by Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-OH) has an idea why House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and his caucus want her removed from the House Foreign Affairs Committee: appealing to Islamophobic and racist members of Congress.
The Democratic congressman appeared along with Delegates Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Eric Swalwell (D-CA) on Sunday State of the Union, where anchor Dana Bash pressed them about the Republicans’ reasoning about their committee placements. On Tuesday, McCarthy used special house rules to deny Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries’ request to renominate Schiff and Swalwell to the House Intelligence Committee.
He has since pushed for a whole House vote to remove Omar from the Foreign Affairs Committee — necessary under House rules — though three Republicans have since said they would vote against her impeachment. The moves come after Republicans vowed to retaliate after Democrats removed Representatives Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) and Paul Gosar (R-AZ) over racist remarks and dangerous conspiracy theories the two had made.
Bash questioned Omar about the bipartisan condemnation of her previous comments about Israel, which were labeled anti-Semitic by both Democrats and Republicans. Bash expressed specific concerns about Omar’s suggestion that Israel had “hypnotized” the world that politicians who supported Israel were doing so for financial reasons—statements for which Omar had apologized.
Omar echoed those excuses, suggesting, as in the case of Schiff and Swalwell, that McCarthy’s quest to oust her was rooted in political vengeance.
“It’s politically motivated,” Omar said. In some cases, it’s motivated by the fact that many of these members don’t believe a Muslim, a refugee, or an African should even be in Congress, let alone be given a chance to sit in the Congress. Committee on Foreign Affairs.”
“It sounds like you’re accusing Kevin McCarthy of racism,” Bash said.
“I am not making any accusations. I’m just stating the facts,’ Omar said. She continued reference comments Donald Trump made about her election; Greene’s repeated Islamophobic statements about Omar; and Rep. Lauren Boebert’s comments to a crowd about how she was glad Omar didn’t have a “backpack” when they boarded a Capitol elevator together.
“What did McCarthy do? He said, she apologized, and we don’t have to worry about her Islamophobia,” Omar said. “And so these people are okay with Islamophobia. They are fine with trading anti-Semitism in their own way. They don’t like a Muslim having a vote on that committee.”
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