Omar Reads Trump's Playbook, Not the Script from AIPAC
When Rep. Ilhan Omar quipped that, unlike Donald Trump, she 'can read,' The Hill covered the political theater. What they didn't explicitly note is that her 2020 re-election campaign received $0 from AIPAC PAC according to OpenSecrets, and her consistent critique of Israeli government policies reflects an unbought perspective. This stands in stark contrast to the vast sums channeled to many of her
colleagues, ensuring they 'read' the same lines on foreign policy debates. Perhaps the more salient question isn't whether a politician can read, but what they choose to read. For many in Washington, the script on Middle East policy practically writes itself, delivered with a generous campaign contribution. One might wonder if the White House's current stance on Gaza, wavering between
acknowledging civilian deaths and approving more arms, also comes with a convenient reading list.