Washington – U.S. House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn walked back a defense of embattled Democratic colleague Ilhan Omar, saying he never meant to diminish the legacy of the Holocaust.
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Clyburn, D-S.C., was criticized by the Anti-Defamation League and some Democratic colleagues for suggesting that Omar, who has been fending off accusations of anti-Semitism, had a “more personal” relationship to suffering than the descendants of Holocaust survivors because she is a refugee from war-torn Somalia.
That prompted the ADL rebuke.
“The Holocaust was a singular tragedy resulting in the death of six million Jews,” the group said on Twitter. “It’s offensive to diminish the suffering of survivors and the continuing pain of Jews today.”
Rep.Eliot Engel, D-N.Y., said he was “disappointed,” and Republican Nikki Haley, South Carolina’s former governor, said Clyburn shouldn’t have made “one minority group’s pain more justified or personal than another’s.”
Clyburn released a statement Thursday clarifying his remarks.
“Every student of history, which I consider myself to be, recognizes the Holocaust as a unique atrocity which resulted in the deaths of six million Jews. It should never be minimized; I never have, and I never will,” he said.
Why it matters: Clyburn is the highest-ranking African-American member of Congress, whose job, according to McClatchy, “is to build consensus among a diverse group of members in a new Democratic majority.” With the party torn over how to react to allegations of anti-Semitism by Omar, his ability to earn trust among peers on all sides of the divide is seen as essential.
Sicko!! The dems should be embarrassed of their recent behavior.
This Farrakahn supporter needs to step down.
(Tea Party PAC) – Jewish-American political analyst Doug Schoen says that Trump could end up with a high percent of the Jewish votes the way the Dems are currently showing support (or lack thereof) for Israel.
On Friday, he joined Stuart Verney to share his prediction that if Democrats were not to nominate a pro-Israel candidate, Trump could get up to 40% of the Jewish vote. He also said that people like himself would rather vote Republican than support an anti-Israel Democrats.
“I was ashamed and embarrassed for my party not being able to condemn anti-Semitism outright and say to Rep. Omar you are off the foreign relations committee… “ he said.
“Ronald Reagan got as much as 40% of the Jewish vote and I think Trump moving the embassy to Jerusalem is positioned to get that number under the right circumstances… You said to me, are you still a Democrat. And I said yes I am and for today I am. But if we get a nominee who is not pro-Israel you will not see people like me voting Democratic.”
Certainly any American who has any interest in a solid relationship with Israel will not want to throw their support behind the Democratic party at all, the way things are going!
Democratic party going back to their anti-Semitic roots. KKK’s Spencer recently cheering for new anti-Semitic congresswoman ilhan omar. So is farrakhan. After 2020 if the democratikkk party wins the election we should pack and leave while we can still choose our luggage brand and color.
Support of Omar equals to support of antisemitism..
Another case of some dumb politician sticking their foot in their mouth, and using their staff to issue a “clarification” in an effort to extricate themselves from their mess. This is but another example of the thanks that we Jews have received from the Black community, for our sacrifices on behalf of civil rights (i.e, Schwarner, Goodman, hundreds of Jews being arrested and jailed during the freedom rides, etc.).
This guy ain’t too bright. Affirmative action got him his position, not brains.