Mehdi Hasan is a hate-filled far-Left MSNBC host who espouses fashionable Big Lies such as the claim that “white supremacy is now a key ideology of the Republican Party” and “the far-right domestic terror threat is more dangerous than even Al Qaeda after 9/11.”
Back in 2009, Hasan, a Shi’ite, said of atheists: “In this respect the Koran describes the atheist as cattle. As cattle of those who grow the crops and do not stop and wonder about this world.” The Qur’an does indeed say: “Already we have created many of the jinn and mankind for Gehenna, having hearts with which they do not understand, and having eyes with which they do not see, and having ears with which they do not hear. They are like cattle, no, they are worse. These are the neglectful.” (7:179)
“For Mehdi Hasan, Two Antisemitic Wrongs Make Ilhan Omar Right,” by David Litman, CAMERA, October 17, 2022:
On October 16, MSNBC host Mehdi Hasan spoke with Congresswoman Ilhan Omar on a number of subjects, ending with a question about antisemitism. Given Hasan’s history, it is unsurprising that the question exuded bad faith. To begin, he wields discussions of antisemitism as a weapon for his own partisan interests. Then, he seeks to downplay Omar’s antisemitism as just “criticism of Israel.”
Here is Hasan’s question in full:
“You have been demonized in recent years as an antisemite by many, especially by Donald Trump and the GOP over your criticisms of Israel and of Jewish groups’ support of Israel, some of which you have regretted and apologized for, that you should have been more careful with some of your language in the past. And yet this morning, former President Trump tweeted, and I quote, ‘Jews need to get their act together and appreciate what they have in Israel before it’s too late.’ This coming from the guy who said you should’ve resigned from Congress for your comments. What do you make of Trump’s post this morning? What do you think the right would be saying if you or Rashida Tlaib had threatened American Jews, which of course I know you wouldn’t have done?”
Partisan Exploitation of Antisemitic Incidents
Begin with the partisanship. From the start, his segment is not one of concern about antisemitism, but instead a rather blatant employment of political whataboutery. Hasan immediately declares that the concern about Omar’s history of antisemitism came “especially” from “Donald Trump and the GOP.” Hasan also tells us Omar, the “progressive” member of the Squad, has regretted her words, and that he “knows [Omar] wouldn’t have” “threatened American Jews” like Trump did. After all, the accusations of antisemitism against her came from that guy who said antisemitic things and “who said [Omar] should’ve resigned from Congress.”
Hasan seems to be suggesting that because Trump said antisemitic things himself, the accusations against Omar aren’t valid. It’s only a slightly more sophisticated version of the childish attempt to justify one’s actions by suggesting two wrongs make a right.
Of course, “Trump and the GOP” weren’t the only ones condemning Omar’s past remarks, and whatever their faults, they obviously do not reflect on other individuals and political groups condemning Omar. The Democratic leadership denounced her antisemitism, as have Jewish Democrats. The Anti-Defamation League, headed by the progressive Jonathan Greenblatt, has also recoiled from Omar’s obvious anti-Jewish animus….
Hasan’s tactic of trying to portray antisemitism as “criticism of Israel” fits together well with his partisan habits.
Any sensible definition of antisemitism will not be blind to the employment of classic antisemitic tropes used against the world’s only Jewish state. When Omar tweets that “Israel has hypnotized the world,” that’s playing on the classic tropes of Jewish power manipulating the media and governments.
When Omar tweets “It’s all about the Benjamins baby” to suggest that supporters of Israel are only doing it because of money, and then specifically mentions the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, that’s not criticism of Israel either. That’s employing the monied Jew and dual loyalty tropes against American Jews and their allies….
࿗Infidel࿘ says
In addition to Ilhan, I’m willing to bet that Mehdi is an anti-Semite too in his own right
Daniel Bielak says
By Mehdi Hasan’s excusing and defending Ilhan Omar’s bigoted anti-Jewish anti-Israel statements, and by having her on his show to try to exonerate her and shift the blame to Donald Trump, he has demonstrated that he is bigoted toward Israel and the Jewish people.
Also:
I think that Jewish people and their defenders should stop using the terms “antisemite” and “antisemitism.” Those terms are imprecise euphemisms whose imprecision and euphemism are used against Jewish people by anti-Jewish bigots by saying, “I can’t be an antisemite; I’m Arab; I’m a semite,” or “I’m not an antisemite. Arab people are semites too.”
I think that the accurate precise terms, “anti-Jewish bigot,” and “anti-Jewish bigotry,” or simply “anti-Jewish,” are terms that should be used instead.
Check Burry says
I am pleased medi left UK, but sorry that the USA is stuck with him.
somehistory says
It has always seemed to be that when someone says another should “get his act together: it is to advise him to recognize the problem and get to working on a solution, encouraging that one to see and get busy.
(microsoft bing and the ‘free dictionary” agree with me)
Telling Jews to “get their act together” is not antisemitic. It’s good, common-sense advice. mozlums are out to destroy Israel, and the devout would like nothing better than for all Jews to drop dead…at their hands, of course.
gravenimage says
+1
Check Burry says
Yes I agree, Mr Trump was advising, not in my view antisemitic words.
alexreid says
Why don’t the US commentators get this bigot professionally destroyed? He had to leave UK because he believes in flying donkeys. Get a non-Muslim who is an expert on Islam & its Texts & show what a Fascistic idiot he really is!
milo minderbinder says
I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.
– Evelyn Beatrice Hall
This is still the United States of America and the First Amendment allows for the freedom of speech. The “left” are masters of deceit, they add just enough truth to make the lie palatable. They know how to incite people to do their bidding and, they are succeeding.
Deceit is nothing new, it can be traced back to the Garden of Eden.
“The LORD God commanded the man, saying, “From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die.” Genesis 2:16-17 (NASB95)
“Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, “Indeed, has God said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden’?” Genesis 3:1 (NASB95)
somehistory says
that is why, milo, and I know you know, Jesus called satan the “father of the lie” and said his “children” copy that snake in lying to promote satan’s goals.
Keith O says
UNFREAKINBELIEVABLE.
I didn’t thin it was possible for Ilhan Omar to stop any lower.
This interview clearly demonstrates that the only things she is not “anti” are Islam and her overstuffed pay packet.
A hypocrite of the lowest kind.
gravenimage says
MSNBC’s Mehdi Hasan brings on antisemite Ilhan Omar to discuss Trump’s alleged antisemitism
…………………………………..
Just grotesque.
And while President Trump’s comment *was* poorly worded, the claim that he was threatening Jews is just false. He was saying that he and the Republicans are better for Jewish Americans and for Israel than Democrats are–and you can certainly make the argument that he is correct.
gravenimage says
And Mehdi Hasan regularly spouts apologia for “Palestinian” terrorism against Israel.
johnlloydscharf@yahoo.com says
One of Trump’s children married a Jewish man… instead of her brother like this pagan Omar.
Scotsman48 says
It truly is sad indeed when a wee soy boy Limey and a two faced Somali bitch is lecturing Americans on American TV.
Trump is 100% correct in suggesting Jews get their act together, first leave the DemocRAT Party and defend Israel 100% before its too late, and to even suggest that Trump is insulting or degrading Jews by saying get your act together just shows the double standard of morons like these two wastes of space suggesting he is against Jews or Israel… The Israeli Government loves Trump as he is THE most loyal Israel friend of any President… EVER…
This is way beyond a Big Lie, this is a bloody disgrace.
Send that wee prick back to Limey Land and her back to her shithole country and we will be just fine.