Arizona state Senator Wendy Rogers questioned the outrage that has been sparked by remarks Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) made regarding her first interaction with Democrat Rep. Ilhan Omar.
Speaking to a crowd of her supporters at a campaign event, the freshman GOP congresswoman referred to Omar as a member of the “Jihad Squad” and then joked that she was relieved that her Democrat colleage didn’t “have a backpack” when finding herself in close proximity for the first time. Video of Boebert’s remarks went viral over the Thanksgiving holiday.
WATCH:
Over the Thanksgiving break, Lauren Boebert said she was recently in a Capitol elevator with Ilhan Omar when a fretful Capitol police officer ran up.
Lauren Boebert said: “Well, she doesn’t have a backpack. We should be fine.”
Boebert then called Ilhan Omar, “jihad squad.” pic.twitter.com/Y7f0nFbnud
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) November 25, 2021
The video featuring Boebert immediately triggered a reaction from Rep. Omar, who called on Congressional leadership on both sides of the aisle to “take appropriate action.”
“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,” Omar tweeted. “Anti-Muslim bigotry isn’t funny & shouldn’t be normalized. Congress can’t be a place where hateful and dangerous Muslims tropes get no condemnation.”
She continued: “Saying I am a suicide bomber is no laughing matter. @GOPLeader and @SpeakerPelosi need to take appropriate action, normalizing this bigotry not only endangers my life but the lives of all Muslims. Anti-Muslim bigotry has no place in Congress. https://t.co/QTmqaGaZrM
Saying I am a suicide bomber is no laughing matter. @GOPLeader and @SpeakerPelosi need to take appropriate action, normalizing this bigotry not only endangers my life but the lives of all Muslims. Anti-Muslim bigotry has no place in Congress. https://t.co/A0VxI3uTmH pic.twitter.com/QTmqaGaZrM
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) November 26, 2021
Moments later, Rep. Boebert apologized to the Muslim community for her remarks and indicated that she “reached out” to Rep. Omar’s office to speak directly with her Democrat colleague over the matter.
I apologize to anyone in the Muslim community I offended with my comment about Rep. Omar. I have reached out to her office to speak with her directly. There are plenty of policy differences to focus on without this unnecessary distraction.
— Rep. Lauren Boebert (@RepBoebert) November 26, 2021
Meanwhile, Arizona state Sen. Wendy Rogers declared an apology for the remarks made by Rep. Boebert is unnecessary as she didn’t see anything “wrong” with them.
Rogers then called for House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy to “stand up” for Boebert’s original statements, and then renewed her support for Arizona Rep. Paul Gosar as the next House Speaker.
“What did @laurenboebert say wrong?” Sen. Rogers tweeted. “I see some hypocrisy here – the left can say whatever they want and @SpeakerPelosi backs them. @GOPLeader you should stand up for Lauren’s original statements. NEVER apologize to the Communists. This is why I support @DrPaulGosar for speaker.”
What did @laurenboebert say wrong? I see some hypocrisy here – the left can say whatever they want and @SpeakerPelosi backs them. @GOPLeader you should stand up for Lauren's original statements. NEVER apologize to the Communists. This is why I support @DrPaulGosar for speaker.
— Wendy Rogers (@WendyRogersAZ) November 26, 2021
