By Larry Gordon

There are 25 Jewish Democrats in the House of Representatives. We are only aware of that at present because half of them joined together to sort of—though not exactly—condemn statements by Representative Ilhan Omar equating the terror groups Hamas and the Taliban with actions by the U.S. and Israel.

One question is why the reaction to such a statement is only headline news when Jewish Democrats step forward. I would have thought a more appropriate headline may have been “12 Non-Jewish Democrats” speak out on Rep. Omar’s usual anti-Israel, antagonistic pronouncements. Another mystery surrounding this otherwise innocuous event is why 12 twelve Jewish Democrats issued that statement critical of Ms. Omar. What about the other half?

The big piece of news here is the highly unusual matter that Democrats had to be so offended and incensed to display the gumption to criticize one of their own.

For most of the last four-plus years, Democrats in Congress had just one agenda item and that was to be rid of Donald Trump. Now that they succeeded in accomplishing that desperate act, there is really no substantive agenda or policy that they represent. Today, even though the Democrats control all of Congress as well as the White House, they seem as lost and aimless as ever.

On the matter of Omar’s comments including the U.S. and Israel with Hamas and the Taliban, she is really no different than a teenager spray-painting a swastika on the sidewalk in front of a shul just because he or she knows that it infuriates and offends Jews.

Omar and her friends in the Squad know essentially one thing—that they have to do whatever they can, during what will likely be a brief tenure in office, to damage the Israel brand. The news provoked a comment from the Gaza terror group Hamas; they said they were offended that were being compared to terror organizations like Israel and the U.S. As a result of that absurd move, some Republicans have now dubbed the congressional squad as the “Hamas Caucus.”

There are several issues to analyze on the matter of why only half the Jews in Congress were critical of Omar’s remarks last week. I would like to think that half the Democrats did not sign onto the statement because it really was not at all critical of the Minnesota congresswoman’s wildly irresponsible and foolish comments.

The Democrats include some fairly well-known figures like Debbie Wasserman-Schultz of Florida, Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey, and our own Jerry Nadler in New York. The problem with the letter they issued, and the possible reason why other prominent Jewish Democrats didn’t join, was that it was not really a criticism or condemnation of the remarks that should have been criticized and condemned by all members of Congress.

Instead, Nadler and Wasserman-Schultz and company asked that Ms. Omar “clarify her remarks.” She did clarify them a day later by changing what she apparently really meant. She clearly said that she considers the United States and Israel to be terrorist groups just like Hamas and the Taliban. She tried to dance around what she said but her assertion stands as is.

Aside from the fact that the 12 Democrats really cowered more than anything else, I hope that the others feel that her comments should be allowed to evaporate into the air without an issue being made about whatever she or her colleagues have to say about anything. If we are able to ignore her and not comment on whatever she says, she would be discouraged and go away quicker. But how can you fault her when she has perfected the art of attracting all this national media attention?

Here’s another question to ponder about all this. Why did only Jewish members of Congress speak out? Omar said that the U.S. is just like Hamas and the Taliban. Were only Jews offended by that? If a member of Congress, albeit one filled with a consistent anti-Semitic thought process, speaks in a derogatory tone about Israel, is that matter to be taken up and objected to by only Jewish members of the House?

Is that approach supposed to illustrate how important it is primarily to Jewish members of Congress? Or does the fact that the objection was articulated by only Jewish congress members show that it is only a matter of interest to elected officials who are Jewish?

Apart from the confusing nature of the letter from the 12 Jewish Democrats, the question is why whatever any of the so-called Squad members say is given so much attention. Their positions are shared by very few in Congress and, aside from their sensational value, their pronouncements have almost zero impact on any policy of substance.

Frankly, it is difficult to see news broadcast anywhere that does not feature comments by either Alexandra Ocasio Cortez or Ms. Omar. They are supposed to be socialists calling for fundamental change, not only in government in this country but in the way the country is taxed and the fashion in which they believe money should be distributed.

