Letters to the Editor: Rep. Ilhan Omar's remarks bother more than just Republicans

Washington, D.C. - January 12: Rep. Ilhan Omar speaks to reporters in Statuary Hall on Capital Hill on Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2021 in Washington, D.C.. The House of Representatives convened for a session to take up articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump, nearly a week after an insurrectionist mob of pro-Trump supporters breached the security of the nation's capitol while Congress voted to certify the 2020 Election Results. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) speaks with reporters inside the U.S. Capitol in 2021. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
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To the editor: Seven years before she was elected to Congress in 2019, Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) tweeted, as noted in a House resolution, "Israel has hypnotized the world, may Allah awaken the people and help them see the evil doings of Israel." ("Removing Democrats from House committee is petty partisan payback from GOP," editorial, Feb. 2)

She has continued to make offensive remarks about Israel and the Jews of this country. She may have "apologized" for her remarks, but many people do that when they are caught and condemned for their behavior.

As a bigoted person, she is not appropriate to sit on the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Her removal by Republicans is not just "petty partisan payback."

Beth Ruben, Santa Barbara

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To the editor: Last week, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield) removed Omar from the House Foreign Affairs Committee over remarks made in 2019 that were condemned as antisemitic.

However, Omar's constituents and other Foreign Affairs Committee members feel that her voice and her perspective as an immigrant is necessary.

Also, after the last presidential election, multiple Republican lawmakers objected to certifying the result. Some now sit on committees investigating those who attempted to hold the former administration responsible for the insurgency.

Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), one of the 147 GOP House members who voted against certification, now heads a subcommittee tasked with investigating the "weaponization of the federal government."

Even more concerning, two Democratic representatives seated on the House Intelligence Committee were removed, and Jordan's new subcommittee wants access to highly classified information. I have a distinct feeling this will not end well for the country.

Kathryn Louyse, Glendale

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.