
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Ilhan Omar is a congresswoman from Minnesota. ; She is officially a citizen of the United States and has sworn an oath of allegiance when she became a citizen and an oath to uphold the Constitution when she became a member of Congress. ; She is of Somalian ancestry.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">So, is she a loyal citizen – and an upholder of her oaths? ; That would not be a question if she had not said some provocative things. ; In a speech in her native language, Omar said that she is FIRST a Somalian and second a Muslim. ; Notably absent was any reference to being an American.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Traditionally, those who come to the United States to become Americans are proud of their new designation. ; They proclaim themselves to be an American first. ; That does not mean that they do not love and live their ancestral traditions of language, food, music or religion. ; It is just that they have pledged allegiance and loyalty to America. ; They love to BE an American.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Omar’s comments could be interpreted as merely an oversight – that she was speaking only within the context of ancestral culture. ; She did not mean to disregard her American citizenship. ;</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">But she said something else that is potentially clarifying and truly disturbing. ; She added &#8220;Sleep in comfort, knowing I am here <strong>to protect the interests of Somalia from inside the U.S. system</strong>.&#8221;</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">That is not a misstatement. ; That is specific and a declarative &#8230; period. ; She could be describing herself as a foreign agent.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">There is an incidental irony to her statements. ; Omar – and other members of the squad – have been critical of Jewish Americans for what they claim is their loyalty to Israel. ; Of course, no Jewish member of Congress has ever said that their primary purpose is to protect the interest of Israel from inside the U.S. system. ; If they ever had done so, I suspect Omar would be among the first to point a condemning finger at them.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">So &#8230; let us take Omar at her word. ; What should be done about it?</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Florida Governor Ron DeSantis believes that Omar should be tossed from the Congress, have her citizenship revoked and be deported back to Somalia. ; That has a certain visceral appeal for folks who love America but it is a bit hyperbolic. ; That is not how we do things in America if we respect the Constitution and value our own rights&#8211; even if our gut feels otherwise.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">George Washington University professor and constitutional scholar Jonathan Turley offers a different view. ; He looks at the Omar situation through the prism of two of America’s most important freedoms and rights – free speech and the reliance on the people to elect their own representatives.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">In his blog, Turley wrote, &#8220;While I have been a long critic of Omar, her views expressed in this speech are not only protected speech, but they are not a basis for denaturalization.”</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">As a free speech extremist – like our Founders and consistent with the meaning of the First Amendment – I understand that unless we tolerate unpopular opinions and even offensive speech, we are undermining our own constitutional rights.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I have always been very reluctant to nullify the manifest will of the people by politically removing elected officials for anything but the most extreme transgressions – literally convicted of major crimes. ; I would not have expelled Congressman Ron Santos. I would not expel Senator Robert Menendez. ;  ;I prefer to leave those decisions up to the collective will of the people in the next election.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">That does not mean that there should be no consequences in the meantime. ; In the Omar case, I would consider a resolution of condemnation, removal from any leadership positions in Congress and from committee assignments – especially those that have any responsibility for foreign policy.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">If she were found to pursue specific activities beneficial to Somalia and detrimental to United States security – a crime – that would justify both removal and criminal adjudication. ; So far, that threshold has not been met.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Even if such measures were invoked, it is possible that the people of her District would reelect her. ; I may not respect their decision, but I do respect their right to make that decision.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">In short, I do not like or respect Omar. ; I personally wish she were not in Congress. ; But the people of her District put her there, and it is their primary duty and responsibility to decide her future as a representative of the people.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Omar was almost unseated in her 2022 primary election. ; We can only hope that a challenge in either the primary or general election will be more successful this time. ; THAT is the American way.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">So, there ‘tis.</p>

Congressman Omar says her allegiance is to Somalia
