The controversy surrounding Rep. Ilhan Omar’s (D-Minn.) comments about Israel and AIPAC highlights a crisis of proportionality in American politics. At a fraught moment in our history, when the Republican Party under Donald Trump is unapologetically running roughshod over constitutional norms and principles, it is disturbing that the House of Representatives would prioritize a resolution intended to rebuke Rep. Omar, who, while standing by her argument, apologized for her choice of words. On Feb. 11, 2019, Omar issued a statement saying that anti-Semitism “is real and I am grateful for Jewish allies and colleagues who are educating me on the painful history of anti-Semitic tropes. My intention is never to offend my constituents or Jewish Americans as a whole. We have to always be willing to step back and think through criticism, just as I expect people to hear me when others attack me for my identity. This is why I unequivocally apologize.” CONTINUE READING