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This seems like a willful misreading of the actual critique.
What is being said is that the GOP has spent decades strategically courting racism, 10 years actively stoking the fire of white supremacy, are led by a Nazi-defending white supremacist, and, as such, any controversy over racism that is led by the GOP is likely in bad faith.
That the target is a black woman who happens to be an immigrant and a Muslim seems relevant, in these lights.
That the GOP seems obsessed with destroying a trio of young women of color just arrived to Congress has not escaped attention.
That the GOP seems obsessed with destroying a trio of young women of color just arrived to Congress has not escaped attention.
That the original accuser, Kevin McCarthy, GOP House Leader, tweeted in November that "Soros is buying the election" seems like it should be added to the record.
That he didn't face a weeks-long media frenzy, or apologize (as @IlhanMN did), seems relevant.
That he didn't face a weeks-long media frenzy, or apologize (as @IlhanMN did), seems relevant.
@IlhanMN That just last week the GOP displayed a poster linking Omar directly to 9-11, and that she faces assassination threats, seems relevant.
Let's see. Domestic white supremacist terror is on the rise. The GOP refuses to act to counter it.
But now they're concerned about bigotry
OK
Let's see. Domestic white supremacist terror is on the rise. The GOP refuses to act to counter it.
But now they're concerned about bigotry
OK
@IlhanMN We can point out that the party driving this present controversy is an active participant in white supremacy, and active in energizing an increasingly dangerous white supremacist base.
And their target is a black Muslim woman they already planned to attack.
And their target is a black Muslim woman they already planned to attack.
I think it wise to be very very skeptical about Republican motives on any matter, including bigotry—especially that.
They’ve earned that skepticism many times over.
Noting that fact doesn’t lower the observer’s standards.
They’ve earned that skepticism many times over.
Noting that fact doesn’t lower the observer’s standards.
A Republican outraged over anti-semitism already supports a leader who is a self-described nationalist, who has railed against “globalism,” who repeats and broadcasts white supremacist and neo Nazi memes, who has the enduring support of those groups.
That’s for starters.
That’s for starters.
Now, set aside the bottomless bad faith of the GOP for one second, to address this point, and what @IlhanMN actually said.
@IlhanMN I’m not Jewish. I’m not directly threatened by antisemitic language, and so, as with all other such cases (misogyny, homophobia, transphobia, etc.) I do what I think is wise.
That is to listen to those who are directly threatened by such language.
That is to listen to those who are directly threatened by such language.
@IlhanMN Some Jewish people find what Omar said to be obviously antisemitic. I think that matters. I’m listening to them.
Other Jewish people find what Omar said to be just as obviously not antisemitic. I think that matters, too. I’m listening to them, too.
And to those in-between.
Other Jewish people find what Omar said to be just as obviously not antisemitic. I think that matters, too. I’m listening to them, too.
And to those in-between.
@IlhanMN Some of her language struck me as problematic. Omar seemed to think so, too; she apologized. She said she's still learning. It seemed sincere to me. It seemed like the right thing.
She didn’t apologize to ME, though. I’m not Jewish.
So, I merely note the fact of the apology.
She didn’t apologize to ME, though. I’m not Jewish.
So, I merely note the fact of the apology.
@IlhanMN I think what Omar said, and how she handled it, and what people of good faith say about it, is a valid and useful topic of conversation, from which I hope to learn.
Good faith is key.
I don’t care what Republicans think.
I know what their standards are.
Good faith is key.
I don’t care what Republicans think.
I know what their standards are.
@IlhanMN I *also* think that one aspect of this valid and useful conversation is to consider the source of the controversy, and what those people's motives likely are, and how and why they chose their target, and what outcome they hope to achieve.
And I think those things matter, too.
And I think those things matter, too.
@IlhanMN For the GOP to target a female black Muslim immigrant in the age of the Muslim travel ban, of "shithole countries" and child separation, of Kavanaugh and "grab em by the pussy," at at time when the response to racist police brutality is "BLUE lives matter," is not a neutral act.
@IlhanMN We need to listen to what Jewish people have to say about this matter.
We also need to listen to people of color, and Muslims, and immigrants, and women.
Contemplate their perspective.
They're directly threatened today, too.
And I'm listening.
We also need to listen to people of color, and Muslims, and immigrants, and women.
Contemplate their perspective.
They're directly threatened today, too.
And I'm listening.
