Ilhan Omar, Who Has Questioned The Loyalty of American Jews, Says She's "Somali First"

Minnesota Democratic Congresswoman Ilhan Omar is under fire for stating she is "Somali first". During an address to members of the Somali community in Minneapolis on January 27th, Omar said the following:

We are an organized society, brothers and sister. People of the same blood. People who know they are Somalians first, Muslims second.

Tom Emmer, a Republican from Minnesota who very nearly became House Speaker earlier this year until defeated, former President Trump put the kibosh on it, has demanded a House ethics investigation against Omar.  Florida Governor and failed GOP presidential candidate Ron DeSantis has demanded that Omar be deported. 

Barring more specific evidence that Omar has acted on behalf of the Somali government and against U.S. interests, Emmer's call for Omar to be investigated is grandstanding. So, too, is DeSantis' declaration as Omar is an American citizen even if she isn't particularly fond of being one. Both Emmer and DeSantis utterly miss the point.

What I find most revealing about this episode is that nearly five years ago Omar openly questioned the loyalty of American Jews. In reference to Israel, Omar stated at a March 2019 town hall meeting in Washington, D.C.:

I want to talk about the political influence in this country that says it is OK for people to push for allegiance to a foreign country.

This is anti-Semitism 101. Omar holds Jews and whatever affinity we might have for Israel to a different standard than she does for her own affinity towards Somalia. 

In Ilhan Omar's world, it is O.K. for her to say she is Somali first, but it is not OK for American Jews to stand in solidarity with Israel when it is attacked by Hamas.  

It is this for which Ilhan Omar ought to be taken to task.