Like her fellow “Squad” members, Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) has been caught up in controversy for her radical views and a constant stream of inflammatory rhetoric.
Omar, as one of the first two women to serve in the US Congress along with the equally-controversy-addicted Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), is an intersectional darling, having been born in Somalia and grown up in a refugee camp in Kenya.
It certainly is an objectively inspiring success story to come from such beginnings to end up serving in the US Congress, and one that undercuts her own constant refrains of anti-American rhetoric.
Her critics have often cited her own life as an example as to why her negative views of the American Dream miss the mark, but now, her Congressional seat will be challenged by a woman who came to this nation as a refugee and actually realizes how blessed she is to live here.
The Blaze reports that Dalia al-Aquidi, journalist, former White House correspondent, and Iraqi refugee, believes that Omar has done nothing but divide since being sworn into Congress in 2019.
“On the surface, we look the same. We’re both women, refugees, Muslims, but we couldn’t be further apart,” al-Aqidi said when announcing her run for office.
While Dalia has worked hard to combat the same issues as Omar, their approach is decidedly different. And this is what she’s running on.
“The difference is that while Dalia has used her life experience to expose oppression and boost the U.S, Omar has done the opposite — stoking fear, inspiring hatred, inciting violence, and embarrassing the U.S.,” her campaign website reads.
“To put it simply, Ilhan Omar needs to be stopped,” al-Aqidi says.
Al-Aqidi believes that it is their similar background that gives her an edge, as it renders Omar’s claims to intersectional supremacy moot, as their heart-wrenching backstories are “basically the same.”
The key difference, of course, is that al-Aqidi appreciates the country in which she found refuge, while Omar seems to openly resent it.
“Every time she opens her mouth she says something either anti-U.S. or anti-Semitic,” al-Aqidi says of her opponent.
“I am loyal to the country that gave me a chance, gave me a brighter future,” she added. “[Omar] continually tries to weaken the country and divide us.”
The competition for Omar’s Congress seat is already tough, The Blaze notes:
Al-Aqidi joins a large and growing field of candidates for Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District seat. Already, businessman Lacy Johnson, special-education professional Danielle Stella, minister Lucia Vogel, activist Alley Waterbury, and former auto sales manager Brent Whaley are running on the Republican side of the ballot.
On the Democratic side, Omar faces primary challenges from community organizer John Mason and attorney Antone Melton-Meaux.
Who wouldn’t challenge Omar? Let’s pray she’s replaced by someone who’s only contribution to our Democracy is hatred and controversy.
