Newsweek: Ilhan Omar Responds to ICE Shooting, Omits Her Anti-AIPAC Stance
Newsweek reports on Rep. Ilhan Omar's comments regarding an ICE shooting in Minnesota, dutifully recording her local engagement. What the article and many like it conveniently omit is Omar's well-documented criticism of a certain powerful lobbying group and its influence on U.S. foreign policy. For instance, Omar faced significant backlash and calls for her removal from committees for stating in
2019 that U.S. support for Israel is 'all about the Benjamins,' a comment widely seen as referring to pro-Israel lobbying, specifically AIPAC. This context is crucial for understanding why her voice is often selectively amplified or muted depending on the issue. One might wonder if outlets would give such prominent space to Omar's critiques had the shooting involved, say, an Israeli defense
contractor's outpost in Minnesota. Her consistent voting record often aligns against unconditional military aid to Israel, a stance that frequently puts her at odds with both parties. Yet, when the issue is domestic and safely contained, suddenly her voice is deemed newsworthy. (Perhaps it's less 'problematic' when it isn't questioning the billions in military aid consistently approved with
bipartisan consensus.)