Anti-Semitic Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) tried to apologize for promoting anti-Semitic conspiracy theories over the weekend in a statement released on Monday and ended up promoting her anti-Semitic views even more.
Omar painted herself as a victim of attacks over her “identity,” and continued to espouse false anti-Semitic conspiracy theories about AIPAC giving money to members of Congress as she also tried to score political points.
“Anti-Semitism is real and I am grateful for Jewish allies and colleagues who are educating me on the painful history of anti-Semitic tropes,” Omar wrote. “My intention is never to offend my constituents or Jewish Americans as a whole. We have to always be willing to step back and think through criticism, just as I expect people to hear me when others attack me for my identity. This is why I unequivocally apologize.”
“At the same time, I reaffirm the problematic role of lobbyists in our politics, whether it be AIPAC, the NRA or the fossil fuel industry,” Omar continued. “It’s gone on too long and we must be willing to address it.”
Omar’s attempted apology drew stern criticism online with many notable figures noting that they did not believe her apology was sincere or that she had actually learned anything.
“For her apology to be believed, one would have to believe that she didn’t know of the anti-Semitic trope that Jews use their money to control world politics,” The Republican Jewish Coalition tweeted. “Furthermore, she equivocates by saying that she finds pro-Israel advocacy to be problematic. Her apology is not accepted.”
“‘I apologize for my anti-Semitic comments,'” Ben Shapiro tweeted, mocking Omar’s statement. “‘Now I shall double down on my anti-Semitic comments, but word them slightly differently.'”
“You’re like an abusive spouse who apologizes every time you get caught. Sorry, lady, we stopped being the world’s punching bag 70 years ago,” Shoshanna Keats Jaskoll tweeted.
“To be clear, she’s not listening or learning because she keeps using anti-Semitic tropes to push her anti-Semitic agenda, then pretending she’s not heard of the tropes,” Jason Rantz tweeted. “She apologized only after the Democrats put out a huge statement condemning her hate.”
“A two paragraph apology that is one paragraph too many,” Tom Bevan tweeted.
“Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice? No thanks,” Arsen Ostrovsky tweeted. “Sorry @IlhanMN, no one accepts your ‘apology’. You knew exactly what you were saying. As you did each of the previous times you expressed your vile bigotry & Antisemitism. Shame on you! You are an embarrassment to Congress!”
“Because you see, her comment was really not about Jews or Israel or even AIPAC,” Fox News’ Brit Hume tweeted. “It was about lobbying. I wonder if she’s aware that lobbying is protected by the First Amendment.”
“‘At the same time’ = equivocating,” Doug Heye tweeted. “Essentially saying, ‘I apologize, even though I was right all along.'”
“She doesn’t mean to offend Jews ‘as a whole,’ only the ones who believe Israel has a right to exist,” Phil Kerpen tweeted. “Have a Popeye arm!”
“That all said… AIPAC is still a problem,” Stephen Miller tweeted.