House Dems delay vote on resolution rebuking Omar over Israel remarks

House Democratic leaders are delaying a vote on a resolution condemning anti-Semitism that had been slated to take place on Wednesday, according to a Democratic aide.

The resolution comes in the wake of Rep. Ilhan Omar’s (D-Minn.) most recent controversial comments on Israel.

“I want to talk about the political influence in this country that says it is OK for people to push for allegiance to a foreign country,” she said during a forum at a bookstore last week.

Her remarks sparked strong backlash from members on both sides of the aisle, who argued her comments were anti-Semitic.

An initial draft of the resolution does not name Omar specifically, but does condemn “accusations of dual loyalty generally have an insidious, bigoted history” and “acknowledges the dangerous consequences of perpetuating anti-Semitic stereotypes.”

Top Republicans have called on Democrats to take a harder line on the issue, arguing the text of resolution should specifically reprimand Omar.

“I’m hearing that they are even going to pull back on their resolution that didn’t even mention her – that they are afraid they can’t even pass that,” House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) told reporters Tuesday. “That’s what I was just told on the floor, which to me is very concerning.”

Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-N.Y.), who has previously sparred with Omar on Twitter over comments she made in the past, said Democrats should work across the aisle on the resolution. 

“It would be good for them to bring to make this a bipartisan effort, work with Republicans and that would send a very strong message that an issue like this should transcend politics,” he told The Hill. “The entire chamber united in January passing a resolution about white supremacy and it was determined Steve King couldn’t serve on the Small Business Committee anymore. We should go to the House floor just like we all stand united.”

Zeldin noted it’s not the first time the House has felt the need to condemn anti-Semitism in response to comments made by Omar, adding he believes Democratic leadership needs to remove her from her committee assignment. 

“I don’t believe that she should have been appointed to the Foreign Affairs Committee in the first place and that even if she’s not removed she’s going to get herself kicked off that committee sooner rather than later,” he continued. 

While her comments were met with bipartisan pushback, a number of progressive lawmakers have come to Omar’s defense.

“One of the things that is hurtful about the extent to which reprimand is sought of Ilhan is that no one seeks this level of reprimand when members make statements about Latinx + other communities (during the shutdown, a GOP member yelled “Go back to Puerto Rico!” on the floor),” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) tweeted.