This is a welcome effort by Democratic leaders to rebuke one of their own, but let’s not pretend Omar isn’t getting a speaking gig at the convention next year.

Or that she won’t get a standing O from the crowd when she walks out.

Silver lining for Pelosi: The Omar word vomit that she’s trying to clean up today has distracted people momentarily from the Ocasio-Cortez word vomit of last week. The “new Democrats” aren’t dull, whatever else they may be.

Why should Omar apologize when she clearly said what she actually believes? She should call Pelosi’s bluff and double down. What’s the worst that can happen?

Steve Scalise has a suggestion:

Good that some Dems have condemned the disgraceful anti-Semitic remarks of Rep. Omar—but their words are empty unless Dem leaders remove her from the Foreign Affairs Committee. No one with her anti-Semitic views should be allowed to represent US foreign policy on that committee.

— Steve Scalise (@SteveScalise) February 11, 2019

The GOP’s in a strong position to make that demand at the moment, having just stripped Steve King of his committee assignments for his latest flirtation with white nationalism. I’m uneasy with the idea of an elected representative being stripped of meaningful power in Congress over their views, however loathsome. Their constituents can always punish them in the next election, right? And the King/Omar precedent could be used to unjustly sanction members with unpopular but more meritorious views in future Congresses. There’s no denying that it’s a meaningful penalty, though — much more so than censure, which is embarrassing but otherwise ineffectual. Take a member’s committee assignments away and you’re stripping their district of influence over policy. If only for reasons of self-interest, the voters of that district should be looking around for a new rep next election.

Having Omar questioning witnesses on the Foreign Affairs Committee might prove more useful to Republicans than Democrats, frankly. She’s bound to say something at a hearing that’s attack-ad-worthy. Scalise doesn’t want a soundbite of her innocently wondering into a mic whether Israel has “hypnotized” the world to use against the Dem nominee in 2020?

Anyway, Dan Foster speaks truth:

https://twitter.com/DanFosterType/status/1095034559765323777

A case in point, via Jeryl Bier:

1/ Remember the 2005 photo of @BarackObama and @LouisFarrakhan that was suppressed for 13 years? Well, that was not the only photo taken that day. Here's a group photo of Farrakhan and about 20 @OfficialCBC members from that same CBC meeting.https://t.co/eTwySGQgi5 pic.twitter.com/OJzR8laKH6

— Jeryl Bier (@JerylBier) August 30, 2018

CNN asked Omar about criticism of her views on Israel a few days ago and she knew exactly what to say: “I think it is actually exciting because we are finally able to have conversations that we weren’t really willing to.” That’s identical to how an alt-righter would defend Steve King’s point of view. All we’re doing is opening up the conversation to new viewpoints. She’ll get cover from the grassroots left for just that reason, even the ones who don’t share her antipathy to Israel. (Assuming there are any such leftists.) “It’s time for bold out-of-the-box thinking on policy” is an ethic they’re eager to instill in the electorate, and Omar is delivering that in her own special way. How can she back down now by apologizing?

Eliot Engel, the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, put out a statement earlier criticizing her tweets from last night but saying nothing about removing her from the committee. Stay tuned.

Update: Good point here. Maybe Omar has already doubled down.

https://twitter.com/AaronBlake/status/1095043970382602240

Update: Ah, someday I’ll learn not to doubt Pelosi.

Listening and learning, but standing strong 💪🏽 pic.twitter.com/7TSroSf8h1

— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) February 11, 2019

“I shouldn’t have implied that AIPAC money is behind America’s support for Israel, but no, really, keep your eye on AIPAC.” That ought to put this to bed until the next time Omar pops off about Israel. Over/under is three weeks from now. Exit question: Does she see any “problematic” lobbyists on the left?