Rep. Ilhan Omar, who wanted to abolish police, now blames police for 'lawlessness' in Minneapolis



Damned if they do, damned if they don't.

Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) attacked Minneapolis police officers over the weekend, blaming law enforcement for the sustained spike in violent crime in Minneapolis by claiming they have failed to fulfill their job duties.

What are the details?

Omar's head-scratching claim was made during a town hall event on Saturday.

"What we must also recognize is that the reduction in policing currently in our city and the lawlessness that is happening is due to two things," Omar claimed.

The far-left Democrat said the aforementioned lawlessness should be blamed on police officers not doing their jobs and a lack of accountability over law enforcement.

"One, the police have chosen to not fulfill their oath of office and to provide the public safety they are owed to the citizens they serve. Right? It's documented," Omar claimed. "But even before that it was documented: The Minneapolis Police Department is the most dysfunctional police department in our state and probably in the country."

"The second part is that there has to be accountability, and someone that is actually taking responsibility for what the police does [sic] and doesn't [sic] do. And that doesn't exist in this moment," she continued. "And I do believe that the current charter that we have does tie the hands of those who want to have that accountability because we are mandated to have a specific amount of policing. We are mandated to have the kind of this union contract that you have right now."

Ilhan Omar accuses police of not fulfilling their oath of office and blames them for the rise in violent crime in M… https://t.co/0uLrSCvoyU

— Mike Berg (@MikeKBerg) 1635192123.0

Isn't she holding a double standard?

If it sounds like Omar is talking out of both sides of her mouth, that is because she is.

Omar was a leading voice during the "defund the police" movement last year, which happened in the wake of George Floyd's death. In fact, Omar even advocated for abolishing the Minneapolis Police Department altogether.

"The Minneapolis Police Department has proven themselves beyond reform. It's time to disband them and reimagine public safety in Minneapolis," Omar said last year.

Now, as Minneapolis police face staffing and morale issues directly related to the anti-police movement, Omar is demonizing those same police officers for not doing enough to fight crime. Omar, in essence, wants it both ways: She wants no police, but when violent crime runs rampant, she wants police to be responsible for it.

Unfortunately for Minneapolis, while Omar continues to play politics, city residents are facing one of the most violent years in recent history.

Rep. Cori Bush blasted for saying she'll pay $200K for private security while at the same time demanding, 'Defunding the police has to happen'



Rep. Cori Bush (D-Mo.) was branded a "hypocrite" after she talked about spending $200,000 for her own private security, but only seconds later the progressive congresswoman demanded that "defunding the police has to happen."

During a CBS News interview Wednesday, Bush was asked about a report that found the Democratic lawmaker spent nearly $70,000 on private security over the past three months, despite also being an ardent supporter of the defund the police movement.

CBS News correspondent Vladimir Duthiers asked Bush about paying for personal security while at the same time demanding the police be defunded.

An inflamed Bush responded, "You would rather me die? Is that what you want to see? You wanna see me die? Because that could be the alternative."

Bush ranted, "So, either I spend $70,000 on private security over the last few months and I'm here standing now and able to speak, able to help save 11 million people from being evicted or I could possibly have a death attempt on my life.

"I have private security because my body is worth being on this planet right now," Bush fumed. "I have private security because they, the white supremacist, racist narrative that they drive into this country, the fact that they don't care that this black woman that has put her life on the line, they can't match my energy, first of all, this black woman who puts her life on the line, they don't care that I could be taken out of here."

"I'm going to make sure I have security because I know I have had attempts on my life," said the congresswoman. "I'm going to make sure I have security because I now have had attempts on my life and I have too much work to do, there are too many people that need help right now for me to allow that."

"So, if I end up spending $200,000, if I spend $10 more dollars on it — you know what, I get to be here to do the work. So suck it up."

In the very next sentence, Bush demanded that police be defunded.

"Defunding the police has to happen," she said. "We need to defund the police and put that money into social safety nets because we're trying to save lives."

