Staff Reports
Following the midterm election victory of the Republican Party, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy made it clear that he wanted Democratic Representatives Eric Swalwell, Adam Schiff, and Ilhan Omar to be removed from their committee assignments. Although Swalwell and Schiff seemed to be the most likely to be stripped of their assignments, three Republicans have come to the defense of Omar.
As the only African born, not being on the Africa subcommittee is not just an elimination of a unique voice but an elimination of all the voices that have never been heard on a committee on the continent.
It’s racist, xenophobic and discriminatory.
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) January 26, 2023
Colorado Republican Representative Ken Buck is the latest GOP member to express reservations about removing Omar from committees. He stated that he does not believe in “tit-for-tat” actions, referring to how in 2021 Democrats removed controversial Republicans like Georgia Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene and Arizona Representative Paul Gosar from their committees. Buck also said that he has less certainty about Schiff and Swalwell on the Intelligence Committee due to its sensitive nature.
South Carolina Republican Representative Nancy Mace also came to Omar’s defense, telling Fox News that they must be careful about how they act as a constitutional republic. Mace made it clear that she is not a fan of Omar, but believes that cancelling people in this country is not the right thing to do. She also stressed that there is a lot of anti-Semitism in this country and that it should be condemned, but there is also the First Amendment right to do so.
Omar has complained that McCarthy’s efforts to strip her committee assignments are simply motivated by racism. She argued that being the only African born on the subcommittee on Africa on the Foreign Affairs Committee is an elimination of a unique voice and all the voices that have never been heard on a committee on the continent. Omar also said that it is racist, xenophobic, and discriminatory.
The three Republicans who have come to Omar’s defense have made it clear that they do not believe in cancel culture and that it is hypocritical. They have also expressed that they do not believe in “tit-for-tat” actions and that they must be careful about how they act as a constitutional republic. Omar has argued that McCarthy’s efforts are motivated by racism and that it is an elimination of a unique voice. It is clear that there are differing opinions on this issue, but it is important to remember that everyone has a right to their opinion and should be respected for it.
The preceding article is a summary of an article that originally appeared on Conservative Institute
