A group of Democrats is working to remove Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colorado, from her committee assignments. This was after it was revealed that she had made Islamophobic comments at an event about Rep. Ilhanota (D–Minnesota).
According to PoliticoThe Democrats want Boebert to be punished in a manner similar to the ones that were levied on Marjorie Taylor Greene (R.Georgia), or Paul Gosar(R.Arizona) for making hateful and violent remarks about Democrats.
A video posted Facebook:Boebert recounted a story about a Capitol officer running to an elevator Omar and Boebert were in. Boebert claims that Omar and Boebert were standing in an elevator. The police officer thought that Omar was a terrorist, to which Boebert allegedly responded, “Well she doesn’t have a backpack, we should be fine.” She also referred to Omar as part of the “jihad squad,” A bigotedRepublicans have taken a slur on progressive lawmakers
Omar claimed that the whole story was fake. Republican officials applauded Omar’s story because it supposedly reflected the bigoted fears expressed by the American public.
The Minnesota lawmaker condemned Boebert on Twitter, saying “Fact, this buffoon looks down when she sees me at the Capitol, this whole story is made up. Sad she thinks bigotry gets her clout.”
“Anti-Muslim bigotry isn’t funny and shouldn’t be normalized,” Omar continued. “Congress can’t be a place where hateful and dangerous Muslims tropes get no condemnation.” She then pointed outNormalizing Islamophobia in Congress could also put at risk the lives of Muslims all across the country.
Omar later rebuked Republican leaders after they repeatedly ignored Islamophobia against her. noting that on her first day in CongressRepublican Rep. Steve King (Iowa), implied on Twitter that she was terrorist because of her faith. “These anti-Muslim attacks aren’t about my ideas but about my identity and it’s clear. [Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy,] your silence speaks volumes.”
Boebert was also condemned by progressive lawmakers. The Congressional Progressive Caucus wrote that the “Anti-Muslim bigotry” expressed by Boebert “has no place in Congress or anywhere. It is past time [McCarthy] respond to the dangerous rhetoric from his caucus.”
Instead of McCarthy shaming Boebert for his move, which is unlikely to happen, Democrats could take similar action to what they did for Gosar a few weeks ago: filing and Adoption of a resolutionBoebert should be censured and removed from committee assignments. Gosar had posted on social media a video depicting him moving in to attack President Joe Biden.
The House also voted in FebruaryTaylor Greene was removed from her committee assignments and her voting power was reduced. The Georgia extremist had supported violence towards Democrats online and propagated baseless conspiracy theories that denied 9/11, while adding in virulent racism as well as anti-Semitism.
It’s unclear if Democrats have the momentum to take similar action against Boebert, who has apologized — disingenuously, as Critics have taken note — for her remarks. However, her apology was likely motivated by political motives. Gosar defended his video even after it had been taken down and never apologised for it, even while he was being publicly censured. Boebert may avoid a similar fate by making a small concession.
