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OpEdNews Op Eds    H3'ed 3/6/19

House Dems Postpone Omar Resolution Vote after Progressive Groups and Congress Members Defend Her

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Is Rep. Ilhan Omar Sparking Discussions About The Way We Discuss Israel? | Velshi & Ruhle | MSNBC House Democrats are planning to rebuke one of their own again, after Congresswoman Ilhan Omar made what some are calling anti-Semitic comments.
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[The most measured analysis of all of this that I found was this video in the headline, on MSNBC, as opposed to Alan Dershowitz' rant on Fox News. This really is good news, albeit only temporary, but it shows the power of progressive young Congress members plus progressive Democrat groups, in defending someone new who dares ask healthy provocative questions about influence on foreign affairs; of course, it will lead to other even more pernicious causal factors, like the influence of corporations on international relations and all the workings of the US State Department, as well.]

If ever there were an early more indicative political pulse-taking on the underlying groundwork and struggle for Bernie's getting the nomination, this might be one of the best indicators of what is to come.

BREAKING NEWS from The Nation Magazine

The Democratic Party Attacks on Ilhan Omar Are a Travesty I'm Jewish and have worked against anti-Semitism for decades. I was sitting a few feet from Omar at Busboys & Poets and I heard nothing-nothing-that smacked of anti-Semitism, overt or coded or otherwise. By Phyllis Bennis

>>>>>>>

House Democrats were forced to postpone their vote rebuking Omar amid pressure from large numbers of the public and Trump's comment that this was a "dark day for Israel" popped up all over the relevant media venues. And for what?

Questioning how much of US Foreign Policy results from long standing support for Israel and manipulation by pro-Israel Congress members, who have never in decades had their support challenged or even questioned? I applaud Omar for challenging the history of 1981 El Salvador massacres and assassinations by Trump's point man for Venezuela, Elliott Abrams, and no one else did that: that speaks volumes to what she is really all about.

Other Democrats, most notably Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and others within and outside of the House Democratic Caucus, and many progressive groups, like Democracy for America, declared their support for Omar; the Congressional Black Caucus and Congressional Progressive Caucus, have requested more time to review the issues.

Pelosi and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) said on Tuesday that the vote could perhaps occur tomorrow (Thursday) and said that a draft resolution would be updated to include additional language rejecting anti-Muslim bias, while some Democrats maintain that a new would be created.

Associated Press weighed in on this developing story at length:

Omar became the flash point after she suggested last week that Israel's supporters are pushing U.S. lawmakers to take a pledge of "allegiance to a foreign country." It's at least the third time she has forced older, pro-Israel Democrats who run the House into awkward territory over U.S.-Israeli policy. Republicans have been happy to stoke the furor, with President Donald Trump calling Omar's remarks "a dark day for Israel" and posting a photo of himself in Jerusalem. Inside the Democratic family, meanwhile, leaders are in a bind, torn between a need to admonish Omar for her comments and their desire to defend one of the first Muslim women elected to Congress.

This time Omar is not apologizing. And this time pro-Israel Democrats led by Speaker Nancy Pelosi are not just warning her about the dangers of Jewish tropes. They're expected to offer a resolution condemning anti-Semitism on the House floor.

"Accusations of dual loyalty generally have an insidious, bigoted history," an early draft of the resolution reads in part. "The House of Representatives acknowledges the dangerous consequences of perpetuating anti-Semitic stereotypes and rejects anti-Semitism as hateful expressions of intolerance that are contradictory to the values that define the people of the United States."

Pelosi and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer announced in a meeting of leading Democrats late Tuesday that the text will be updated to include anti-Muslim bias, according to a senior Democratic aide who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the private meeting. Other Democrats said an outpouring of support for Omar prompted leaders to consider broadening the measure to avoid dissension. Omar did not speak to reporters outside her office on Tuesday evening.

Today's Washington Post: Pelosi Left with No Good Options on How to Address Rep. Ilhan Omar's Controversial Israel Comments

article: click here

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Early in the 2016 Primary campaign, I started a Facebook group: Bernie Sanders: Advice and Strategies to Help Him Win! As the primary season advanced, we shifted the focus to advancing Bernie's legislation in the Senate, particularly the (more...)
 

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