Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., who has courted repeated controversies during her freshman congressional term for anti-Semitic rhetoric and a series of ethical scandals, has no place in the Democratic Party, according to one of her fellow Minnesota Democrats.
“I don’t defend her. She doesn’t belong in our party,” said Democratic Rep. Collin Peterson, who represents Minnesota’s 7th Congressional District, when asked about Omar, who represents Minnesota’s 5th District.
“She doesn’t belong in our party,” Peterson reiterated when asked to clarify, according to the New York Post.
Peterson’s comments this week are far different than previous remarks he made in defense of Omar when he argued that her controversial 9/11 remarks had been misconstrued.
Omar downplayed the 2001 terrorist attacks while addressing the radical Council on American–Islamic Relations by characterizing them as “some people did something.”
Peterson said back in April that “she was trying to say that some people in her community feel like they’re being targeted.”
But recent indications suggest that Republican President Donald Trump has gained ground among Minnesota’s rural residents—including those in the massive 7th district that spans much of the western part of the state—as race-riots have consumed its biggest city, Minneapolis.
Omar, whose district comprises much of Minneapolis, has become a polarizing figure in Minnesota politics over the past two years.
Her string of anti-Semitic comments created tension between her and the Jewish community in the state, and her calls to disband the Minneapolis Police Department have rubbed many on-the-fence voters the wrong way.
As a result, many establishment Democrats are trying to distance themselves from Omar’s radicalism.
They feel the same way about the other members of the “Squad,” as well, the Post reported.
Omar and Reps. Alexandria Ocasio–Cortez, D-N.Y.; Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich.; and Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., are nothing more than “activists” posing as legislators, according to these Democrats.
Omar was close to being ousted during her primary election, but managed to hold off her opponent.
The vast amount of money her opponent was able to raise proved that many Minnesotans no longer feel that Omar represents them.
Omar, however, argued that her victory means that support for her and her radical agenda has grown.
“Tonight, our movement didn’t just win,” Omar tweeted. “We earned a mandate for change. Despite outside efforts to defeat us, we once again broke turnout records. Despite the attacks, our support has only grown.”
