"In the years since 9/11 thousands of people have become ill or died from causes related to the attacks," Bloomberg said. "That group includes many people who participated in rescue or recovery. It also includes people with homes and workplaces in the surrounding area who would not allow terrorists to force them to abandon their communities."
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]]>The post Top House Democrats Defend Omar's 9/11 Comment: 'I Saw Nothing Wrong With It' appeared first on .
]]>Speaking to the Council on American Islamic Relations at a March fundraiser, Omar talked about the difficulties Muslims faced following the Sept. 11, 2001, al Qaeda attacks. She claimed they saw their civil liberties infringed upon, and she referred to the events as an instance when "some people did something." Her point was to praise CAIR for organizing in response.
After the clip of Omar went viral, Republicans and some Democrats in Congress voiced their disgust at the comment. President Donald Trump tweeted out a video of Omar's comments followed by footage of the airplanes flying into the Twin Towers and then the towers collapsing, sparking outrage from Democrats who believed criticism of Omar's comment was "inciting violence" against her.
Reps. Bennie Thompson (D., Miss.), the chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, and Jerry Nadler (D., N.Y.), the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, appeared on ABC and CNN, where they defended her comment and pushed back against Trump's tweet.
"I saw the speech she gave and I saw nothing wrong with it," Thompson said. "I saw the president's manufactured tweet where he put pieces in there, but George, we are a nation of laws, a democracy, free speech is here. I saw nothing wrong with the congresswoman's speech."
ABC's This Week host George Stephanopoulos was not satisfied with Thompson's answer, pressing him further.
"You say you saw nothing wrong with it, but she did characterize the most deadly attack ever on American soil-- terrorist attack ever on American soil, a cold-blooded mass murder as 'some people did something,' Stephanopoulos said. "That does seem to downplay the importance of what happened on 9/11, doesn't it?"
"No question about it. We had over 3,000 people who got killed at that event, so nothing to downplay on it, but, again, she spoke to it," Thompson said. "I think the president is just seizing that moment, manufacturing what he said and then moving forward with a traditional speech, so I think there are other issues we have to deal with in this country."
CNN's State of the Union host Jake Tapper asked Nadler whether he took issue with Omar's 9/11 comment, prompting him to say that he had no problem with what she said.
"No, I did not. She characterized it only in passing. She was talking about discrimination against Muslim Americans and she just said after that happened it was used as an excuse for lots of discrimination and with withdrawal of civil liberties. I've had some problems with some of her other remarks, but not with that one."
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]]>The post 2020 Democrats Rush to the Defense of Omar After 9/11 Comment appeared first on .
]]>Speaking to the Council on American Islamic Relations at a March fundraiser, Omar talked about the difficulties Muslims faced following the Sept. 11, 2001, al Qaeda attacks. She claimed they saw their civil liberties infringed upon, and she referred to the events as an instance when "some people did something." Her point was to praise CAIR for organizing in response.
After the video went viral, Republicans and some Democrats in Congress voiced their disgust at the comment. Trump tweeted out a video of Omar's comments followed by footage of the airplanes flying into the Twin Towers and then the towers collapsing, sparking outrage from Democrats who believed criticism of Omar's comment was "inciting violence" against her.
Several 2020 Democrats, including Sens. Elizabeth Warren (Mass.), Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.), Amy Klobuchar (Minn.), South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Gov. Jay Inslee (Wash.), and former Gov. John Hickenlooper (Colo.) have slammed Trump for his tweet.
"The President is inciting violence against a sitting Congresswoman—and an entire group of Americans based on their religion," Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.) tweeted. "It's disgusting. It's shameful. And any elected leader who refuses to condemn it shares responsibility for it."
The President is inciting violence against a sitting Congresswoman—and an entire group of Americans based on their religion. It's disgusting. It's shameful. And any elected leader who refuses to condemn it shares responsibility for it.
— Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) April 13, 2019
The threats against the life of @IlhanMN make clear what is at stake if we fail to to do this, and to beat back hate in all all its forms.
— Pete Buttigieg (@PeteButtigieg) April 13, 2019
Ilhan Omar is a leader with strength and courage. She won't back down to Trump's racism and hate, and neither will we. The disgusting and dangerous attacks against her must end.
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) April 13, 2019
President Trump's inflammatory and dangerous rhetoric towards Ilhan Omar is jeopardizing her safety. He is deliberately putting her and all Muslim Americans in harm's way.
— Jay Inslee (@JayInslee) April 13, 2019
Someone has already been charged with a serious threat on Congresswoman Omar’s life. The video the President chose to send out today will only incite more hate. You can disagree with her words—as I have done before—but this video is wrong. Enough.
— Amy Klobuchar (@amyklobuchar) April 13, 2019
President Trump's personal attack against Representative Omar is vile and shameful. It's not just below the office, it's dangerous and dishonest.
— John Hickenlooper (@Hickenlooper) April 13, 2019
MoveOn.org, a large progressive activist group, also rushed to the defense of Omar in a tweet thread, calling her courageous and a "champion of the U.S. House."