Of course, they maintain these positions on fundamental change for you, but not for themselves in any way. Both members of the House are being investigated for campaign finance violations and both have amassed millions of dollars raised through supporters and used at their discretion. They want to legislate and enact strict laws on how you make and spend money, but just don’t ask them about how they generate or spend their money. If you do that, they will accuse you of being either racist or sexist or both.

As to why only half the Jewish members of the House joined in singling out the anti-U.S. and anti-Israel comments by Omar, let’s hope that the other half did not want to give her or the other squad members any recognition, regardless of what they say or think. The little group of four, or perhaps today it is up to six, has this uncanny ability to dominate the conversation on congressional matters, but, oddly enough, that is only when their ideas are criticized or rejected.

Closer to home, one of the most fair-minded congressmen and an ardent supporter of Israel, Tom Suozzi, representing parts of Long Island, also called out Representative Omar’s anti-Israel and anti-American remarks. He wrote in a tweet: “She is wrong and must be called out. This is the latest in a series of wrongheaded and inflammatory statements she has made against Israel and Jewish people which I strongly disagree with. She does not represent my values.”

Mr. Suozzi is one of the congressmen meeting with members of the New York Jewish community through a program initiated by the Orthodox Union and operating under the name Orthodox Union Advocacy (OUA). It’s about interfacing and, so far, participating in Zoom conferences with elected officials and discussing with them the importance of their support of Israel as well as issues and legislation before Congress that is of particular interest to American Jews.

Cal Nathan of Woodmere, a member of the OU Board, led a group last week that met with Congresswoman Kathleen Rice. Ms. Rice, who is an ardent supporter of Israel, was indeed pleased to hear from her constituents on that matter in addition to other matters on the agenda, like increased security funding for our schools and shuls.

Back to the criticism of Rep. Omar. This is an important point because there is a sense out there that this incendiary rhetoric by the Squad represents new thinking in the reconstituted Democratic Party. It’s true that more Democrats than ever before may be drawn to think in that direction, but they know that it’s not a good place to be if they want to win reelection next year.

On that count, we are headed in a good and positive direction, as the sense is developing rapidly that Democratic leadership is leading the country over a cliff and down an abyss that will be very difficult to climb out of.

Cortez and Omar believe that America needs a makeover. Fortunately, most Americans do not feel that way, and we have the opportunity to demonstrate that at the polls next year.

The problem with the 12 Jewish Democrats’ letter was that they did not effectively condemn Rep. Omar but rather joined together to ask her to clarify her remarks. So here is clearer elucidation on the matter. Ilhan Omar is an anti-Semite. She’s only dangerous when she attracts so much attention. The country would be better off if we all ignored whatever she says. Granted, that it is difficult to do, especially for the news media, but that is the only way she will get the message, become unimportant, and most likely go away.

Read more of Larry Gordon’s articles at 5TJT.com. Follow 5 Towns Jewish Times on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for updates and live videos. Comments, questions, and suggestions are welcome at 5TJT.com and on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

1 COMMENT

  1. B”H It doesn’t take a savant to detect that even in the rare occasion that Larry Gordon is correct in anything, his hypocrisy continues to ooze poison, enough to make him irrelevant.is wasn’t Democrats, for example, who labored to rid Trump as a lone “desperate act;” it was the devout fulfillment of democracy’s defenders —- this moderate-progressive-liberal Republican included —- who formed a grand coalition to take America back from the cliff it was headed by the unfit-corrupt-racist-xenophobic-Islamophobic-homophobic, and not only malignants! Of course the misbegotten quartet must be denounced for their blatant lies, and anti-Semitism; and the House leadership has admonished the two more more prominent miscreants —- Cortez and Omar. As to the Orthodox Union Advocacy (OUA), it would behoove its members, and the morally-blind Larry to direct their attention to making our Jewish community more cohesive, united, by embracing all in our glorious, diverse traditional Judaism! America’s motto, E Pluribus Unum, holds for Jews, too —- indeed, as always, they were the Biblical paradigm —- from the many one People! How about it, Larry? With fraternal affection, Asher🙏😀🔯🇺🇸🇮🇱🍎

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