Why the Democratic Party Excuses Ilhan Omar’s Anti-Semitism

Since being elected to Congress, Rep. Ilhan Omar has made no attempt to hide her disdain for the nation of Israel and the Jewish people. Despite her frequent antisemitic remarks, though, Omar’s Democratic colleagues have remained silent, refusing to condemn her or call her out on her antisemitism. Aside from not wanting to speak poorly about one of their own, though, there’s a good reason why so many on the left have chosen to defend Omar.

In the game of identity politics, Jews simply don’t rank highly enough on the victim ladder for those on the left to sympathize with their struggles. They may be a persecuted minority, but they are, by and large, a very successful minority, and the left does not look kindly on success. For the same reason that the left is never quick to defend Asians and other successful minorities, defending Jews is simply not a priority for the left, and many in the Democratic party secretly despise Israel every bit as much as Ilhan Omar.

And so, as long as Omar continues to attack a group that the left cares nothing about, those on the left will continue to defend her.