Democrats are up in arms that House speaker Kevin McCarty and his fellow Republicans have finally ousted Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) from her post as a member of the prestigious House Foreign Affairs Committee. The move, which was long overdue, ensures that the US Congress’ most notorious anti-Semitic bigot can no longer spout her hateful rhetoric using her privileged position on one of the nation’s most visible and influential House committees as a cover.
Omar has spent much of her past five years on the House committee railing against the United States and Israel, comparing two of the world’s strongest democracies to the Taliban and Hamas terrorist organizations. Her anti-Semitic, anti-American viewpoints are so extreme that even her fellow Democrats have found them repugnant. On several occasions leading Democrats, including former House speaker Nancy Pelosi, have condemned her remarks. So have all of the nation’s leading Jewish organizations.
But over the years, Omar – a Somali refugee and a devout Muslim who expresses sympathy for Islamic rebels – has refused to be silent. She’s even dared her party and Republicans to try to oust her. And they finally have. The entire nation should applaud.
Some Democrats are now trying to use Omar’s removal as a reason to criticize Republicans. It’s a familiar Democratic line of attack. “Racist,” they declare, simply because Omar is a person “of color.” “Sexist,” they suggest, because Omar is a woman. And even worse: “Islamophobic,” because Omar is Muslim and defends the Islamic world.
This is the worst kind of race- and gender baiting. Republicans aren’t ousting Omar for who she is, but for what she says. The same Democrats that once found Omar’s remarks so offensive – and asked her, without success to restrain herself – now profess righteous indignation that someone would finally silence her? Why didn’t the Democrats demand Omar’s ouster?
In fact, Democrats established the precedent for removing Omar several years ago when they controlled the House – and Nancy Pelosi was Speaker. She demanded that her party remove two Republicans – Marjorie Taylor Greene and Paul Gosar – from their committee memberships, arguing that their views were hateful. It hadn’t been done previously and Republicans warned Pelosi at the time that she was setting a dangerous precedent. It will come back to haunt you, they said.
And it has.
Some would call it, “turnabout fair play.” The Bible teaches the same lesson with these profound words: “Reap what you sow.” If you sow partisan rancor and retribution, you may well find yourself reaping the same bitter harvest. And Democrats just have.
In fact, conservatives and Christians should make no excuses for silencing Omar. She and her family were allowed to enter the United States as a political refugee and as a condition of entry, swore their allegiance to America. Our nation didn’t have to take her in, but we did. Is it so much to ask that she show patriotic respect for adoptive homeland?
There is much more at stake here. America is the world’s leading democracy. Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East. Our strategic alliance has been one of the cornerstones of American foreign and defense policy for decades. It is a bulwark against the spread of Islamic terrorism – not only abroad, but here at home. Attacking this alliance isn’t treason – but it comes pretty close.
In casually dismissing the importance of the US-Israeli alliance – and stooping to compare our two nations to terrorist organizations – one has to wonder if Omar really supports the safety and security of America and her allies.
Let’s be clear: Omar, like all Americans, has a right to free speech. Not all American and Israeli policies are perfect or need to be endorsed uncritically. But that doesn’t give Omar the right to exploit a privileged congressional rostrum to express hateful anti-Semitic remarks.
Republicans aren’t going overboard here. Omar isn’t being subjected to a vote of censure for her pattern of hateful remarks – not yet, at least. And she’ll be allowed to keep her other House committee assignments.
But spouting her anti-Semitic bigotry and expressing hatred of Israel will no longer be tolerated in the House of Representatives – at least not when Republicans are in charge.
It’s important to remember why Christians are obligated to lend our support to the State of Israel. Israel is the ancestral home of the Jewish people. After generations of fierce persecution culminating in the Nazi genocide of World War II, Jews earned the right to live in peace without fear of persecution by residing in Israel. We Christians honor this right and cherish Israel’s right to exit in the face of those that continually seek to destroy her.
But Christians are bonded to Israel for other more fundamental reasons. After all, the Bible mentions Israel more than 2,500 times. It is the land where many stories, lessons, and parables throughout Scripture take place. As mentioned in the Bible, God gave the deed of this land to Abraham and Isaac. God trusted these Israelite men not only to take care of His land, but to carry on His Word.
Consider Isaiah 11:12: “He will raise a banner for the nations and gather the exiles of Israel; he will assemble the scattered people of Judah from the four corners of the earth.” This prophecy applies to Jews and non-Jews alike – to all of us. When Scripture’s prophecy is fulfilled, all of God’s people will come home to Israel. Supporting Israel is an opportunity to take part in rebuilding God’s Promised Land.
Scripture also tells us that if we send blessings to Israel and her people, those blessings will be returned. Likewise, it warns: If we curse Israel, we may well be cursed, in kind.
Omar, by exploiting her position in the U.S. Congress repeatedly cursed Israel in America’s name. This is no small matter. She was told repeatedly, by her own party and by Republicans, to restrain herself. In defiance, and with utter disrespect, she refused – again and again.
For this, she has finally been silenced. And for this, we Christians and friends of Israel and all freedom and peace-loving people rejoice, in God’s name.
