Politics

White House Counselor Kellyanne Conway Blasts Rep. Omar’s ‘Anti-Semitic Sewage’

Screenshot/YouTube

Saagar Enjeti White House Correspondent
Font Size:

White House counselor Kellyanne Conway blasted Congresswoman Ilhan Omar’s tweets Monday, implying that House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy maintains a pro-Israel stance because of lobbyist dollars.

“You’ve got this congresswoman from Minnesota, again anti-semitic sewage spilling from her mouth overnight,” Conway declared in an extended riff on strife within the Democratic party. Conway added that she would like to see Democratic presidential hopefuls asked if they agree with Omar’s comments on the Israel lobby.

Conway’s reaction is the first from the White House after Omar’s tweets, which have been widely panned by Republican and Democrat’s alike. Omar’s tweet implied that McCarthy was only calling for punishment against her and fellow Democratic House member Rashida Tlaib because of financial support from the pro-Israel lobby.

Omar is facing significant backlash within her own party, with Jewish House Democrats circulating a letter for signature to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, asking her to denounce Omar’s tweet.

“As Jewish Members of Congress, we are deeply alarmed by recent rhetoric from certain members within our Caucus, including just last night, that has disparaged us and called into question our loyalty to our nation,” Reps. Josh Gottheimer and Elaine Luria write in a draft letter obtained by The Washington Post. “We urge you to join us in calling on each member of our Caucus to unite against anti-Semitism and hateful tropes and stereotypes.”

House Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler also denounced Omar’s tweet, saying, “it is deeply disappointing and disturbing to hear Representative Ilhan Omar’s (MN) choice of words in her exchange with a journalist yesterday, wherein she appears to traffic in old anti-Semitic tropes about Jews and money.”

Democratic Congressman Ted Deutch also denounced Omar’s tweet, saying “the use of stereotypes and offensive rhetoric by Members of Congress, whether anti-Semitic or racist, must come to an end,” adding, “they should never be a part of any conversation about the policies of Congress. They do not belong in any conversation, period.”