Socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-VT) showed he has a massive double standard in how he judges the behavior of those on the political Right vs. the political Left when he defended Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) on Monday night during a Fox News town hall, claiming that her criticisms of Israel’s government are not anti-Semitic.
“It’s not anti-Semitic to be critical of a right-wing government in Israel,” Sanders said.
Sanders’ defense of Omar came after he rushed to Omar’s defense over the weekend as she was receiving national criticism for trivializing the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
President Donald Trump tweeted a video of Omar describing the 9/11 terrorist attacks as “some people did something,” which drew criticism from the far-left, who claimed that Trump was putting Omar’s life in danger by quoting her exact words.
Sanders defended Omar’s remarks by attacking Trump in a tweet, writing: “Ilhan Omar is a leader with strength and courage. She won’t back down to Trump’s racism and hate, and neither will we. The disgusting and dangerous attacks against her must end.”
So, in Sanders’ mind, criticizing Omar for the exact words that she said qualifies as “racism,” “hate,” “disgusting,” and “dangerous,” while Omar’s anti-Semitic remarks do not qualify as anti-Semitic.
Sanders claim that Omar was just being “critical of a right-wing government in Israel” is a lie.
Omar repeatedly promoted anti-Semitic conspiracy theories and tropes; has refused to deny that she is an anti-Semite; accused pro-Israel groups of paying off American politicians to have dual loyalties to Israel; accused her Jewish colleagues of plotting to take her down by accusing her of anti-Semitism; suggested Israel does not have the right to exist as a Jewish state; and admitted to supporting anti-Semitic Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) campaigns against Israel.
WATCH: