General Political Discussion

[dark_crystal]

So what do y’all think of the Ilhan Omar situation and the house anti-semitism resolution (which appears to be falling apart.)

I do not think her original remark was anti-semitic, it was anti-AIPAC. To me it is not the same thing but I am not Jewish

[dark_crystal]

Chelsea Clinton Confronted by Students at New Zealand Vigil: You 'Stoked' Islamophobia

Chelsea Clinton was confronted by a group of college students who claimed at a vigil on Friday that the former first daughter was partly responsible for the New Zealand mosque shootings, claiming she had previously “stoked” hatred against Muslims.

According to the Washington Post, Clinton, who is pregnant with her third child, attended a vigil in New York City for the victims of the Christchurch mass shooting, which left at least 49 people dead and 20 injured at two mosques on Friday. Clinton, who co-founded the Of Many Institute, an multifaith organization at NYU, had been invited to attend the vigil.

“This right here is the result of a massacre stoked by people like you and the words that you put out into the world,” one student can be heard telling Clinton, 39, in a video of the confrontation, which was initially posted by fellow student Rose Asaf, who has since deleted her Twitter account.

“I want you to know that and I want you to feel that deep down inside. Forty-nine people died because of the rhetoric you put out there,” the student added.

Maintaining her composure throughout the video, Clinton responded by saying, “I’m so sorry that you feel that way.”

“Certainly, it was never my intention. I do believe words matter. I believe we have to show solidarity,” she added.

Before the end of the clip, another student, who was not visible, could be heard asking Clinton, “What does ‘I’m sorry you feel that way’ mean?”

<snip>

The students’ comments appear to be in reference to Clinton’s earlier condemnation of Minnesota State Rep. Ilhan Omar, who was recently accused of making anti-Semitic comments enforcing hateful cultural stereotypes.

In February, 37-year-old Omar — who is one of the first Muslim women to ever be elected to Congress — issued an apology after sharing tweets that suggested U.S. relations with Israel centered around money, NPR reported.

Clinton was one of many who spoke out against Omar, writing on Twitter at the time, “We should expect all elected officials, regardless of party, and all public figures to not traffic in anti-Semitism.”

According to NPR, following the backlash over Omar’s comments, the House went on to pass a resolution condemning “anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, racism and other forms of bigotry.”

What do we think?

I think the student had a point (everyone who complained about Omar last week should be called on it this week) but was her position strengthened by this action? A whole bunch of mainstream dems were outraged on Chelsea's behalf, and then all of them got dogpiled by leftist twitter, with the result that the division between the normie and progressive wings of the anti-Trump side are even more divided.

Personally, i think it's a mistake for Chelsea to be as visible as she is. She should not have been confronted, but she also should not have been there.

My reason for saying this is that she was a featured speaker at our conference a couple of years ago, and she just does not have anything much to say.

She's not that smart! There is no reason for her to be out there except nepotism.

[Martina]

I don't get the connection between criticizing Rep. Omar and the hate crime in New Zealand. Did the manifesto mention that? Those white supremacists have a long history of anti-Muslim sentiment and rhetoric to draw on.

I think Rep. Omar was right to criticize the lobby in support of Israel, but that dual allegiance comment that followed was fucked up.

Re Chelsea, she is dull. She has a Stanford undergraduate education and a doctorate from Oxford, yet she is so unmotivated that she's never held a real job in her field.

I read she did clean up the Clinton Foundation some, making it less an obviously pay for access enterprise.

The reason she has nothing to say is that the neo-liberal tradition out of which she comes is intellectually bankrupt. It has nothing to offer. She could go in other directions, really working in, say, international women's rights. But she's happier as an influential Manhattan socialite.

[dark_crystal]

Originally Posted by Martina

She could go in other directions, really working in, say, international women's rights. But she's happier as an influential Manhattan socialite.

I mean, Princess Diana picked land mines. Come on, Chelsea.

She's like the Joel Osteen of neoliberals, in a riding-parental-coattails sense

[Martina]

She is a Clinton. If she's not going to get money, status or influence out of it, it's not going to get much of her time. I imagine she's interested in her kids. But who isn't?

I don't think she'll ever run for office. It's too much work. She'll just keep being on boards, teaching the occasional graduate seminar, and writing children's books.

Originally Posted by dark_crystal

I mean, Princess Diana picked land mines. Come on, Chelsea.

She's like the Joel Osteen of neoliberals, in a riding-parental-coattails sense

[nhplowboi]

It would appear the Mueller report may break this weekend. Mueller is a strategist and I can see him aiming to ruin Donald's Mar-A-Lago weekend. I will say the Trump camp seems a little too calm about this so I am sure they have something up their sleeve, even if it is only Barr. I have NEVER thought our government could so easily be taken over by such blatant, unethical, corrupt, money grubbing people.
Oh PS (while I am on my rant)....how dare the R's sit quietly and meekly as this draft dodging, pathological liar maligns and speaks ill of the deceased Senator McCain.

[nhplowboi]

Pompeo suggests God sent Trump to save Israel. Mike.....please try and find Dorothy so you can find your way back to Kansas.