Democratic strategist Maria Cardona expertly called out the hypocrisy of the Republican Party — and one of its operatives — as they continue to crow about "anti-Semitism" in the wake of controversial comments about Israel made by Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) — while still defending President Donald Trump.
When asked by CNN host Victor Blackwell if she thinks Rep. Omar's comments — the most recent of which accused members of Congress of having an "allegiance to a foreign country," a likely reference to Israel — were anti-Semitic, Cardona demurred.
"Well, I don't know what is in her heart," the strategist said. "I will go with what [House Speaker] Nancy Pelosi said because I believe this. I don't believe she meant them as anti-Semitic."
Blackwell pointed out that Republicans "have said 'nobody knows what's in President Trump's heart' and you have said 'I don't know what's in his heart but I know what comes out of his mouth.' Are we not judging them by different scales here?"
"It's not the same and I'll tell you why," Cardona responded. "Because Trump has a 50-year history of not just comments but of policies that are out-and-out racist. We can judge him on what he has said and done for 50 years."
Alice Stewart, a GOP communications consultant, insisted that Rep. Omar knew what she was saying is anti-Semitic and that she's "sick and tired" of Democrats defending her — but Cardona hit back.
"Congresswoman Omar apologized repeatedly for the comments," she said. "Give me one instance when President Trump has apologized for anything he has ever said that is racist, bigoted and full of hate speech — and that's what Democrats were condemning and I'm completely absolutely incredibly proud of a party that's doing that for all kinds of hatred."
"As a Latina, I get hatred every day," Cardona added. "I am glad that the Democratic Party is focusing on all communities."
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