Pelosi: I Don't Think Ilhan Omar's Anti-Semitic, 'I Think She Has a Different Experience...

[DonViejo]

Source: Mediaite



by Josh Feldman | Mar 8th, 2019, 3:22 pm

Pelosi: I Don’t Think Ilhan Omar’s Anti-Semitic, ‘I Think She Has a Different Experience in the Use of Words’

-snip-

Pelosi spoke a day after the House overwhelmingly passed an anti-hate resolution. David Rubenstein noted the criticism that it was watered-down from its original purpose of condemning anti-Semitism following Omar’s recent remarks.

“I don’t think it watered down the anti-Semitic language at all, I think it strengthened it,” Pelosi responded. “It isn’t about anybody who hates anybody, it’s about people who act upon their hatred, and that is what we have no place for against anyone in our country.”

In talking specifically about Omar, Pelosi said this:

“I don’t think our colleague is anti-Semitic, I think she has a different experience in the use of words, doesn’t understand that some of them are fraught with meaning that she didn’t realize.”

She defended the resolution again and insisted it had no intention of “reducing the fight against anti-Semitism.”

###



Read more: https://www.mediaite.com/tv/pelosi-i-dont-think-ilhan-omars-anti-semitic-i-think-she-has-a-different-experience-in-the-use-of-words/

[BeyondGeography]

1. Lol

My first reaction: Pelosi is way underpaid.

[theaocp]

2. This just in: Pelosi supports Democrats.

Perhaps some here on DU could take notes.

[geardaddy]

3. +1

[marble falls]

4. I think she's new in Congress, and truly represents their constients, something more ...

Congressional Reps would do well in emulating. She'll learn how to more accurately frame her points.

[LuvNewcastle]

5. I think Nancy Pelosi worded her answer well.

At first, I was on Omar's side. I think the government of Israel has done some reprehensible things, and I think the American government shouldn't give them a free pass just because we're close allies.

But then I heard Ms. Omar's speech on NPR, and I was not very happy with her position. She mentioned big lobbies that Democrats should protect the country from and one of those lobbies was AIPAC. It sounded to me like she was saying that we have to be on guard against Big Oil, Big Tobacco, and Big Jew. I don't know if that's the way she intended to come across, but it was how I interpreted it.

So I can see both sides of this issue. Some people think that any criticism of Israel is anti-semitic, and that is wrong. Others think that comparisons between polluting industries and PACs that encourage a good relationship between America and Israel are apt, and that is wrong. I hope that Ms. Omar can see where she erred in some of her comments and learn a lesson about how to express her thoughts without causing anger and hurt feelings from our allies.