Democrats just keep stepping into it where it concerns the anti-Semitism of freshman Congresswoman Ilhan Omar.
Today, it was House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn's turn in an interview with The Hill. Clyburn excused her anti-Semitism on account of her experiences as a Somali refugee:
Her experience, Clyburn argued, is much more empirical — and powerful — than that of people who are generations removed from the Holocaust, Japanese internment camps during World War II and the other violent episodes that have marked history.
“I’m serious about that. There are people who tell me, ‘Well, my parents are Holocaust survivors.’ ‘My parents did this.’ It’s more personal with her,” Clyburn said. “I’ve talked to her, and I can tell you she is living through a lot of pain.”
Where to begin?
Could Clyburn please explain what do Jews have to do with Omar's pain? What do Jews have to do with the civil war in Somalia during the 1990's? How do Jews figure in her "empirical" experience?
If Omar is living through a lot of pain then perhaps she shouldn't be seeking elected office and determining public policy by singling out a group of people who had nothing to do with her troubles.
As for saying Jews are far removed from the experience of the Holocaust, I would remind him there are still living Holocaust survivors among us. It is very personal with them and their descendants. It is very personal for Jews not directly affected by it because it serves as a reminder that we are the world's eternal scapegoats. It doesn't take much for anti-Semitism to bubble to the surface. Today's refusal to condemn anti-Semitism is tomorrow's synagogue massacre and next year's concentration camp.
Somehow I cannot imagine Clyburn, who is African-American, saying the black community is far removed from slavery even those who were directly affected by it have been dead for centuries. Indeed, Democratic presidential hopefuls Kamala Harris and Elizabeth Warren are both discussing reparations. While, to be fair, Clyburn opposes reparations I don't think he would trivialize its legacy in the African-American community.
It is also worth noting that there are also still living survivors of Japanese internment camps such as Star Trek alum George Takei. I am curious what he thinks of Clyburn's remarks.
Democrats could have done the right thing and condemned Omar's anti-Semitism. Instead, they are excused and rationalized Omar's behavior and now the House Whip has seen fit to trivialize The Holocaust as a thing of the past.
Clyburn ought to step down. But I doubt he will resign any more than Omar will be condemned for her anti-Semitism.
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