Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) blamed Islamophobic Democrats for their strong reaction against Rep. Ilhan Omar’s (D-MN) recent anti-Semitic comments.
In an interview with The Circus released Sunday, host Alex Wagner asked Tlaib, “Why do you think people in your own party reacted so strongly against what [Omar] said?”
“You know, I’m trying to figure it out. It’s just this past week, I feel, and I know this would be somewhat shocking for some, but I think Islamophobia is very much among the Democratic Party as well as the Republican Party,” she responded. “And I know that’s hard for people to hear, but there’s only been four members of Congress that are of Muslim faith. Three of them currently serve in this institution. More of us need to get elected, but more of us need to understand as we come into this institution that I have a lot of work to do with my colleagues.”
“So, you think Democrats have some Islamophobia and that’s at the root at some of this consternation?” asked Wagner.”
“I think our country’s struggling with it,” said Tlaib.
Omar has come under fire in recent months for multiple anti-Semitic statements.
Most recently, she said that politicians who support Israel “hold an allegiance to a foreign country.”
Last month, she said that Israeli advocacy group AIPAC paid off lawmakers for their support.
In 2012, Omar tweeted, “Israel has hypnotized the world, may Allah awaken the people and help them see the evil doings of Israel.”
