Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) claimed in a tweet that Representative Ilhan Omar (D-MN) is a member of the "anti-Semitic Left," suggesting that Democrats' inability to pass an antisemitism resolution in the House bear responsibility for the outrage that followed the publication of a political cartoon in the New York Times depicting Benjamin Netanyahu as a guide dog for President Donald Trump, who is illustrated wearing a skullcap.
"Responsible Dems need to say Enough is Enough," he wrote.
Omar responded soon afterward, pointing out that Cruz had not said a word after a white nationalist "terrorized a synagogue during Passover," a reference to the gunman who opened fire on worshippers at Chabad of Poway in San Diego over the weekend.
Cruz was criticized in short order.
Accusations of antisemitism have dogged Omar since she came under fire after criticizing the amount of political donations from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC).
While the PAC is certainly influential, many felt that accusing it of using money to control Washington fed into the antisemitic conspiracy theory that a network of Jewish people use their money to sway the world in their favor. Omar soon heartily apologized.
The apology has done little to quell criticism from conservatives, particularly President Trump, who earlier this month shared a video that claims to show her being dismissive of the terror attacks of September 11, 2001.
Omar says she's faced increased death threats as a result of the president's behavior, saying:
"Violent rhetoric and hate speech have no place in our society, much less from our country’s Commander in Chief.We are all Americans. This is endangering lives. This has to stop.”
Cruz, who, unlike Omar, was not among the politicians who issued immediate responses to the news of the Poway shooting, could not be reached for comment.
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