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Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) called on supporters of Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) to de-escalate tensions between the two camps and focus their efforts on defeating President Donald Trump in 2020. (Photos: Zach Gibson/Getty Images, Lev Radin/Pacific Press/LightRocket/Getty Images, Lori Shaull/Flickr/cc)
Ilhan Omar Warns Progressives Escalating Warren-Sanders Disagreement Only Fuels Trump's Attacks on Both Candidates
"Let's stay focused on the task ahead: defeating Donald Trump in November and fighting for the America we deserve."
Jan 14, 2020
As some online supporters of Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders appeared intent on escalating a disagreement between the two 2020 Democratic presidential candidates over a private conversation they had in 2018 into a full blown internecine war, Rep. Ilhan Omar urged progressives to resist squabbling as the first primary votes draw near.
Fighting between progressive supporters of Warren and Sanders benefits neither candidate, the first-term Minnesota Democrat and Sanders surrogate suggested on Twitter--and only strengthens the corporate structures which hope to defeat both of them.
"Pitting progressives against each other weeks before the Iowa caucus hurts ALL of us," tweeted Omar.
\u201cTrump wants progressives pitted against each other.\n\nCorporate media want progressives pitted against each other.\n\nBillionaires want progressives pitted against each other.\n\nPitting progressives against each other weeks before the Iowa Caucus hurts ALL of us.\u201d— Ilhan Omar (@Ilhan Omar) 1579111314
\u201cI support Bernie because I believe he is the candidate to end our endless wars, fight bad trade deals and address the climate crisis. \n\nHe has inspired countless progressive women to run for office and has had our back when it mattered most.\u201d— Ilhan Omar (@Ilhan Omar) 1579111314
\u201cWomen can win at every level of office, including the presidency.\n\nI know that Bernie believes that.\u201d— Ilhan Omar (@Ilhan Omar) 1579111314
Omar's comments came less than 24 hours after Tuesday's Democratic debate, where the two senators were asked about Warren's claim that Sanders told her before either of their campaigns began that he did not believe a woman could win the presidency in 2020.
Sanders has denied he made the statement, accusing Warren's staff of "lying" and saying on Tuesday that he only told his colleague "that Donald Trump is a sexist, a racist, and a liar who would weaponize whatever he could."
Warren said ahead of the debate that she wanted to focus on the two senators' "past work together" and "shared goals."
On Wednesday, however, the hashtags #WarrenIsASnake and #NeverWarren were trending, with some prominent progressives positing that fraudulent "bot" accounts were amplifying the slogans.
"This is horrific. Co-founder of People for Bernie here," tweeted Charles Lenchner, who is now a digital director for The Real News. "Please do NOT support this."
\u201cThis is horrific.\nCo-founder of @People4Bernie here. Please do NOT support this.\n#WarrenIsASnake \n#NeverWarren\nIt's really not helping, and is the kind of thing that Russian bots and Trump social media might be amplifying.\u201d— Charles Lenchner | Be kind to others (@Charles Lenchner | Be kind to others) 1579099776
The hashtags would only give President Donald Trump "an arsenal of attacks to use against us," Omar tweeted, calling on progressives to "stay focused on the task ahead: defeating Donald Trump in November and fighting for the America we deserve."
\u201cLet\u2019s not give Trump an arsenal of attacks to use against us.\n\nBernie Sanders is not a sexist.\n\nElizabeth Warren is not a snake. \n\nLet\u2019s stay focused on the task ahead: defeating Donald Trump in November and fighting for the America we deserve.\u201d— Ilhan Omar (@Ilhan Omar) 1579111314
Omar's call was echoed by Dr. Jane Sanders, the senator's wife, and Justice Democrats spokesman Waleed Shahid.
\u201cThe @BernieSanders campaign is about unifying people across our country - not dividing them up by race, ethnicity or gender. Forget those who are trying to divide us, focus on building the progressive movement & be positive to succeed!#MenWomenUnited\u201d— Jane O'Meara Sanders (@Jane O'Meara Sanders) 1579112080
\u201cWhen your political identity is triggered, everything can start to look like a nail in need of a hammer. \n\nThe media\u2019s lust for conflict, the individual personality-driven nature of our politics, and social media fan culture all exacerbates this.\u201d— Waleed Shahid (@Waleed Shahid) 1579105601
\u201cBoth a Sanders or Warren presidency would be historic.\n\nProgressives should focus on making a case against Biden and Buttigieg in the coming weeks. Both candidates missed a few shots last night.\n\nPeople should vote for the eventual nominee.\n\nBe careful of all these bots today.\u201d— Waleed Shahid (@Waleed Shahid) 1579105601
"Both a Sanders or Warren presidency would be historic," Shahid tweeted. "Progressives should focus on making a case against [Joe] Biden and [Pete] Buttigieg in the coming weeks. Both candidates missed a few shots last night."
