WASHINGTON, D.C. – NOVEMBER 30: (L-R) Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MN), Rep. Andre Carson (D-IN), Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) and Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) listen to question from reporters during a news conference about Islamophobia on Capitol Hill on November 30, 2021 in Washington, DC. A video of Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) circulated on social media last week of the conservative lawmaker making anti-Muslim remarks about Rep. Ilhan Omar. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
Democrat Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-N.Y.) doubled down on her ongoing battle with Republican Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.). In an interview on Sunday, Omar called House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) a “liar and a coward” for defending his caucus member.
“He doesn’t have the ability to condemn the kind of bigoted Islamophobia and anti-Muslim rhetoric that are being trafficked by a member of this conference,” said Omar.
When then asked why McCarthy doesn’t have the ability to do such, Omar responded saying “because this is who they are,” referring to Republicans.
“We have to be able to stand up to them, and we have to push them to reckon with the fact that their party, right now, is normalizing anti-Muslim bigotry,” she added.
Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar calls House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy "a liar and a coward" for not publicly condemning GOP Rep. Lauren Boebert's anti-Muslim comments about Omar. https://t.co/bpBmBU1anQ #CNNSOTU pic.twitter.com/1eXkETU3Cx
— State of the Union (@CNNSotu) December 5, 2021
These remarks came after McCarthy held a press conference on the legislative agenda for the House. The congressman defended Boebert and stated there was no need for further apologies for her anti-Muslim comments against Rep. Omar.
The Republican congresswoman made her intentions known to the public and to Omar that she feels it’s time to move forward. McCarthy highlighted how hypocritical Democrats are, pointing out how they don’t call out their own party.
The incident that’s dragging the controversy into its second week involved Boebert sharing a story at a campaign event. Boebert made a so-called “joke” about Omar that many said was anti-Muslim.
Soon after, Boebert issued a public apology on Twitter to the Muslim community and attempted to give a private apology to Omar. The private apology wasn’t received well, however, the Republican demanded the Democrat also apologize for her alleged “anti-American, anti-police and anti-Semitic rhetoric.”
McCarthy said despite Democrat handwringing, other Republican Reps. Paul Gosar (Ariz.) and Marjorie Taylor Greene (Ga.) will get their committee assignments back if the GOP takes back the House in 2022, as will Boebert if Democrats force her off committees too.
