December 2nd 2023.
Rep. Ilhan Omar is accusing her Minnesota 5th District opponent Don Samuels of sexism, after he proposed she isn’t “cute enough” to hold office. The former Minneapolis City Council member recently appeared as a guest on “The Break Down with Brodkord and Becky” to discuss his campaign. During a segment discussing accountability in government, Samuels took seemingly unprovoked jabs at Omar’s appearance.
Omar caught wind of his comments and compared them to former President Donald Trump, describing them as the “worst kinds of lies and misogyny.” She released a statement saying, “This is beneath the dignity of any adult, let alone someone seeking public office. It is reminiscent of the worst kinds of lies and misogyny that we are hearing from people like Donald Trump, who think they can say anything about women and get away with it. Like Trump, instead of engaging in an adult debate, Don relies on lies and sexism. We need civility now more than ever and Don’s behavior should be alarming to anyone who agrees.”
Samuels lost his first campaign to Omar by close to 2,500 votes and has announced his intention to run again. He proposed a town hall-style debate with Omar, with the condition that it must be open to everyone. After seeing Omar’s response, Samuels alleges his comments were taken out of context and encouraged voters to listen to the full interview. He went on to explain that he was “talking broadly about politicians who value their own celebrity over the needs of their constituents.”
This instance of sexism is just one example of the many women in politics who have experienced similar comments and behavior. Rep Omar's response is a powerful reminder that sexism has no place in politics and that we need to do better to create a more respectful and civil environment.
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