

Thank you Bernie and Kamala!

The Right does not really care for the Jewish Faith. Far Right sites I visit often feature anti-Semitic memes. Pacifying the Southern Baptist prophesy of the Lord's return and strategic location in the Middle East is what garners their support of Israel.

[PatrickforO]

28. Makes me feel pretty good about Harris.

Like many of you, I'm watching closely to see how the House handles this, because conflating criticism of Israel's policies under Netanyahu and AIPAC with anti-Semitism is wrongheaded.

And going after Omar is even more wrongheaded, because her comments were not, in my opinion, anti-Semitic.

[burrowowl]

29. As well they should!

Even Jewish liberal organizations back her.

[gateley]

34. Good for them -- wish they weren't in the minority. nt

[Devil Child]

38. Love this display of unity and support

My respect for Sen. Harris and Sen Sanders has risen with these responses.