Bush continued on with her diatribe, claiming that she received death threats from racists and police officers. When asked by Duthiers if police officers threatened her life as a member of Congress, she responded, "I mean — and there are still people, and you know what, the thing is, they can threaten my life, and I'm still working for them."

Cori Bush: I’m going to make sure I have private security but defunding the police needs to happen. https://t.co/6jbv4HLlGs

— Mike Berg (@MikeKBerg) 1628165976.0

Bush's comments about having her own personal security while also calling for the police to be defunded for her constituents were blasted on social media.

  • Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.): "Best demonstration of capitalism by a socialist ever. Wants to defund the police. Spare me. How many more police officers had to tend to you over the course of your tailgate?"
  • Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas): "'Defunding the police needs to happen.' Pay attention America, this extremism has become more and more mainstream on the left. Keep giving them power, and they'll keep getting more radical."
  • Rep. Elise Stefanik ( R-N.Y.): "Police for me, but none for thee! Dems hypocrisy knows no bounds."
  • Rep Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.): "Translate: My safety is more important than yours."
  • Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley: "In just 30 seconds, Rep. @CoriBush says she'll spend hundreds of thousands on personal security and also calls to defund the police. These Democrats care about their own safety, but not yours."
  • Former Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens: "Security for me but not for thee. Democrats want to defund your police then turn around & spend your tax dollars for private security. Democrats close businesses & schools, mandate anti-science mask wearing for us but not themselves. The hypocrisy of the Left knows no bounds."
  • Independent journalist Glenn Greenwald: "I think Cori Bush -- and anyone else in public life who faces legitimate threats -- deserves whatever security they need. That's why it's so bizarre to hear her, seconds after demanding it, demand defunding of the police for ordinary citizens who want the police there also."
  • Vox senior correspondent German Lopez: "This is something that's very obvious to me, as someone who lived in Venezuela: When you defund (or underfund) the police, what ends up happening is only rich people have cops because they hire a private army."
  • Progressive journalist Matthew Yglesias: "You see it in the Cori Bush clip but there's just a deep, un-acknowledged affinity between 'defund police' and the general idea of privatizing public services."

Rep. Dan Bishop (R-N.C.) asked, "Why doesn't she just call a social worker for security?"

The question is a reference to a $10 billion bill that Bush introduced in June to establish a new public safety agency that would report to the Department of Health and Human Services, and feature a federal first responders unit that would "provide crisis assistance in lieu of federal law enforcement." The People's Response Act would send social workers, mental health counselors, and substance use counselors to certain emergency situations instead of police officers.

Bush's fellow Democratic congresswoman, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, also spends tens of thousands of dollars on private security while calling to defund the police.

You can watch the entire CBS News interview with Cori Bush below.

Cori Bush says CDC's new eviction moratorium buys Congress time to act www.youtube.com

Eric Swalwell and fellow Democrat enjoy shirtless camel ride during Middle East trip paid for by special interest group



A couple of Democratic congressmen are seen shirtless and smiling while riding camels during a Middle East trip that was paid for by a special interest group. Photos show Democratic Reps. Eric Swalwell of California and Ruben Gallego of Arizona enjoying a camel ride in Qatar along the Persian Gulf. The photos of the trip that took place earlier this year show Swalwell without a face mask.

Photos of the Democratic congressmen in Qatar were published by Business Insider, which said the trip cost $84,621.59, and was paid for by the US-Qatar Business Council, which describes itself as "dedicated exclusively to enhancing the bilateral business relationship between the U.S. and Qatar."

The photos had been posted on social media by Sydney Barron Gallego, the wife of Ruben Gallego.

"Sand dunes, camels, and the persian gulf," the caption reads on one of the photos from Qatar, which was posted on a now-deleted Instagram account of Gallego's wife. The photo featured the Democratic representatives with their wives, all of which were not wearing masks, on a camel ride on Sealine Beach.

While Eric Swalwell was scolding people for not following COVID rules he was taking special-interest funded trips t… https://t.co/of8LaB3wkI

— Mike Berg (@MikeKBerg) 1625872965.0

The junket took place in March, at a time when there was a surge in coronavirus cases in Qatar. It was also the same time that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention urged everyone to wear face masks, even if they were outside, and even if they were vaccinated against COVID-19. Currently, the U.S. State Department tells U.S. travelers to "reconsider" travel to Qatar.

