U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) when asked by MSNow yesterday if she married her brother:
“Not to my knowledge.”
How many of you reading this would answer in that way?
If asked if I’d ever married a sibling, I know how I’d answer. And it’s not like Omar was blindsided by the question. She’s an experienced member of Congress, she’s familiar with the allegations, and she understands the political and legal stakes.
It’s concerning to me that there could be any member of Congress that couldn’t answer that question without qualifying — no matter their political affiliation. The standard I’m describing isn’t partisan. Just like my thoughts about Katie Zacharia hiding behind a cloud of smoke regarding her qualifications wasn’t tied to politics.
We’re talking about a member of Congress!
Omar explicitly stated, “Investigate me all you want,” dismissing the allegations regarding her family’s immigration paperwork as “disgusting lies” and politically motivated attacks.
Now that she IS being investigated, she’s walking that back with a “not to my knowledge” response?
The timing of the investigation is certainly questionable… but that doesn’t change what’s being investigated. Voters don’t have to wait for a criminal conviction to evaluate a candidate’s credibility. They can consider inconsistencies, evasiveness, transparency, and the willingness to answer difficult questions.
Lots for Minnesotans to think about…
Hugo’s happy she’s not running in Indiana. 🙂
Now you know: The first television rerun was an episode of I Love Lucy in 1952; before that, TV episodes were aired just once, and never again.
