Ocasio-Cortez balks at Dem leadership?s rebuke of Omar

The Congressional Black Caucus will discuss the measure at its weekly meeting Wednesday and the Congressional Progressive Caucus is also expected to meet on the issue.The resolution doesn't mention Omar by name but is a direct response to her most recent comments and come after a string of Israel-related remarks that her colleagues have claimed are anti-Semitic.Ocasio-Cortez fired off a series of tweets throughout the day on Tuesday, criticizing what she sees as hypocrisy in Democrats' planned reprimand of Omar. Smith, however, claimed the remark was not racially motivated and instead was referring to 30-member event in Puerto Rico that occurred during the shutdown, which was heavily covered by conservative media and even drew ire from President Donald Trump.Omar also received backlash last month after she questioned the political influence of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee by tweeting the phrase "It's all about the Benjamins baby." The congresswoman has since apologized for that statement.Following the remark, House Republicans last month pushed a resolution condemning anti-Semitism, although it did not specifically mention Omar. The measure was approved on the floor, and it won over Omar's vote as well.Omar is now facing another public rebuke, with Pelosi and other top Democrats planning to bring a resolution to the floor condemning anti-Semitism.A senior Democratic aide countered Ocasio-Cortez's criticisms on Tuesday by saying a resolution on the House floor is far from the most severe punishment Democratic leaders could pursue. By SARAH FERRIS, HEATHER CAYGLE and JOHN BRESNAHANOcasio-Cortez claimed that the resolution falls under "calling out" and should be "one of the measure of last resort," and should only be done after "repeated attempts to 'call in' are disrespected or ignored.""I believe that Ilhan, in her statement a few weeks ago, has demonstrated a willingness to listen+work w/impacted communities," the New York congresswoman tweeted.She added that she has in the past called out white or male allies when they have said something insensitive by pulling them aside and explaining why their comments were hurtful and where they could learn more about it.Ocasio-Cortez also tweeted that "a good chunk of Congress would be gone" if there were resolution on sexist statements made by her colleagues."To jump to the nuclear option every time leaves no room for corrective action," she tweeted.