No, Rashida Tlaib. Somebody being criticized for making idiotic statements is not violation of freedom of speech!

[Derec]

No freedom of speech for Muslim women in Congress: US Rep Tlaib

"Freedom of speech doesn't exist for Muslim women in Congress," Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib said on Twitter. Her tweet came after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other Democrats said in a joint statement that drawing any comparison between the U.S. and Israel and Hamas and the Taliban "foments prejudice and undermines progress toward a future of peace and security for all." Tlaib said the House Democratic leadership should be "ashamed of its relentless, exclusive tone policing of Congresswomen of color."

Rashida Tlaib supposedly has a law degree and thus should know that freedom of speech does not include freedom from being criticized for your speech.

And Omar made a very idiotic and anti-American statement. Neither she nor Tlaib are worthy of their office.

 

[Metaphor]

Tlaib said the House Democratic leadership should be "ashamed of its relentless, exclusive tone policing of Congresswomen of color."

It's nice that a white woman like Tlaib is looking out for women of colour.

 

[untermensche]

She is right about Israel and the US and the people that condemn her are idiots.



How dare she bring her incredible talent and clear vision to the United States!

 

[Arctish]

Is Pelosi trying to force Tlaib to remain silent on the subject of Israel?

 

[Ford]

Is Pelosi trying to force Tlaib to remain silent on the subject of Israel?

Are a few people on this forum trying to turn this sub into "oh my god did you hear the latest outrageous thing that a black person said or did?!" proposition?

 

[Toni]

Is Pelosi trying to force Tlaib to remain silent on the subject of Israel?

Are a few people on this forum trying to turn this sub into "oh my god did you hear the latest outrageous thing that a black person said or did?!" proposition?

Double points if the person is female. Triple if she's a woman of color and Muslim.

 

[KeepTalking]

Today I learned that in Conservotopia the first amendment should not be interpreted to protect the speech of citizens from government institutions, but it should be used to protect the speech of Presidents from FaceBook and Twitter.

In other news, conservatives continue to show an amazing lack of self awareness...

 

[ZiprHead]

I saw the comment that prompted this. She said both the Israeli government and Hamas should be held accountable for their war crimes.

 

[Arctish]

I saw the comment that prompted this. She said both the Israeli government and Hamas should be held accountable for their war crimes.

OMG!!!!

That's...


that's...


just, fair, and reasonable!

 

[lpetrich]

Ayanna Pressley tweeted the clip that provoked the outrage.
Ayanna Pressley on Twitter: "Stop the bad faith attempts to take @IlhanMN's words out of context. She called a simple question.

The ICC exists to investigate and exact recourse when human rights are violated.

Imagine if Congress was as outraged by what Palestinians endure daily. (link)" / Twitter

In that clip, IO mentioned the Israeli Security Forces and Hamas side by side, and also the Afghan government and the Taliban. She asked where the victims of their alleged crimes can go for justice if domestic courts will not deliver.


Omar feuds with Jewish Democrats | TheHill

“Equating the United States and Israel to Hamas and the Taliban is as offensive as it is misguided. Ignoring the differences between democracies governed by the rule of law and contemptible organizations that engage in terrorism at best discredits one’s intended argument and at worst reflects deep-seated prejudice,” the 12 Democrats, led by Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Ill.), a staunch Israel ally, said in a joint statement.

The group also called on Omar to “clarify” her comments.

“The United States and Israel are imperfect and, like all democracies, at times deserving of critique, but false equivalencies give cover to terrorist groups," the lawmakers said. “We urge Congresswoman Omar to clarify her words placing the US and Israel in the same category as Hamas and the Taliban.”

The eleven other Democrats who signed on to the Schneider statement are Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler (N.Y.), former Democratic National Committee Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz (Fla.), Problem Solvers Caucus Co-Chair Josh Gottheimer (N.J.), Ethics Committee Chair Ted Deutch (Fla.) and Reps. Jake Auchincloss (Mass.), Lois Frankel (Fla.), Elaine Luria (Va.), Kathy Manning (N.C.), Dean Phillips (Minn.), Kim Schrier (Wash.) and Brad Sherman (Calif.).