Omar champions democracy reforms, ending the culture of endless wars, calling out white supremacists & war criminals in the @realdonaldtrump administration, & fiercely defending human rights of immigrants & asylum-seekers.
— MoveOn (@MoveOn) April 13, 2019
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]]>The post NY Democrats Ignore Omar's 9/11 Comment appeared first on .
]]>Speaking to the Council on American Islamic Relations at a March fundraiser, Omar discussed the difficulties Muslims faced. She claimed they saw their civil liberties infringed upon after the Sept. 11, 2001, al Qaeda attacks. In those comments, she referred to the events as "some people [who] did something" and praised CAIR for organizing in response.
"CAIR was founded after 9/11, because they recognized that some people did something and that all of us were starting to lose access to our civil liberties," she said. "So you can't just say that, 'Today someone is looking at me strange. That I am going to try to make myself look pleasant.' You have to say, 'This person is looking at me strange. I am not comfortable with it. I'm going to go talk to them and ask them why.'"
The Daily Caller picked up on Omar's language in a story, which quickly spread online.
The story drew condemnation from others, including Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R., Texas). Crenshaw is a former Navy SEAL who served in Afghanistan, Bahrain, and South Korea. He called Omar's comments "unbelievable."
First Member of Congress to ever describe terrorists who killed thousands of Americans on 9/11 as 'some people who did something".
Unbelievable. https://t.co/IKtoZWWmIT
— Dan Crenshaw (@DanCrenshawTX) April 9, 2019
"It is deeply disturbing that a sitting Member of Congress would trivialize the deaths of thousands of Americans, one of the most pivotal events in U.S. history," Rep. Lee Zeldin (R., N.Y.) told the Washington Free Beacon. He called the events of 9/11 "a terrorist attack that to this day continues to take the lives of our fellow countrymen."
One New York Democrat Rep. Max Rose responded on Twitter to Omar's comments.
"Let’s be clear, words matter: we were attacked by terrorists on 9/11. Thousands were murdered, too many of whom were from my district," Rose said.
Let’s be clear, words matter: we were attacked by terrorists on 9/11. Thousands were murdered, too many of whom were from my district.
But actions matter too. So let’s do the right thing and #Renew911VCF.
Why aren’t you a cosponsor @DanCrenshawTX? https://t.co/4NoYTK1bbS
— Max Rose (@MaxRose4NY) April 10, 2019
No other New York Democrat in the Senate or House of Representatives has commented on Omar's comments. None replied to several messages from the Washington Free Beacon before press time.
Meanwhile, Omar responded to Crenshaw's comments, claiming his reaction to her 9/11 remarks constitute "dangerous incitement." She claimed it was never acceptable to challenge her patriotism. "My love and commitment to our country and that of my colleagues should never be in question," she said. "We are ALL Americans!"
This is dangerous incitement, given the death threats I face. I hope leaders of both parties will join me in condemning it.
My love and commitment to our country and that of my colleagues should never be in question. We are ALL Americans! pic.twitter.com/foTZMpiZKv
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) April 10, 2019
Crenshaw had not questioned her patriotism, saying as much in a reply Wednesday afternoon. However, Omar has questioned the loyalties of others.
In May 0f 2018, Omar accused President Donald Trump of disloyalty. He is "not a patriot," she said at the time.
I am with @JoeBiden, the President’s like, phony populism and fake nationalism is hurting this country. He is a #DraftDodger, not a patriot, just like his German grandpa. Let’s not allow him to use our fears to divide us, let’s arm ourselves with love! https://t.co/C69GiaB2HK
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) May 26, 2018
In February, Omar peddled in anti-Semitic stereotypes, claiming an ambitious pro-Israel bill was the product of financial persuasion. "It's all about the Benjamins baby," she said, alluding to $100 bills.
Shortly after, Batya Ungar-Sargon of the liberal Jewish Daily Forward called the remark "the second anti-Semitic trope you've tweeted." Ungar-Sargon had previously defended Omar's comments in the past. She asked Omar who would be "paying American politicians to be pro-Israel."
Omar replied, "AIPAC!" Omar later deleted that tweet.
Later in February, Omar told an audience that some in the United States insisted on fealty to foreign powers. "I want to talk about the political influence in this country that says it is okay for people to push for allegiance to a foreign country," she said. The comment provoked condemnation from members of both parties.
In March, Omar made additional comments. After Rep. Nita Lowey (D., N.Y.) tweeted, "Omar continues to mischaracterize support for Israel," Omar responded that members of Congress should not be "expected to have allegiance/pledge support to a foreign country."
Lowey, who previously condemned Omar's comments about Israel, did not reply to a request for comment about Omar's 9/11 remark.
You can watch Omar's full remarks here.
UPDATE: The article was updated to include Congressman Rose's comment, which he tweeted after this story was published.
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]]>The post CNN Documentary Features 9/11 Truther Talking About Bush's 9/11 Speech appeared first on .
]]>Jones appeared after the documentary played footage of President George W. Bush's famous bullhorn speech amid the rubble of Ground Zero in New York City.
