Note: This article may contain commentary reflecting the author's opinion.
On Thursday, the House of Representatives introduced a resolution to oust Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) from her assignment on the House Foreign Affairs Committee following previous comments she made while in Congress that promoted antisemitism.
The move comes after Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) wrangled the votes of his conference to oust the lawmaker. McCarthy, who has already removed Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) from their committee assignments, faced opposition from some Republican members who were hesitant about removing Omar. Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC), Rep. Ken Buck (R-CO), and Rep. Victoria Spartz (R-IN) both initially came out against McCarthy’s move, however, Spartz changed her mind on Tuesday. Rep. Buck also had a change of heart.
“I appreciate Speaker McCarthy’s willingness to address legitimate concerns and add due process language to our resolution. Deliberation and debate are vital for our institution, not top-down approaches,” Spartz explained. “The rule of law, freedom of speech, and due process are fundamental to our Constitutional Republic.”
“Our founding fathers understood that pure democracy is dangerous and can lead to the tyranny of the majority, mob rule, and dictatorship,” she continued. “As to my fellow conservatives, I think setting a precedent of allowing an appeal process for the Speaker’s and majority-party removal decisions is particularly important to freedom-loving legislators who usually are on the receiving end of issues like this.”
Now that McCarthy has the necessary votes to remove Omar, she will join her two Democrat colleagues in suffering the consequences of their actions in previous Congresses.
OVER 2,000 RABBIS CALL FOR REMOVAL OF RADICAL ‘ANTISEMITIC’ ILHAN OMAR FROM COMMITTEE
The Minnesota congresswoman has experienced increasing opposition against her assignment as Republicans are concerned that her comments, which many have called un-American, would potentially jeopardize relations with other countries given her assignment on the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
Domestic groups are also concerned about Ilhan’s radicalism. On Monday, a group of over 2.000 Jewish rabbis sent a letter to Speaker McCarthy and House Minority Leader Hakeen Jefferies (D-NY) requesting that Rep. Omar be removed from her assignment.
“We write to urgently request that the House of Representatives follow through on Mr. McCarthy’s pledge that, as Speaker, he would remove Congresswoman Ilhan Omar from the House Committee on Foreign Affairs,” the letter from the Coalition for Jewish Values read. “This is not a political matter, but one of moral conscience, and a necessary step to quell the rising tide of antisemitic speech and violence now impacting Jewish communities across America.”
“We believe that to remove Rep. Omar from the Foreign Affairs committee is the only morally responsible choice for a Member of Congress who opposes racism, bigotry, and antisemitism,” the group said in conclusion, adding, “We implore each and every member to demonstrate their concern for all of America’s minorities, by acting against hatred directed against those most frequently targeted.”
As the House of Representatives debates whether or not to remove Omar, it is clear that McCarthy has the votes to do so. Upon Ilhan’s removal, the speaker will have fulfilled a longtime promise and proved to conservatives that he is willing to lead his party to success in the 118th Congress.
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On Thursday, the House of Representatives introduced a resolution to oust Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) from her assignment on the House Foreign Affairs Committee following previous comments she made while in Congress that promoted antisemitism.
The move comes after Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) wrangled the votes of his conference to oust the lawmaker. McCarthy, who has already removed Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) from their committee assignments, faced opposition from some Republican members who were hesitant about removing Omar. Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC), Rep. Ken Buck (R-CO), and Rep. Victoria Spartz (R-IN) both initially came out against McCarthy’s move, however, Spartz changed her mind on Tuesday. Rep. Buck also had a change of heart.
“I appreciate Speaker McCarthy’s willingness to address legitimate concerns and add due process language to our resolution. Deliberation and debate are vital for our institution, not top-down approaches,” Spartz explained. “The rule of law, freedom of speech, and due process are fundamental to our Constitutional Republic.”
“Our founding fathers understood that pure democracy is dangerous and can lead to the tyranny of the majority, mob rule, and dictatorship,” she continued. “As to my fellow conservatives, I think setting a precedent of allowing an appeal process for the Speaker’s and majority-party removal decisions is particularly important to freedom-loving legislators who usually are on the receiving end of issues like this.”
Now that McCarthy has the necessary votes to remove Omar, she will join her two Democrat colleagues in suffering the consequences of their actions in previous Congresses.
OVER 2,000 RABBIS CALL FOR REMOVAL OF RADICAL ‘ANTISEMITIC’ ILHAN OMAR FROM COMMITTEE
The Minnesota congresswoman has experienced increasing opposition against her assignment as Republicans are concerned that her comments, which many have called un-American, would potentially jeopardize relations with other countries given her assignment on the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
Domestic groups are also concerned about Ilhan’s radicalism. On Monday, a group of over 2.000 Jewish rabbis sent a letter to Speaker McCarthy and House Minority Leader Hakeen Jefferies (D-NY) requesting that Rep. Omar be removed from her assignment.
“We write to urgently request that the House of Representatives follow through on Mr. McCarthy’s pledge that, as Speaker, he would remove Congresswoman Ilhan Omar from the House Committee on Foreign Affairs,” the letter from the Coalition for Jewish Values read. “This is not a political matter, but one of moral conscience, and a necessary step to quell the rising tide of antisemitic speech and violence now impacting Jewish communities across America.”
“We believe that to remove Rep. Omar from the Foreign Affairs committee is the only morally responsible choice for a Member of Congress who opposes racism, bigotry, and antisemitism,” the group said in conclusion, adding, “We implore each and every member to demonstrate their concern for all of America’s minorities, by acting against hatred directed against those most frequently targeted.”
As the House of Representatives debates whether or not to remove Omar, it is clear that McCarthy has the votes to do so. Upon Ilhan’s removal, the speaker will have fulfilled a longtime promise and proved to conservatives that he is willing to lead his party to success in the 118th Congress.
You Can Follow Sterling on Twitter Here