 List of Jewish members of the United States Congress
In the House, there are 27 Jews, 25 D 2 R.
In the Senate, there are 10 Jews, 9 D, 1 I
Bernie Sanders is the Independent, though a Democrat-adjacent one.

On one of the news-comment programs I like, I learned of a rumor that some House Democratic Jews had some differences with that statement.

 

[lpetrich]

Rep. Ilhan Omar on Twitter: "We must have the same level of accountability and justice for all victims of crimes against humanity.

We have seen unthinkable atrocities committed by the U.S., Hamas, Israel, Afghanistan, and the Taliban.

I asked @SecBlinken where people are supposed to go for justice. (link)" / Twitter


Rep. Brad Schneider on Twitter: "@RepAuchincloss, @RepTedDeutch, @RepLoisFrankel, @RepJoshG, @RepElaineLuria, @RepKManning, @RepJerryNadler, @RepDeanPhillips, @RepKimSchrier, @BradSherman, @RepDWStweets

We urge Rep Omar to clarify her words placing the US and Israel in the same category as Hamas and the Taliban (link)" / Twitter
linking to
Statement on Congresswoman Omar Equating the United States and Israel to Hamas and the Taliban | Congressman Brad Schneider
Their full statement:

Equating the United States and Israel to Hamas and the Taliban is as offensive as it is misguided. Ignoring the differences between democracies governed by the rule of law and contemptible organizations that engage in terrorism at best discredits one’s intended argument and at worst reflects deep-seated prejudice.

The United States and Israel are imperfect and, like all democracies, at times deserving of critique, but false equivalencies give cover to terrorist groups. We urge Congresswoman Omar to clarify her words placing the US and Israel in the same category as Hamas and the Taliban.

Ilhan Omar on Twitter: "It’s shameful for colleagues who call me when they need my support to now put out a statement asking for “clarification” and not just call.

The islamophobic tropes in this statement are offensive. The constant harassment & silencing from the signers of this letter is unbearable." / Twitter

Ilhan Omar Attacks Hamas | Congressman Brad Sherman

It’s not news that Ilhan Omar would make outrageous and clearly false statements about America and Israel. What’s newsworthy is that she admits Hamas is guilty of “unthinkable atrocities”. It’s time for all of Israel’s detractors to condemn Hamas. And it’s time for all those of good will to reject any moral equivalency between the U.S. and Israel on one hand, and Hamas and the Taliban on the other.

 

[lpetrich]

Dem leaders look to deescalate Omar drama - POLITICO

Top Democrats on Thursday attempted to quickly defuse a fraught dispute within their caucus after comments by Rep. Ilhan Omar that compared war crimes committed by the U.S. and Israel to Hamas and the Taliban incensed some Jewish Democrats.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s leadership team took the unusual step of issuing a statement that both rebuked Omar for her comments and thanked her for later clarifying her remarks — taking a more nuanced approach than the last major uproar over the Minnesota Democrat's comments on Israel that escalated into a days-long political crisis for her party.

The rare unified statement from the top six Democratic leaders came less than 24 hours after a dozen of Omar's Democratic colleagues issued a late-night statement criticizing her. While Democratic leaders did not follow House GOP counterparts in accusing Omar of antisemitism, the Pelosi-led statement warned that "drawing false equivalencies" such as Omar's "foments prejudice and undermines progress toward a future of peace and security for all.

I looked for that statement, and I was unable to find it. It's not at Speaker Nancy Pelosi | U.S. House of Representatives for instance.

After the dozen Democrats spoke out against her comments, Omar quickly denounced the "harassment & silencing" from her own colleagues.

...
Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Ill.), one of the Democrats who had reprimanded Omar in Wednesday’s statement, said Thursday he was “pleased” that Omar heard their concerns about her tweet and issued the clarification and said he hoped that “all can avoid such offhanded statements in the future.”

Pelosi signals no further action against Omar | TheHill

When a reporter asked at an event in San Francisco if she believes further steps should be taken against Omar, Pelosi replied: "No. No, I don't."

