Democratic lawmakers are split on how to deal with the fallout from controversial remarks by Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., Politico is reporting.
As a result, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., now finds herself struggling to keep the Democratic caucus united, according to the website.
“These are just the growing pains of our coming into our own as a majority,” said Rep. Jamie Raskin D-Md. “And Speaker Pelosi is the one who has to try to put it all together and govern day to day. It’s not easy. But people have lost a lot of money betting against Nancy Pelosi before.”
Sparking the new crisis for Democrats is how to handle a series of comments made by Omar widely condemned as anti-Semitic. If Pelosi comes down too hard, she risks alienating progressive lawmakers.
But if she doesn’t come down hard enough she is likely to anger Jewish lawmakers and groups outraged over Omar's remarks about pro-Israel advocates’ “allegiance to a foreign country,” Politico noted.
President Donald Trump has not been reluctant to get involved in the dispute, The Hill reports.
Trump tweeted Wednesday: “It is shameful that House Democrats won’t take a stronger stand against Anti-Semitism in their conference. Anti-Semitism has fueled atrocities throughout history and it’s inconceivable they will not act to condemn it!”