"I think George W. Bush's presidency starts with 9/11," Jones said. "I think when you saw him out there on that pile of rubble, most Americans said, 'We're going to get behind him, and we're going to hope he leads us out of this.'"
Jones was a curious choice by CNN to comment on Bush and 9/11, given his history.
Jones resigned as the Obama administration's green jobs czar in 2009 when his name was among the signatures of a 9/11 truth statement suggesting the George W. Bush administration had advance knowledge of the terrorist attacks. Jones later claimed he disavowed the conspiracy theory that 9/11 was an inside job and his name was put on the list without his knowledge.
Jones also came under fire at the time for calling Republicans "a—holes" before joining the administration. He once compared Bush to a "crackhead."
Jones has hosted The Van Jones Show twice a month on CNN since January 2018. He remains politically active, recently working with White House adviser Jared Kushner to get criminal justice reform passed and signed into law last year.
Jones also famously described the election of Trump as a "whitelash" to Barack Obama in an emotional moment on election night in 2016.
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]]>The post Ads Target Democratic Congressional Candidates for Making 9/11 Comparisons to Trump appeared first on .
]]>ESA Fund, formerly known as Ending Spending Action Fund, produced the ads against Amy McGrath, who is challenging Rep. Andy Barr (R., Ky) in Kentucky's 6th Congressional District, and Sean Casten, who is facing Rep. Peter Roskam (R., Ill.) in Illinois' 6th district.
In an ad entitled "Woke Up," McGrath is taken to task for comparing Trump's election victory to 9/11, where thousands of Americans were killed.
"How extreme is Amy McGrath?" the narrator asks. "Listen to McGrath describe President Trump's election."
"That morning I woke up like somebody had sucker-punched me," McGrath said last year. "The only feeling I can describe that's any close to it was the feeling I had after 9/11."
"That's right," the narrator intones. "McGrath compared more than a million Kentuckians who voted for President Trump to terrorists. Amy McGrath is too extreme for Kentucky."
Another ad, called "Difference," draws differences between Roskam, called Illinois' most bipartisan member of Congress, with "partisan" Casten, slamming him for comparing Trump to 9/11 mastermind Osama bin Laden.
"Trump and Osama bin Laden have a tremendous amount in common," Casten said in February, first reported by the Washington Free Beacon.
The narrator then encourages viewers to vote for "bipartisan leadership and civility."
The Cook Political Report rates Roskam's race as leaning Democratic, while it has Barr's as a toss-up.
The nod to civility strikes at one of the central discussions in American politics heading into the midterms on Tuesday.
Republicans have decried liberal "mobs" at the Supreme Court and elsewhere who harass politicians, while Democrats point the finger at Trump as creating the climate for extremists like the supporter of his who mailed explosive devices to more than a dozen prominent White House critics, including Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.
Many critics of Trump have made extreme comparisons similar to McGrath and Casten. Journalist Julia Ioffe apologized last week after saying Trump had radicalized more people than the Islamic State terrorist group, also known as ISIS.
Author Bruce Bartlett recently tweeted Trump and Adolf Hitler had differences, except there were all positives for Hitler.
Key differences between Donald Trump and Adolph Hitler--Hitler served honorably in the military, Trump didn't; Hitler was faithful to his wife, Trump cheated on all his wives; Hitler wrote a book, Trump's were all ghostwritten.
— Bruce Bartlett (@BruceBartlett) October 23, 2018
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]]>The post Associated Press Compares Kavanaugh-Ford Hearing to 9/11, JFK Assassination appeared first on .
]]>Ford, who has accused Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her at a high school party in the early 1980s, and Kavanaugh will testify about the charge. The day will be critical to whether Kavanaugh is confirmed to the Supreme Court, which appeared all but certain before Ford went public with her charge nearly two weeks ago.
"Like the Kennedy assassination, Challenger explosion and the twin towers, will the Kavanaugh-Ford hearing be a where-were-you moment? Read all of @AP coverage here," the AP tweeted, with a link to its up-to-the-minute coverage.
Like the Kennedy assassination, Challenger explosion and the twin towers, will the Kavanaugh-Ford hearing be a where-were-you moment? Read all of @AP coverage here: https://t.co/QeR1SZaBbK https://t.co/s4b2qiPsNe
— The Associated Press (@AP) September 27, 2018
NBC News host Willie Geist simply tweeted about the comparison, "Good Lord."
Good Lord. https://t.co/WfUbXmszj2
— Willie Geist (@WillieGeist) September 27, 2018
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]]>The post Dem Candidate Questions Opponent's Patriotism for Releasing Ad on 9/11, Despite Running Ad 11 Times on Same Day appeared first on .
]]>Miller released an ad on Tuesday in which she touted her policy platform and President Donald Trump's endorsement. She also attacked Ojeda, saying that he "sold out" to House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.), received large sums of money from far-left sources, and will back a Democratic plan to impeach Trump.
In response to the ad, Ojeda wrote in a now-deleted tweet: "That's a really nice cartoon ... but it is good to know that on the anniversary of 9/11 ... you were thinking about political attacks. Way to be a patriot."