By Sterling Mosley. Media: DC Enquirer.
Note: This article may contain commentary reflecting the author’s opinion.
On Thursday, following the removal of Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) from her assignment on the House Foreign Affairs Committee by House Republicans in a 218 to 211 vote, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez (D-NY) and Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) went on unhinged rants calling Republicans racist and breaking down in tears.
āNow as also as a fellow New Yorker, I think one of the things that we should talk about here is also one of the disgusting legacies after 9/11 and thatās the targeting and racism against Muslim Americans throughout the United States of America and this is an extension of that legacy,ā the New York representative said on the House floor. āConsistency, there is nothing consistent with the Republican Partyās continued attack except for the racism and incitement of violence against women of color in this body.ā
āI had a member of the Republican caucus threaten my life and you all, and the Republican caucus, rewarded him with one of the most prestigious committee assignments in this Congress,ā she argued, adding, āDonāt tell me this is about consistency.ā
āDonāt tell me this is about a condemnation of antisemitic remarks when you have a member of the Republican caucus who has talked about Jewish space lasers and an entire amount of tropes and also elevated her to some of the highest committee assignments in this body,ā the representative said. āThis is about targeting women of color in the United States of America. Donāt tell me because I didnāt get a single apology when my life was threatened.ā
Following AOC was a fellow member of the āSquad,ā Rep. Rashida Tlaib who broke down into tears in response to the removal.
āWhere are the free speech warriors today? The hypocrisy is obvious to the American people,ā Tlaib claimed. āYou are showing who you all are really. I will not be silenced.ā
āTo Congressman Omar, I am so sorry that our country is failing you today in this chamber,ā Tlaib exclaimed while in tears. āYou belong in this committee.ā
Democrats opened the door to allow for the removal of members from the minority party from committees. When then-Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) decided to remove Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) and Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ) from their assignments in the last Congress, Democrats set the precedent for Republicans to do the same.
AOC and Tlaib can cry all they want about the removal of Rep. Omar, but they certainly werenāt crying when Republicans were removed from their posts last Congress.
Following the vote, Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy summed up why he removed Omar from her committee: āIlhan Omarās past statements make it clear she is unfit to represent the U.S. on the House Foreign Affairs Committee. ā She repeatedly used anti-semitic tropes ā She described 9/11 by saying āsome people did somethingā ā She compared America and Israel to Hamas and the Taliban.ā
Ilhan Omar's past statements make it clear she is unfit to represent the U.S. on the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
– She repeatedly used anti-semitic tropes
– She described 9/11 by saying "some people did something"
– She compared America and Israel to Hamas and the Taliban pic.twitter.com/VnDIVtw5oV— Kevin McCarthy (@SpeakerMcCarthy) February 2, 2023