"I think that she clarified her remarks, and that was — we accepted that. And she has a point that she wanted to make and she has a right to make that point," Pelosi continued. "There was some unease about how it was interpreted. She made her clarification."

Those are awfully gracious responses from both BS and NP.

But,
House Republicans on Twitter: "If someone consistently and repeatedly makes anti-Semitic and anti-American comments.

They are anti-Semitic and anti-American. @Ilhan must be removed from the House Foreign Affairs Committee. (link)" / Twitter
noting
We don't need Ilhan Omar to 'clarify' her typically antisemitic, anti-American comments | Washington Examiner

 

[lpetrich]

Ilhan Omar on Twitter: "I love all the pearl clutching that the Right wing does whenever I talk about justice for victims of the atrocities of the US or our allies.

But twist themselves into a pretzel defending Trump calling our country a country of “A lot of Killers”.

Miss me w/ your faux outrage (link)" / Twitter

O’Reilly told Trump that Putin is a killer. Trump’s reply: ‘You think our country is so innocent?’ - The Washington Post

“I do respect him. Well, I respect a lot of people, but that doesn’t mean I’ll get along with them,” Trump told O'Reilly.

O'Reilly pressed on, declaring to the president that “Putin is a killer.”

Unfazed, Trump didn't back away, but rather compared Putin's reputation for extrajudicial killings with the United States'.

“There are a lot of killers. We have a lot of killers,” Trump said. “Well, you think our country is so innocent?”

“If Russia helps us in the fight against ISIS, which is a major fight, and Islamic terrorism all around the world, major fight. That’s a good thing,” Trump said. ISIS is another name for the Islamic State.

It wouldn't be the first time Trump has brushed aside the topic of Putin's political killings.

Back on 2015 on Morning Joe,

“He kills journalists that don't agree with him,” the show's host, Joe Scarborough, pointed out.

“Well, I think that our country does plenty of killing, too, Joe,” Trump said.

I had to marvel at how Trump seemed like Noam Chomsky.

 

[lpetrich]

Ilhan Omar on Twitter: "TW: Every time I speak out on human rights I am inundated with death threats. Here is one we just got.

“Muslims are terrorists. And she is a raghead n*****. And every anti-American communist piece of s*** that works for her, I hope you get what’s f***ing coming for you.” (link)" / Twitter
then
Ilhan Omar on Twitter: "This is incited directly by articles like this and far right politicians like this.

And it is enabled by a political culture—in both parties—that allows and often fuels Islamophobia. (link)" / Twitter
noting
Lauren Boebert on Twitter: "Ilhan Omar, honorary member of Hamas, just compared the US military with the Taliban.

Sadly, it’s not even surprising anymore.

We have terrorist sympathizers in Congress and it is being normalized by the MSM." / Twitter
Honorary member of Hamas???


IO to Brad Schneider:
Ilhan Omar on Twitter: "Citing an open case against Israel, US, Hamas & Taliban in the ICC isn’t comparison or from “deeply seated prejudice”. You might try to undermine these investigations or deny justice to their victims but history has thought us that the truth can’t be hidden or silenced forever." / Twitter

 

[lpetrich]

Mehdi Hasan on Twitter: "To be clear, Omar was referring to two specific ICC investigations involving the US & the Taliban in Afghanistan & Israel & Hamas in Gaza.

Maybe these House Democrats should read beyond the Fox/Daily Mail headlines & faux outrage & not help incite more hate against Omar." / Twitter

Mehdi Hasan on Twitter: "Muslim Americans are fed up of constantly being accused of supporting terrorism - including by liberals and Democrats! - when they/we simply make factual points about international law or foreign policies or war crimes.

It’s cynical, dehumanizing, and, yes bigoted." / Twitter

I like this:
Hunter Woodall on Twitter: "New: Fellow Democrat and dean of the Minnesota delegation, Rep. Betty McCollum, responds to controversy around Rep. Ilhan Omar's tweet. (link)" / Twitter

"When state actors, including democracies, or non- state actors, such as terrorist organizations, engage in acts that indiscriminately kill civilians or commit gross violations of human rights such as torture or indefinite detention, there should be internationally recognized mechanisms to achieve accountability and enforce agreed upon humanitarian standards. Rep. Omar asked a serious question which is her right as a member of Congress, but the hypocrites at the NRCC, including Chairman Tom Emmer, should be reminded of their silence when the Trump administration sat down with the Taliban to negotiate a diplomatic agreement without the Afghan government while American service members and Afghan civilians were being attacked and killed."

