Rashida Tlaib Blames Islamophobia for Democratic Reaction to Ilhan Omar’s Anti-Semitism

(Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

We now have a full understanding as to why the anti-Semitism flap surrounding Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., has yet to die down: Islamophobia!

Good Lord.

Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., is claiming that a large percentage of her fellow Democrats have offered criticism of Omar’s frequent anti-Semitic outbursts because they are Islamophobic.

Tlaib was asked in an interview this week why certain people reacted so strongly against Rep. Omar’s comments towards Israel, to which Tlaib replied, “You know, I’m trying to figure it out. It’s just this past week, I feel, and I know this would be somewhat shocking for some, but I think Islamophobia is very much among the Democratic Party as well as the Republican Party.”

She added, “And I know that’s hard for people to hear, but there’s only been four members of Congress that are of Muslim faith. Three of them currently serve in this institution. More of us need to get elected, but more of us need to understand as we come into this institution that I have a lot of work to do with my colleagues.”

Want to see the exchange for yourself?