Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Kamala Harris (D-CA) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) each released statements on Wednesday condemning anti-Semitism, but also raising concerns about the way House Democratic leadership has handled it’s rebuke of Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) over her anti-Israel comments.
All three senators are also 2020 presidential contenders.
Sanders, who is Jewish, said there is room for “legitimate criticism of the right-wing, Netanyahu government in Israel” without equating that criticism with anti-Semitism.
Harris also rebuked anti-Semitism, while raising concerns about putting the “spotlight” on a black woman.
“We should be having a sound, respectful discussion about policy,” she said.
Warren made similar comments and touched on the threats Omar has received since the controversy spilled open.
“Branding criticism of Israel as automatically anti-Semitic has a chilling effect on our public discourse and makes it harder to achieve a peaceful solution between Israelis and Palestinians,” she said. “Threats of violence — like those made against Rep. Omar — are never acceptable.“
Rep. Omar criticized the influence the Israeli lobby has on Congress, and got immediate blow-back from that lobby using their favorite club to shut down discussion: antisemitism.
Well, they need to lose, and lose big time on this. Omar didn’t call for a “final solution to the Jewish problem,” or go chanting “Jews will not replace us,” but torchlight. She pointed out that AIPAC spends a lot of money, “Benjamins,” lobbying Congress.
With any luck, we can use this to push back on AIPAC, and by extension, Likud, Netanyahu and the whole settler movement. I’m very tired of having that tail wag my government.
I only see two Dems.
OT (although I guessed the 3 before seeing their names), I want to know why Sanders is afforded full dress designation as a Democratic candidate. It has always bothered me that he has been an Independent until he wants to run for President. Then he wants to take full advantage of the structure of the Democratic Party, including its primaries and debates. Those are things not otherwise available to him as an independent. There is no independent party, of course.
I don’t think I would begrudge it so much if he hadn’t so frequently bitten the hand that has fed him, the worst example, of course, being his belated and less than enthusiastic embrace of the Democratic candidate once he lost. You can be damn sure he would have expected Hillary to get right behind him if he had won the nomination - something she did when she lost to Obama.
Edit: it’s not every day that you get called an A-hole and silly in replies to your post. I must be doing something right.
Sanders needs those people who think both parties are sell-outs. I guess he thinks the longer he keeps that I after his name, the better he’ll do with that group.
He’s just as much of a sell-out on other issues, however. Let’s also see those taxes.
SANDERS is DEMOCRAT the same way TRUMPF is a REPUBLICAN.