The journalists at Good Morning America on Wednesday downplayed the latest anti-Jewish outburst by Democratic Congresswoman Ilhan Omar as simply a “family feud” over Israel. And while GMA reported that something happened with Omar and that she said *something,* the network didn't define the remarks targeting Jewish supporters of Israel.
Co-host George Stephanopoulos introduced the subject of anti-Semitism this way, explaining how fellow liberal Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s responded: “On a different subject, part of a new struggle inside the Democratic Party. [Ocasio-Cortez] is defending her fellow freshman Ilhan Omar who made some remarks that were perceived as anti-Israel.”
Anti-Israel? What were the “remarks” exactly? You wouldn’t know because ABC hasn't explained them. (NBC hasn't reported on the comments at all.) Last week at a town hall, the Democratic freshman revived the anti-Jewish trope of disloyalty: “I want to talk about the political influence in this country that says it is okay to push for allegiance to a foreign country.”
Stephanopoulos skipped over this and jumped to a potential resolution to be put forth by Democratic leaders: “And now the leadership is trying to pass a resolution taking on anti-Semitism.”
Congressional correspondent Mary Bruce deemed it simply a “family feud”:
This is exposing a real family feud. A generational and ideological divide between sort of the old guard, older more established House members, House Democrats, and these younger freshmen, more liberal members. At issue are comments by Representative Omar that critics say are anti-Semitic and whether she's being singled out we know the House will be voting tomorrow on this formal condemnation of anti-Semitism.
This segment was ABC’s only mention of Ocasio-Cortez. As the MRC's Nicholas Fondacaro pointed out on Tuesday, all three networks have ignored alleged campaign finance violations by the socialist Democrat.
A transcript of the segment is below. Click “expand’ to read more.
Good Morning America
March 6, 2019
7:06 a.m. EasternGEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: Also in Washington, Michael Cohen back on Capitol Hill today for closed door testimony before the House Intelligence Committee. As President Trump labels the congressional investigations a big fat fishing expedition and his lawyers refuse to turn over documents detailing how the President pushed for his son-in-law Jared Kushner's security clearance over objections from intelligence officials. Senior Congressional Correspondent Mary Bruce tracking it all. And Mary, this could be a showdown in court.
MARY BRUCE: Yeah, George. House Democrats are weighing whether they should subpoena for this information, which would likely lead to a tough court battle. Look, the White House says they're not complying with this request because it was overly intrusive and the President does have the legal authority to grant these kinds of clearances but the Democratic chairman here says there is a difference between a President using his legal authority to grant clearances and a President who overrules his top advisers to benefit his family and allegedly conceals it. And, George, this all comes, of course, as Cohen is said to do another round of closed door testimony here with the House Intelligence Committee. They are likely to press him on everything from questions about Russia to that his legal team may have reached out to Trump's attorneys about a possible pardon.
STEPHANOPOULOS: And Mary, we’re seeing the investigation into President Trump multiply on so many fronts. A brand-new investigation in New York of his insurance practices that appears to have grown straight out of that Michael Cohen last week.
BRUCE: Yeah, this seems to be a direct response to what Cohen said in his testimony in response to a line of questioning from freshman Democratic Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Cohen told her the President exaggerated his wealth to insurance companies and now we’re seeing New York regulators subpoenaing his insurance broker. George, it's just yet another line of inquiry into the President's personal finances and business dealings.
STEPHANOPOULOS: And Mary, Ocasio-Cortez, on a different subject, part of a new struggle inside the Democratic Party. She is defending her fellow freshman Ilhan Omar who made some remarks that were perceived as anti-Israel. And now the leadership is trying to pass a resolution taking on anti-Semitism.
BRUCE: Yeah, George, this is exposing a real family feud. A generational and ideological divide between sort of the old guard, older more established House members, House Democrats, and these younger freshmen, more liberal members. At issue are comments by Representative Omar that critics say are anti-Semitic and whether she's being singled out we know the House will be voting tomorrow on this formal condemnation of anti-Semitism. But it's largely seen as a rebuke of representative Omar and you are seeing so many of those fellow freshmen coming to her response, just exposing this real divide in the Democratic Party.
STEPHANOPOULOS: Which is why they may broaden it out to anti-Muslim bias as well. Okay, Mary.
