Sanders seizes pro-Omar lane in 2020
No other presidential candidate came out as quickly — or as forcefully — on the Rep. Ilhan Omar controversy as the Vermont senator.
By MARC CAPUTO and HOLLY OTTERBEIN
03/07/2019 08:09 PM EST
When the latest controversy erupted over Rep. Ilhan Omar’s comments about Israel, only one 2020 presidential candidate rushed to her defense: Bernie Sanders.
The Vermont senator, the only Jewish candidate in the Democratic primary, embraced the African-American, Muslim congresswoman and called out House Democrats for “stifling” debate about Israel while also warning against equating “anti-Semitism with legitimate criticism of the right-wing, Netanyahu government in Israel.”
Sanders’ rivals, however, sized up the potential political risk and shied away from taking such a left-wing position. Their responses reflected their belief Omar’s remarks stand to create a wedge between two demographic groups crucial to the party base, Jewish and African-American voters, and open a divide along racial and religious lines amid a sensitive debate over anti-Semitism, anti-black prejudice and Islamophobia.
A House resolution that was initially proposed to denounce Omar by name was changed to condemn anti-Semitism, bigotry against Muslims and racism against minorities, and passed overwhelmingly Thursday. Omar’s name was not mentioned in the final resolution.
The presidential candidates vying for the progressive vote — California’s Kamala Harris and Massachusetts’s Elizabeth Warren — followed Sanders’ lead Wednesday and expressed solidarity with Omar. More moderate senators with unquestioned pro-Israel bonafides held their tongues until Thursday before issuing statements that made sure to fault Omar as well as her critics.
“Those with critical views of Israel, such as Congresswoman Omar, should be able to express their views without employing anti-Semitic tropes about money or influence,” said New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, “just as those critical of Congresswoman Omar should not be using Islamophobic language and imagery that incites violence, such as what we saw in West Virginia.”
Gillibrand, like most other Democrats, faulted Republicans in Congress for waiting decades to denounce Iowa Rep. Steve King for his racist remarks, for President Trump’s numerous inflammatory comments about immigrants and his failure to denounce white nationalists after the 2017 Charlottesville riots.
New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker, who avoided news media questions until a CNN reporter caught him in the halls of Congress, cautioned that “we can’t be selective” in denouncing bigotry.
“I found what she said was disturbing, and I stand against anti-Semitism and racism and bigotry,” he said. “You also see bigotry and anti-Islamic sentiment being wrapped around her criticism.”
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