Since the midterm elections, the liberal media have been singing the praises of Democratic Minnesota Representative Ilhan Omar for being one of the first Muslim women in Congress. That praise came despite Omar’s long history of trafficking in staunch anti-Semitism. On Monday, the liberal broadcast networks (ABC, CBS, and NBC) had no choice but to acknowledge her hate, but only after recent tweets from Omar forced the Democratic Party leadership to denounce her.
ABC’s World News Tonight actually downplayed Omar’s anti-Semitism, with anchor David Muir relegating it to a mere 20-second news brief:
DAVID MUIR: There's about apology tonight from freshman Democratic Representative Ilhan Omar. She has, quote “unequivocally” apologized for tweets that were considered anti-Semitic. The Minnesota Congresswoman was fiercely criticized by members of both parties, including a stern rebuke from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, after suggesting support for Israel was fueled by money from a lobbying group.
This, for one of the top political news stories of the day. By contrast, both CBS Evening News and NBC Nightly News ran full stories on Omar’s anti-Semitism (2 minutes, 4 seconds and 1 minute, 35 seconds respectively).
“Democratic Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, one of the first Muslim women in Congress, tonight giving in to demands from Democratic leaders that she apologize for tweets widely criticized as anti-Semitic,” reported NBC congressional correspondent Kasie Hunt.
“New Jersey's Josh Gottheimer and other Democrats circulated a letter this morning urging swift action to address what they called ‘hateful speech’. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi spoke with Omar and called her comments ‘anti-Semitic’ and ‘deeply offensive’,” CBS congressional correspondent Nancy Cordes said.
But, as both Cordes and Hunt would admit in their reports, “Omar has already apologized for a 2012 tweet in which she said ‘Israel has hypnotized the world.’” This was the first time either network acknowledged those past statements even though they were widely known about for months.
In fact, just a day after the 2018 midterm elections, both CBS and NBC (in a report filed by Hunt) celebrated Omar’s victory without one word about her anti-Semitic tweets from 2012. “The newest Congress featuring more than 100 women, a new record. Among them, the first Muslim women, Michigan's Rashida Tlaib and Minnesota's Ilhan Omar,” Hunt praised.
Monday’s reports were only the latest example of the liberal broadcast networks being dragged against their will to report on anti-Semitism from the left. Just last month, the networks were forced to acknowledge the pervasive anti-Semitism festering in the Women’s March, but only after (once again) the Democratic National Committee was pressured to pull out of the event. CBS even minimized it.
On Monday, Cordes noted that Omar’s fellow Muslim Congresswoman, Rashida Tlaib, also supported the BDS movement against Israel (which also has anti-Semitic roots). But Cordes didn’t do her due diligence as a journalist and dive into Tlaib’s extensive connections with radical anti-Semites.
It’s clear that these liberal networks were only following the marching orders of their Democratic handlers. The ugly specter of anti-Semitism has been so visible these past few months that Fox News Channel anchor Bret Baier had to grill DNC Chairman Tom Perez about it. That’s not to mention the networks’ refusal to report on the anti-Catholic bigotry coming from Democratic side.
The transcripts are below, click "expand" to read:
ABC’s World News Tonight
February 11, 2019
6:43:36 p.m. EasternDAVID MUIR: There's about apology tonight from freshman Democratic Representative Ilhan Omar. She has, quote “unequivocally” apologized for tweets that were considered anti-Semitic. The Minnesota Congresswoman was fiercely criticized by members of both parties, including a stern rebuke from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, after suggesting support for Israel was fueled by money from a lobbying group.
CBS Evening News
February 11, 2019
6:34:28 p.m. EasternJEFF GLOR: Tonight one of the first Muslim-American female members of Congress is apologizing for comments that many view as anti-Semitic. It was over one of her recent tweets and led to heavy criticism from both sides of the aisle. Nancy Cordes is at the capitol.
[Cuts to video]
NANCY CORDES: Ilhan Omar's swearing-in one month ago was hailed as a breakthrough, but today she found herself issuing another apology after suggesting, over the weekend, that AIPAC, the pro-Israel lobbying group, had bought the support of her colleagues.
REP. JOSH GOTTHEIMER: It’s a historic anti-Semitic trope about greed and money related to Jews, and I think that's what set many of us off.
CORDES: New Jersey's Josh Gottheimer and other Democrats circulated a letter this morning urging swift action to address what they called “hateful speech”. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi spoke with Omar and called her comments “anti-Semitic” and “deeply offensive”.
The 37-year-old from Minnesota and Michigan's Rashida Tlaib are the first Muslim women in Congress. They both support the movement known as B-D-S, which calls for a boycott of Israel until property is returned to Palestinians. Omar has already apologized for a 2012 tweet in which she said “Israel has hypnotized the world.”
ILHAN OMAR: I'm not criticizing the people. I'm not criticizing their faith.
CORDES: Tlaib may be best known on Capitol Hill for using profanity to describe the president on her first day.
KEVIN MCARTHY: I think the window has passed.
CORDES: Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy, who called both Democrats out on Friday, said today that Omar should be removed from the Foreign Affairs Committee.
MCCARTHY: If you follow what these Congresswomen are saying and doing, it's wrong, and it should stop.
[Cuts back to live]
CORDES: In her statement today, Omar said she didn't mean to insult Jews and she thanked her colleagues for educating her about the history of anti-Semitic tropes. Jeff?
GLOR: : Nancy Cordes, thanks very much.
NBC Nightly News
February 11, 2019
7:09:52 p.m. EasternLESTER HOLT: Turning now to the Democrat under fire for tweets many are calling anti-Semitic. Late today, Congresswoman Ilhan Omar issued an apology for remarks that were condemned on both sides of the aisle. NBC's Kasie Hunt has the story for us.
[Cuts to video]
KASIE HUNT: Democratic Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, one of the first Muslim women in Congress, tonight giving in to demands from Democratic leaders that she apologize for tweets widely criticized as anti-Semitic.
STENY HOYER: The key will be that when we make a mistake like that, conscious or unconscious, that we don't repeat it. I mean, that will be the proof in the pudding.
HUNT: Sunday, suggesting money was driving U.S. politicians to defend Israel, writing quote, “it's all about the Benjamins, baby.” House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler, who is Jewish, said it was “deeply disappointing and disturbing” that Omar “appears to traffic in old anti-Semitic tropes about Jews and money.”
Hours later, Omar tweeted she was “listening and learning, but standing strong.” Writing, quote, “my intention is never to offend my constituents or Jewish Americans as a whole. This is why I unequivocally apologize.” Omar has been considered a rising star, part of the new group of young women elected to Congress.
ILHAN OMAR: Together we can organize around the politics of hope.
HUNT: But this isn't the first time Omar has been accused of anti-Semitism. In 2012, she tweeted, quote, “Israel has hypnotized the world.” Later admitting she had chosen unfortunate words. Kasie Hunt, NBC News, the Capitol.