Besides Swalwell and Gallego, the US-Qatar Business Council also flew Reps. Luis Correa (D-Calif.), Sara Jacobs (D-Calif.), and Lisa McClain (R-Mich.) to the wealthy Middle East country. The group of U.S. politicians were staying at the five-star, luxurious, oceanfront Four Seasons Hotel in Doha, Qatar's capital city.

On April 1, the US-Qatar Business Council posted a photo of the American lawmakers meeting Qatar's monarch, Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

In a trip organized by USQBC, members of the US House of Representatives including @RepSwalwell, @RubenGallego,… https://t.co/w0zy2SLZfK

— US-Qatar Business Council (@USQatar) 1617286058.0

The representatives received approval from the House Ethics Committee for the trip; however, House rules clearly state that lawmakers are not permitted to accept invitations to participate in entertainment activities funded by private groups.

The outlet notes that Swalwell's disclosure "appears to have been filed past the 15-day deadline."

"While there are mentions of museum and marketplace visits on the itinerary, none specifically mention a camel ride," the report stated. "Parts of the schedule were open for 'personal time.'"

Business Insider said, "Neither of the congressmen's offices responded to questions about the photos and who paid for the outing."

Swalwell, who is a prominent member of the House Intelligence Committee, was embroiled with another controversy in December. A report surfaced that a suspected Chinese spy got so involved with Swalwell that federal investigators had to alert the congressman.

Republicans called for Swalwell to be removed from his House Intel Committee position over his relationship with the suspected Chinese spy, Christine Fang.

VIDEO: CNBC analyst so shocked by dismal jobs report numbers he had to double-check to make sure they were right



A CNBC analyst appeared to be so shocked by how grim April's jobs report was that he needed to double-check the numbers to see if he read it correctly, video shows.

What are the details?

The Department of Labor released its official April payroll report on Friday, showing the U.S. economy added just 266,000 new jobs during the month, falling well short of forecasts that predicted the economy would add closer to one million jobs. Additionally, the unemployment rate shot up to 6.1%.

The report surprised many analysts on Wall Street who expected the economy would continue adding jobs at a steady rate as the coronavirus pandemic wanes — 536,000 new jobs were added in February and 770,000 were added in March.

Included among those caught off-guard by the anemic numbers was CNBC senior economic reporter Steve Liesman, who furiously checked his notes for different information while announcing the figure during "Squawk Box" on Friday.

The April jobs report was so bad @CNBC had to double check the number to make sure they read it correctly. https://t.co/I7AHf1jUP2

— Mike Berg (@MikeKBerg) 1620393140.0

"It just came across, give me a second here," Liesman said as he apparently fumbled through notes.

"Ahh, sorry about that, it came across very quickly here," he added in frustration before finding the report.

"It looks 266,000," he then said defeatedly. "It looks like it was a big disappointment at 266, but maybe I have that wrong."

"Let me double-check the [Bureau of Labor Statistics] website here," he continued in disbelief. Finally he confirmed, "Yes, 266 is correct ... so we have some issues here."

What else?

TheBlaze reported on Friday that "one major roadblock" highlighted by the jobs report is the inability of companies to fill open positions, largely due to the "relative attractiveness of expanded federal unemployment benefits, and the inability of some parents to resume full time work because schools in many parts of the country have not fully reopened for full-time in-person learning."

In its coverage of the news, Bloomberg noted that even with the high unemployment numbers and low job growth, the number of available jobs in the country is approaching record levels.

Shortly after the report was released, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce called for an end to the $300 a week federal unemployment benefit, which was extended in the Biden administration's recent coronavirus relief package.

"The disappointing jobs report makes it clear that paying people not to work is dampening what should be a stronger jobs market," said the chamber's chief policy officer, Neal Bradley, in a statement. "We need a comprehensive approach to dealing with our workforce issues and the very real threat unfilled positions poses to our economic recovery from the pandemic."