The Rush to Judge Ilhan Omar

[Anonymous]

Bernie Sanders nails it. We have to stop conflating legitimate criticism of Israel's policies with anti-semitism.

And that's exactly the point.

And before you leap to your keyboards in a froth, stop and remember, Bernie's a Jew. Gonna call him antisemitic too now?

https://www.businessinsider.com/bernie-sanders-ilhan-omar-anti-semitism-israel-criticism-2019-3

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:an interesting article (dated Feb.) addressing pro-Israel lobbying
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/feb/15/pro-israel-donors-spent-over-22m-on-lobbying-and-contributions-in-2018
Pro-Israel donors spent over $22m on lobbying and contributions in 2018

don't know if someone cited this article earlier . . . some interesting number crunching . . .

Omar incorrectly suggested Aipac makes campaign contributions to candidates. However, records show it did spend about $3.5m lobbying during the 2018 election cycle. In total, pro-Israel lobbying groups spent about $5m in 2018, the highest tally since tracking began in 1998.

Aipac spent the most of the lobbying groups, and is known for funding junket trips to Israel for freshman lawmakers and senators, as well as state legislators. Aipac also lobbied against the Iran nuclear deal in 2015 and supported the Trump administration’s withdrawal from the agreement.

. . .

Democratic leaders who criticized Omar and demanded an apology also receive a high level of contributions from the pro-Israel lobby. Eliot Engel, chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee on which Omar sits, received $1.07m from the pro-Israel lobby during his career, more than he’s received from any other industry. In a Tuesday statement, he said “… it’s shocking to hear a Member of Congress invoke the anti-Semitic trope of ‘Jewish money.’”

Meanwhile, the pro-Israel lobby has contributed $514,000 to Pelosi throughout her career and it’s given $1.02m to Hoyer.

Interests are interests, right?

Yes, AIPAC pumps millions into both sides of the aisle. And that's why we treat Israel like as if it were practically the 51st state. Probably treated even better than places that are actually the US.

Could test that - Last year Israel was given $3.7 billion in US dollars
Compare that to what, say Puerto Rico gets - Puerto Rico gets $13.5 billion in federal dollars for medicaid, social security, pell grants, veterans benefits et cetera. BUT it pays in to the federal government to the tune of $58 billion in the form of $22.6 billion in registered imports, $34 billion in capital gains from manufacturing and other industries in PR, and $1.5 billion in Cabotage law, to the tune of a net loss of $44 billion for PR. So in fact Israel gets more federal dollars than US territories do. That AIPAC lobbying is working pretty damn well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bernie Sanders nails it. We have to stop conflating legitimate criticism of Israel's policies with anti-semitism.

And that's exactly the point.

And before you leap to your keyboards in a froth, stop and remember, Bernie's a Jew. Gonna call him antisemitic too now?

https://www.businessinsider.com/bernie-sanders-ilhan-omar-anti-semitism-israel-criticism-2019-3

Jews can be antisemites too, angry poster.

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And I consider the type of statements Omar (and you, frankly) make, anti-Semitic.

You realize that Ilhan Omar is being accused of saying that Jews have dual loyalty, something she didn't actually say. But here you are calling me an anti-Semite because I am saying that Jews don't have dual loyalty because Jews and Israel are separate. So, according to you, Omar is an anti-Semite for saying that Jews have dual loyalty yand I am an anti-Semite because I don't think Jews have dual loyalty. On top of that, according to you, leftist Jews are self-haters. I think you have issues.

You are focusing on one statement that Omar made. I'm focusing on the whole of Omar. Don't worry; she's been emboldened and will eventually state something that even you can't defend.

Personally, I think your defense of all things Islam is disturbing to me as a Jew, who has seen Muslims physically recoil from me when they find out I'm Jewish.

Zeldin spoke well.

Cool. It's interesting that you frequent a business owned by someone you consider an anti-Semite. I'm not surprised that you once against demonstrated your bigotry towards Muslims. How would you react to someone saying that defense of Jews was disturbing because a few Jews have been rude to them? Considering all of a group to be bad because of a few individuals is pretty straightforward bigotry. You demonstrate it almost daily. Just go away and we will both be happier.

A business? I have no idea what you are talking about. It is a neighbor at a homeowner's association meeting who's 14 year old son was there (because she could not come alone). He refused to talk to any of the women and sneered at us when we offered him food and drink. It was quite telling.

Omar asked for leniency for a man who tried to join ISIS. That's disturbing even without a Jewish component.

If you want to judge me, go ahead. Don't care.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bernie Sanders nails it. We have to stop conflating legitimate criticism of Israel's policies with anti-semitism.

And that's exactly the point.

And before you leap to your keyboards in a froth, stop and remember, Bernie's a Jew. Gonna call him antisemitic too now?

https://www.businessinsider.com/bernie-sanders-ilhan-omar-anti-semitism-israel-criticism-2019-3

Jews can be antisemites too, angry poster.

LOL, yeah, Bernie really hates himself. That's funny.

