Birds of a Feather: After Ilhan's 'Hook-Nosed' Tweet About Jews, AOC Says 'I'm Proud' of Her for Statements on Lobbysts
If it’s a day that ends in “y,” Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has to be making the news for all the wrong reasons.
In one of her most recent turns in the headlines, the Democrat from Queens praised her fellow far-left Democrat Rep. Ilhan Omar on Tuesday after Omar was pushed into issuing an apology for absurdly anti-Semitic tweets.
Omar, one of two Muslim women elected to Congress in November, received widespread condemnation for social media posts that appeared to further stereotypes about Jews and money.
The freshman congresswoman implied that House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy supported Israel only because he received money from pro-Israel lobbyists.
In response to McCarthy’s support of Israel, Omar tweeted “It’s all about the Benjamins, baby,” a reference to $100 bills
Omar also retweeted a post that said she might as well be calling Jews “hook-nosed.”
Omar finally deleted the “hook-nosed” retweet and tweeted a half-baked apology on Monday.
But in her apology, Omar reiterated the “lobbyist” comments, which shows that she’s learned nothing from this debacle.
“At the same time, I reaffirm the problematic role of lobbyists in our politics, whether it be AIPAC, the NRA or the fossil fuel industry,” Omar said, using the initials of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee and the National Rifle Association.
Listening and learning, but standing strong 💪🏽 pic.twitter.com/7TSroSf8h1
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) February 11, 2019
Like clockwork, fellow freshman Ocasio-Cortez came to the defense of her colleague from Minnesota by by praising Omar’s half-hearted apology.
“I’m proud @IlhanMN raised the issue of lobbyist (money) in politics & equally proud of her sensitivity to communities. Both are possible,” Ocasio-Cortez tweeted Tuesday.
Lots of people here proclaiming to be “woke” trying to police communities on what they are/aren’t allowed to be upset by.
I’m proud @IlhanMN raised the issue of lobbyist 💰 in politics & equally proud of her sensitivity to communities. Both are possible.https://t.co/Jq2Y1txFCS
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) February 12, 2019
This is a really bad take from Ocasio-Cortez considering the issues with Omar’s apology.
The first issue is that Omar’s tweets about Israel and lobbyists weren’t praiseworthy; they were undoubtedly anti-Semitic.
By doubling down on her “lobbyist” comments, Omar kept pushing the stereotype that politicians only support Israel because of money from Jewish lobbies.
That’s a dangerous conspiracy theory and it undermines more fruitful discussions about Israel and American foreign policy in the Middle East.
Additionally, Ocasio-Cortez should know that Omar doesn’t have a problem with “lobbyist money” when it comes from a Muslim group.
According to FEC records, Omar’s campaign took $5,000 from the Council on American-Islamic Relations, a Muslim lobby lobby.
Furthermore, Ocasio-Cortez would endlessly attack any Republican if they made similarly awful comments, and her allies in the mainstream media would be right there with her.
It seems that with every passing day, Ocasio-Cortez exposes herself as a political hack who will defend her far-left colleagues no matter how reprehensible they may be.
Her defense of Omar is just one more example.
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