Sydney Monduy 
Recently elected Representative Ilhan Omar is facing backlash for promoting an anti-Semitic message and criticizing lawmakers for supporting Israel.
Omar has spoken out in the past about her concerns with the nation of Israel, but after House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy said he would consider discipline if Omar continued, she suggested that it was because he was being paid to do so.
It's all about the Benjamins baby 🎶 https://t.co/KatcXJnZLV
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) February 10, 2019
AIPAC! https://t.co/UdzaFUEfrh
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) February 11, 2019
However, the lawmaker quickly received harsh backlash from both sides for her comments:
Democratic Representative Max Rose, who is Jewish, slammed her comments as divisive and unnecessary.
“When someone uses hateful and offensive tropes and words against people of any faith, I will not be silent,” said Rose. “Congresswoman Omar’s statements are deeply hurtful to Jews, including myself.”
Congresswoman Omar’s statements are deeply hurtful to Jews, including myself. pic.twitter.com/u3f2JHESFA
— Max Rose (@MaxRose4NY) February 11, 2019
Nikki Haley also responded to the issue, saying that this should not be an issue in American politics.
“In a time of increased anti semitism, we all must be held to account,” said Haley. “No excuses.”
To see this at the UN was a fight every day. This CANNOT be tolerated in our own Congress by anyone of either party. In a time of increased anti semitism, we all must be held to account. No excuses. ❤️🇺🇸 #NoSpaceForHate#NoToleranceForAntiSemitism #WhatIsHappeningWithPeople https://t.co/zUaNjp3hHo
— Nikki Haley (@NikkiHaley) February 11, 2019
McCarthy and Representative Lee Zeldin also reacted to Omar’s criticisms.
Anti-Semitic tropes have no place in the halls of Congress. It is dangerous for Democrat leadership to stay silent on this reckless language.
— Kevin McCarthy (@GOPLeader) February 11, 2019
So sick & twisted. This continued anti-Semitic trope from Omar is grossly wrong. There should be NO home in US politics, college campuses, or halls of Congress for ANY of this garbage. Now she tweets that if Members of Congress support Israel then they were bought off by Jews.👎 https://t.co/jJMplUNCqd
— Lee Zeldin (@RepLeeZeldin) February 11, 2019
Dan Shapiro, former President Barack Obama’s Israeli ambassador, also claimed that anti-Semitism needed to be condemned.
1. @IlhanMN's outrageous comments equating politicians' support for Israel with being bought off by American Jewish money are a vile anti-Semitic trope. They need to be condemned by all in our party.
— Dan Shapiro (@DanielBShapiro) February 11, 2019
Even Chelsea Clinton went after Omar but agreed to meet with her to begin a discussion on why her opinion may be wrong.
Co-signed as an American. We should expect all elected officials, regardless of party, and all public figures to not traffic in anti-Semitism.
— Chelsea Clinton (@ChelseaClinton) February 11, 2019
Hello Congresswoman! Completely agree. I will reach out to your office tomorrow. Looking forward to connecting about this thread and more, Chelsea
— Chelsea Clinton (@ChelseaClinton) February 11, 2019
Although Omar is meeting with Clinton, she has not directly apologized for her comments.
Of all foreign countries or nationals donating to American politicians, Israel earns its place in opensecrets by being the ONLY country that has its own donor category. Not any of our neighbors, not Russia, only Israel. AIPAC is a major part of that corruption & influence.
2/3 of those donations go to Democrat politicians, so that is why Democrats are speaking out about her negatively.
This is just another example of how corrupt US elections & politics are. Get money out of politics!
She’s obviously anti-Semitic. If she offers an apology, it will be insincere.
She is not anti-Semitic. She is anti-corruption. There is a difference.
You clearly need to learn more about the situation. AIPAC spent about $3.5M affecting our last election, with 2/3 going to Democrat politicians, 1/3 going to Republican politicians. That is a foreign lobby meddling in our election. Are you cool with that?
Well, apparently, someone IS cool with foreigners meddling in our elections. Imagine that.
Mary, isn’t it interesting how someone tries to defend Omar’s anti-Semitism by doubling-down in her attacks on Israel and accusing it of corruption? It makes one wonder if he himself is an anti-Semite or just addled. Maybe both.
I wonder how he feels about lobbying by CAIR or Amazon (which has facilitated donations to Islamic extremist groups like MRDF)?
I agree that money is a corrupting influence in politics, but this is NOT the original argument about anti-semitism.
“Maybe both.” Screwtape
Or maybe neither.