Angry? I'm not the one lobbing anger. That'd be you Ilhan Omar haters.

[Anonymous]

There’s lots of gaslighting going on. Will she serve up another trope in a couple weeks? You betcha!

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And I consider the type of statements Omar (and you, frankly) make, anti-Semitic.

You realize that Ilhan Omar is being accused of saying that Jews have dual loyalty, something she didn't actually say. But here you are calling me an anti-Semite because I am saying that Jews don't have dual loyalty because Jews and Israel are separate. So, according to you, Omar is an anti-Semite for saying that Jews have dual loyalty yand I am an anti-Semite because I don't think Jews have dual loyalty. On top of that, according to you, leftist Jews are self-haters. I think you have issues.

You are focusing on one statement that Omar made. I'm focusing on the whole of Omar. Don't worry; she's been emboldened and will eventually state something that even you can't defend.

Personally, I think your defense of all things Islam is disturbing to me as a Jew, who has seen Muslims physically recoil from me when they find out I'm Jewish.

Zeldin spoke well.

Cool. It's interesting that you frequent a business owned by someone you consider an anti-Semite. I'm not surprised that you once against demonstrated your bigotry towards Muslims. How would you react to someone saying that defense of Jews was disturbing because a few Jews have been rude to them? Considering all of a group to be bad because of a few individuals is pretty straightforward bigotry. You demonstrate it almost daily. Just go away and we will both be happier.

Ah, you are referring to yourself! Unlike you, I allow you to have your opinion and don't do the 'boycott' thing. You can feel as you wish, I can feel as I wish.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bernie Sanders nails it. We have to stop conflating legitimate criticism of Israel's policies with anti-semitism.

And that's exactly the point.

And before you leap to your keyboards in a froth, stop and remember, Bernie's a Jew. Gonna call him antisemitic too now?

https://www.businessinsider.com/bernie-sanders-ilhan-omar-anti-semitism-israel-criticism-2019-3

Jews can be antisemites too, angry poster.

LOL, yeah, Bernie really hates himself. That's funny.


Didn’t say Bernie, angry man.
Angry? I'm not the one lobbing anger. That'd be you Ilhan Omar haters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Engel's statement was full of pain.
It's worth watching.

ugh - i worked for him. no matter what the issues of the day were, it's always a focus on israel this, israel that.

I've always found it interesting that Bernie has a direct connection to a lot of pain and tragedy in his jewish family but he NEVER brings it up.

Don’t judge other peoole’s experiences.

[Anonymous]

Also, what up with the "dual loyalty is a myth and it's a hateful attack to suggest it exists..."

How about y'all get back to me in a couple days when everyone is wearing green and professing their loyalty and love of Ireland and all things Irish.

Meanwhile do you know how many American Jews I know who have spent time in Israel, on kibbutz, et cetera? How many know their right of return and of guaranteed Israeli citizenship? A lot. "Myth" indeed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Engel's statement was full of pain.
It's worth watching.

He’s going to lose in the next primary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There’s lots of gaslighting going on. Will she serve up another trope in a couple weeks? You betcha!

I don't think "gaslighting" means what you think it means. Gaslighting means people trying to make you believe something that is false. Ilhan Omar isn't promoting anything that is false.

By "trope" you mean factual and accurate statement about Netanyahu's policies? Or another factual and accurate about the political influence of AIPAC?

Look, just because you don't like acknowledging something doesn't make it wrong, and for sure doesn't make it "gaslighting"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Engel's statement was full of pain.
It's worth watching.

He’s going to lose in the next primary.

DP. He seems like a real d!ck, trolling Omar on Twitter with Islamaphobic tweets. No wonder that bigoted PP likes him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There’s lots of gaslighting going on. Will she serve up another trope in a couple weeks? You betcha!

I don't think "gaslighting" means what you think it means. Gaslighting means people trying to make you believe something that is false. Ilhan Omar isn't promoting anything that is false.

By "trope" you mean factual and accurate statement about Netanyahu's policies? Or another factual and accurate about the political influence of AIPAC?

Look, just because you don't like acknowledging something doesn't make it wrong, and for sure doesn't make it "gaslighting"

Some argue, it seems, that there is othing that could be interpreted in her comments as hinting toward antisemitism when viewed from the perspective of a reasonable listener. If some Jews think there is a suggestion of antisemitism there, then that ends the debate for me. But that’s just me. To be fair, I think the Democrats made an unforced error. Omar is, I think, much more in step with today’s Democratic Party on this issue then the party’s ancient leaders are. Hoyer? Give me a break. Is he woke? So I just don’t get the rush to implicitly ondemn her through some really weird resolution.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also, what up with the "dual loyalty is a myth and it's a hateful attack to suggest it exists..."

How about y'all get back to me in a couple days when everyone is wearing green and professing their loyalty and love of Ireland and all things Irish.

Meanwhile do you know how many American Jews I know who have spent time in Israel, on kibbutz, et cetera? How many know their right of return and of guaranteed Israeli citizenship? A lot. "Myth" indeed.

You sound jealous of people who believe in something.