 

[lpetrich]

Waleed Shahid on Twitter: ""Muslims more so than most people have great animosity towards Israel and the Jewish faith. As you have more and more Muslims in the US, as they gain greater and greater influence in elections...you’re going to see more people like @IlhanMN, @RashidaTlaib." -@RepMoBrooks (vid link)" / Twitter

Ilhan Omar on Twitter: "We serve in Congress with Islamophobes like @RepMoBrooks and Democratic colleagues wont condemn him instead give legitimacy to this dangerous rhetoric.

When will our caucus forcefully stand up against hate towards their Muslims colleagues and constituents?" / Twitter

Mehdi Hasan on Twitter: "For the right-wing anti-Omar anti-Muslim trolls in my mentions..." / Twitter
noting
Mehdi Hasan on Twitter: ""There are a lot of killers. What? You think our country's so innocent... Take a look at what we've done too." - Donald Trump, Feb 2017

Dear Republicans ginning up faux outrage over Ilhan Omar pointing out the ICC is investigating war crimes by the U.S. & Israel, pls watch this: (link)" / Twitter
Some video of Donald Trump sounding like Noam Chomsky about Vladimir Putin being a killer.

 

[lpetrich]

Cori Bush on Twitter: "Stop attacking @IlhanMN. Stop attacking us.

I'm not surprised when Republicans attack Black women for standing up for human rights. But when it’s Democrats, it’s especially hurtful. We’re your colleagues. Talk to us directly.

Enough with the anti-Blackness and Islamophobia." / Twitter

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Twitter: "Pretty sick & tired of the constant vilification, intentional mischaracterization, and public targeting of @IlhanMN coming from our caucus.

They have no concept for the danger they put her in by skipping private conversations & leaping to fueling targeted news cycles around her." / Twitter

Rashida Tlaib on Twitter: "Freedom of speech doesn't exist for Muslim women in Congress. The benefit of the doubt doesn't exist for Muslim women in Congress. House Democratic leadership should be ashamed of its relentless, exclusive tone policing of Congresswomen of color." / Twitter

Progressive Caucus on Twitter: "Our statement in support of Rep. @Ilhan: (link)" / Twitter

WASHINGTON - Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, issued the following statement in support of CPC Whip Rep. Ilhan Omar (MN-05):

"Rep. Omar is deeply valued member of the Progressive Caucus. Her voice s critical and necessary, both in the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the House Democratic Caucus as a whole.

"We cannot ignore a right-wing media echo chamber that has deliberately and routinely attacked a Black, Muslim woman in Congress, distorting her views and intentions, and resulting in threats against Rep. Omar and her staff. We urge our colleagues not to abet or amplify such divisive and bad-faith tactics. Members of the Democratic Caucus owe it to each other to pause, reflect, and engage directly with each otherrwhen misunderstandings arise, and stand together against cynical attempts to divide our caucus.'

 

[untermensche]

She clarified.

The US and Israel have some good people too.

But the good people have no power of course.

 

[Derec]

She is right about Israel and the US and the people that condemn her are idiots.

First of all, she is wrong about Israel. But that's not even a point here. Whatever she said, other people are allowed to disagree and criticize her.
Black skin color does not confer immunity to criticism.

And for Tlaib to say that black women do not have "freedom of speech" because Omar was criticised by some of her collegagues is one of the stupidest things ever said by a congressperson, and competition is stiff. Especially when that congressperson is an alleged lawyer.

How dare she bring her incredible talent and clear vision to the United States!

Talent for what? Stupid tweets? Because I can't see what else she has accomplished.

 

[Derec]

She clarified.

The US and Israel have some good people too.

But the good people have no power of course.

So she thinks people in power (like President Biden?!) in US and Israel are just like the Taliban and Hamas? She is positively insane!