Ilhan Omar's reason for not condemning the Armenian genocide is getting criticism from the Left and Right

The following is an excerpt from Blaze Media’s Capitol Hill Brief email newsletter:

In what was meant to be taken as a jab at Turkey over the country’s recent actions in Syria, an overwhelming majority of the House of Representatives voted to pass a resolution condemning the Ottoman Turks’ World War I genocide of Armenians. Turkey has long disputed the use of the term “genocide” to describe what happened.

Rep. Ilhan Omar — who has previously faced criticism over her closed-door 2017 meeting with Turkey’s dictator — voted “present” and was only one of two Democrats not to vote in favor of the resolution. Her reason for doing so is drawing a lot of criticism.

Omar defended the move in a statement saying, “I believe accountability for human rights violations—especially ethnic cleansing and genocide—is paramount. But accountability and recognition of genocide should not be used as cudgel in a political fight.” She also said, “A true acknowledgment of historical crimes against humanity must include both the heinous genocides of the 20th century, along with earlier mass slaughters like the transatlantic slave trade and Native American genocide.”

The explanation was panned both on social media — including by left-leaning pundits — and in her home state of Minnesota. Rev. Tadeos Barseghyan, pastor at St. Sahag Armenian Church in St. Paul, voiced his disappointment with Omar, asking “Is there a right or wrong time to … stand up for justice that she claims to be a champion for?”

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