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As some online supporters of Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders appeared intent on escalating a disagreement between the two 2020 Democratic presidential candidates over a private conversation they had in 2018 into a full blown internecine war, Rep. Ilhan Omar urged progressives to resist squabbling as the first primary votes draw near.
Fighting between progressive supporters of Warren and Sanders benefits neither candidate, the first-term Minnesota Democrat and Sanders surrogate suggested on Twitter--and only strengthens the corporate structures which hope to defeat both of them.
"Pitting progressives against each other weeks before the Iowa caucus hurts ALL of us," tweeted Omar.
\u201cTrump wants progressives pitted against each other.\n\nCorporate media want progressives pitted against each other.\n\nBillionaires want progressives pitted against each other.\n\nPitting progressives against each other weeks before the Iowa Caucus hurts ALL of us.\u201d— Ilhan Omar (@Ilhan Omar) 1579111314
\u201cI support Bernie because I believe he is the candidate to end our endless wars, fight bad trade deals and address the climate crisis. \n\nHe has inspired countless progressive women to run for office and has had our back when it mattered most.\u201d— Ilhan Omar (@Ilhan Omar) 1579111314
\u201cWomen can win at every level of office, including the presidency.\n\nI know that Bernie believes that.\u201d— Ilhan Omar (@Ilhan Omar) 1579111314
Omar's comments came less than 24 hours after Tuesday's Democratic debate, where the two senators were asked about Warren's claim that Sanders told her before either of their campaigns began that he did not believe a woman could win the presidency in 2020.
Sanders has denied he made the statement, accusing Warren's staff of "lying" and saying on Tuesday that he only told his colleague "that Donald Trump is a sexist, a racist, and a liar who would weaponize whatever he could."
Warren said ahead of the debate that she wanted to focus on the two senators' "past work together" and "shared goals."
On Wednesday, however, the hashtags #WarrenIsASnake and #NeverWarren were trending, with some prominent progressives positing that fraudulent "bot" accounts were amplifying the slogans.
"This is horrific. Co-founder of People for Bernie here," tweeted Charles Lenchner, who is now a digital director for The Real News. "Please do NOT support this."
\u201cThis is horrific.\nCo-founder of @People4Bernie here. Please do NOT support this.\n#WarrenIsASnake \n#NeverWarren\nIt's really not helping, and is the kind of thing that Russian bots and Trump social media might be amplifying.\u201d— Charles Lenchner | Be kind to others (@Charles Lenchner | Be kind to others) 1579099776
The hashtags would only give President Donald Trump "an arsenal of attacks to use against us," Omar tweeted, calling on progressives to "stay focused on the task ahead: defeating Donald Trump in November and fighting for the America we deserve."
\u201cLet\u2019s not give Trump an arsenal of attacks to use against us.\n\nBernie Sanders is not a sexist.\n\nElizabeth Warren is not a snake. \n\nLet\u2019s stay focused on the task ahead: defeating Donald Trump in November and fighting for the America we deserve.\u201d— Ilhan Omar (@Ilhan Omar) 1579111314
Omar's call was echoed by Dr. Jane Sanders, the senator's wife, and Justice Democrats spokesman Waleed Shahid.
\u201cThe @BernieSanders campaign is about unifying people across our country - not dividing them up by race, ethnicity or gender. Forget those who are trying to divide us, focus on building the progressive movement & be positive to succeed!#MenWomenUnited\u201d— Jane O'Meara Sanders (@Jane O'Meara Sanders) 1579112080
\u201cWhen your political identity is triggered, everything can start to look like a nail in need of a hammer. \n\nThe media\u2019s lust for conflict, the individual personality-driven nature of our politics, and social media fan culture all exacerbates this.\u201d— Waleed Shahid (@Waleed Shahid) 1579105601
\u201cBoth a Sanders or Warren presidency would be historic.\n\nProgressives should focus on making a case against Biden and Buttigieg in the coming weeks. Both candidates missed a few shots last night.\n\nPeople should vote for the eventual nominee.\n\nBe careful of all these bots today.\u201d— Waleed Shahid (@Waleed Shahid) 1579105601
"Both a Sanders or Warren presidency would be historic," Shahid tweeted. "Progressives should focus on making a case against [Joe] Biden and [Pete] Buttigieg in the coming weeks. Both candidates missed a few shots last night."
