The MSM has been pretty diligent about shining a spotlight on bigotry and anti-Semitism emanating from the Far Right — as they should. But when it comes to the Far Left, they only seem to have enough time to look the other way. Why is that?
Congresswoman-elect Ilhan Omar, who’s straight outta the Louis Farrakhan School of Anti-Semitism, has a history of peddling anti-Israel and anti-Semitic garbage. Remember this gem from 2012?
Israel has hypnotized the world, may Allah awaken the people and help them see the evil doings of Israel. #Gaza #Palestine #Israel
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) November 16, 2012
Over the weekend, Omar also came out in support of the anti-Israel BDS movement:
This is also interesting. Looks like @IlhanMN does "support the BDS movement," contrary to her previous statement at a town hall meeting in a synagogue where she assured the Jewish community that she opposes boycotting Israel pic.twitter.com/6FYS21X1QH
— Batya Ungar-Sargon (@bungarsargon) November 12, 2018
Omar’s got a lot to answer for. But she doesn’t want to answer for any of it.
. @IlhanMN, one of several black candidates to win in a majority white district this year: "The question that is never asked of a white candidate when they represent a majority-minority district is 'How can you win your election?'"
— Benjy Sarlin (@BenjySarlin) November 12, 2018
Why aren’t journalists trying harder to hold Omar accountable for what she says? Is there any doubt that if she were a Republican, they’d be breathing down her neck?
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It's pretty much the question every reporter asks of every candidate.
BTW: If you cover this Rep-elect without questioning her anti-Semitism, you have failed. What are you afraid of? https://t.co/aM2dxUI2c7
— Nathan Wurtzel (@NathanWurtzel) November 12, 2018
As Washington Examiner Magazine executive editor Seth Mandel points out, the MSM’s overall reluctance to shine a lot on liberal and Democratic anti-Semitism actually shines a pretty blinding light on the MSM themselves:
Her anti-Semitism is going to be swept under the rug by reporters because it's inconvenient. And it's going to be a clarifying moment to watch, telling us which reporters are honest and which aren't. Not going to be many of the former.
— Seth Mandel (@SethAMandel) November 12, 2018
The drive to normalize Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib by reporters is a pretty good example of how easy it is to get away with anti-Semitism vs other bigotries. Bigots of all types get elected (sadly), but the press only covers for one kind.
— Seth Mandel (@SethAMandel) November 12, 2018
There are several reasons for this, but the most important that we don't talk enough about is the fact that reporters have accepted the face value of euphemisms and dog whistles the way they haven't for other bigotries.
— Seth Mandel (@SethAMandel) November 12, 2018
Reporters used to be just as bad about other coded racial appeals, but that has improved greatly (though isn't perfect). It was a story when someone said "cotton-pickin'" and "monkey this up" and "public hanging" even. Ears perk up. It shows progress, checking our blind spots.
— Seth Mandel (@SethAMandel) November 12, 2018
But the same isn't true for anti-Semitism. Most (even well meaning) journalists let you get away with using classic anti-Semitic tropes as long as you say "Israel" or "zionists" instead of "Jews." So it's signaled to Jew-haters how to gain acceptance. And we're seeing the result.
— Seth Mandel (@SethAMandel) November 12, 2018
And it’s very, very ugly.
every single of the above tweets also applies to Islamophobia.
— Matthew Wells (@_mattwells) November 12, 2018
Sort of: the biggest problem with right-wing Islamophobia, as I've written, has been how easy it is to get away with *overt* anti-Muslim bigotry. But the press doesn't fall into the same trap.
— Seth Mandel (@SethAMandel) November 12, 2018
Recently on here I saw a journo who is thoroughly honest and decent and smart–get browbeaten by leftist journos into deleting his mild condemnation of an instance of obvious anti-Semitism. It was, to my mind, an important moment. It was also soul-crushingly depressing.
— Seth Mandel (@SethAMandel) November 12, 2018
It is depressing. Because while it’s not our media’s job to run cover for certain political candidates, that seems to be pretty much all they’re interested in doing these days. Meanwhile, anti-Semitism isn’t just tolerated by the political Left; it’s wholeheartedly embraced. And the media, who fancy themselves crusaders for truth and justice, don’t seem terribly concerned at all.
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