As some online supporters of Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders appeared intent on escalating a disagreement between the two 2020 Democratic presidential candidates over a private conversation they had in 2018 into a full blown internecine war, Rep. Ilhan Omar urged progressives to resist squabbling as the first primary votes draw near.
Fighting between progressive supporters of Warren and Sanders benefits neither candidate, the first-term Minnesota Democrat and Sanders surrogate suggested on Twitter--and only strengthens the corporate structures which hope to defeat both of them.
"Pitting progressives against each other weeks before the Iowa caucus hurts ALL of us," tweeted Omar.
\u201cTrump wants progressives pitted against each other.\n\nCorporate media want progressives pitted against each other.\n\nBillionaires want progressives pitted against each other.\n\nPitting progressives against each other weeks before the Iowa Caucus hurts ALL of us.\u201d— Ilhan Omar (@Ilhan Omar) 1579111314
\u201cI support Bernie because I believe he is the candidate to end our endless wars, fight bad trade deals and address the climate crisis. \n\nHe has inspired countless progressive women to run for office and has had our back when it mattered most.\u201d— Ilhan Omar (@Ilhan Omar) 1579111314
\u201cWomen can win at every level of office, including the presidency.\n\nI know that Bernie believes that.\u201d— Ilhan Omar (@Ilhan Omar) 1579111314
Omar's comments came less than 24 hours after Tuesday's Democratic debate, where the two senators were asked about Warren's claim that Sanders told her before either of their campaigns began that he did not believe a woman could win the presidency in 2020.
Sanders has denied he made the statement, accusing Warren's staff of "lying" and saying on Tuesday that he only told his colleague "that Donald Trump is a sexist, a racist, and a liar who would weaponize whatever he could."
Warren said ahead of the debate that she wanted to focus on the two senators' "past work together" and "shared goals."
On Wednesday, however, the hashtags #WarrenIsASnake and #NeverWarren were trending, with some prominent progressives positing that fraudulent "bot" accounts were amplifying the slogans.
"This is horrific. Co-founder of People for Bernie here," tweeted Charles Lenchner, who is now a digital director for The Real News. "Please do NOT support this."
\u201cThis is horrific.\nCo-founder of @People4Bernie here. Please do NOT support this.\n#WarrenIsASnake \n#NeverWarren\nIt's really not helping, and is the kind of thing that Russian bots and Trump social media might be amplifying.\u201d— Charles Lenchner | Be kind to others (@Charles Lenchner | Be kind to others) 1579099776
The hashtags would only give President Donald Trump "an arsenal of attacks to use against us," Omar tweeted, calling on progressives to "stay focused on the task ahead: defeating Donald Trump in November and fighting for the America we deserve."
\u201cLet\u2019s not give Trump an arsenal of attacks to use against us.\n\nBernie Sanders is not a sexist.\n\nElizabeth Warren is not a snake. \n\nLet\u2019s stay focused on the task ahead: defeating Donald Trump in November and fighting for the America we deserve.\u201d— Ilhan Omar (@Ilhan Omar) 1579111314
Omar's call was echoed by Dr. Jane Sanders, the senator's wife, and Justice Democrats spokesman Waleed Shahid.
\u201cThe @BernieSanders campaign is about unifying people across our country - not dividing them up by race, ethnicity or gender. Forget those who are trying to divide us, focus on building the progressive movement & be positive to succeed!#MenWomenUnited\u201d— Jane O'Meara Sanders (@Jane O'Meara Sanders) 1579112080
\u201cWhen your political identity is triggered, everything can start to look like a nail in need of a hammer. \n\nThe media\u2019s lust for conflict, the individual personality-driven nature of our politics, and social media fan culture all exacerbates this.\u201d— Waleed Shahid (@Waleed Shahid) 1579105601
\u201cBoth a Sanders or Warren presidency would be historic.\n\nProgressives should focus on making a case against Biden and Buttigieg in the coming weeks. Both candidates missed a few shots last night.\n\nPeople should vote for the eventual nominee.\n\nBe careful of all these bots today.\u201d— Waleed Shahid (@Waleed Shahid) 1579105601
"Both a Sanders or Warren presidency would be historic," Shahid tweeted. "Progressives should focus on making a case against [Joe] Biden and [Pete] Buttigieg in the coming weeks. Both candidates missed a few shots last night."
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