Juan Williams: McCarthy’s inaction is a disgrace

Somewhere, former Congressman Steve KingSteven (Steve) Arnold KingOmar allies dig in on calls for Boebert punishment Pressure grows to remove Boebert from committees Kevin McCarthy is hostage to the GOP’s ‘exotic wing’ MORE must be saying: “If only I had waited two years to air my views on white supremacy…”

The Iowa Republican’s sin was telling a New York Times reporter that he did not see a problem with terms like “white supremacist” and “white nationalist.”

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthyKevin McCarthyPresident Biden’s bipartisanship seems like unilateral disarmament Photos of the Week: Tornado aftermath, Medal of Honor and soaring superheroes Trump allies urge McCarthy to remove Kinzinger, Cheney from House GOP conference MORE (R-Calif.) aptly described King’s indifference to such racism as “beneath the dignity of the party of Lincoln and the United States of America.” McCarthy stripped King of his House committee assignments in January 2019.

Well, here’s a political puzzle for you.

How do you explain McCarthy now giving Rep. Lauren BoebertLauren BoebertGreene, GOP colleagues call for firing of DC Corrections official who ‘despises’ Trump and supporters House Democratic leaders resist triple ethics bypass procedure Trump endorses Lauren Boebert MORE (R-Colo.) a free pass for her anti-Muslim bigotry?

In the last month, video has emerged of Boebert trashing Rep. Ilhan OmarIlhan OmarOmar: Manchin’s excuse for not supporting Build Back Better is ‘bulls—‘ Pressure builds on Biden ahead of student loan cliff AIPAC launching super PAC ahead of midterms MORE (D-Minn.) as a terrorist. She also described the Muslim member of Congress at an event as a member of the “Jihad Squad.”

What we have here is Boebert openly branding an elected member of Congress as a threat to the country, based only on that member’s religion.

Arguably her words are worse than King’s. Boebert’s libel is intended to revive voters’ lingering resentments over the September 11, 2001, attacks and raise political donations from bigots who hate Muslims.

Rep. Rashida TlaibRashida Harbi TlaibAIPAC launching super PAC ahead of midterms House Democrats pass bill to combat Islamophobia in support of Omar Photos of the Week: Former Sen. Dole lies in state, Capitol sunset and Instagrinch MORE (D- Mich.) broke into tears when she said Boebert’s words could provoke “violence on Muslims all across our country.”

Tlaib said she “should not have to beg and urge Republicans to do what’s right here” by punishing Boebert.

“They have Muslims in their communities,” she added.

McCarthy, however, refused to take away Boebert’s committee assignments.

The mystery of McCarthy’s inaction after Boebert’s slander was quickly solved when she won endorsement for reelection from former President TrumpDonald TrumpChile elects millennial who wants to tax the rich as new president The day democracy almost died Trump says he would not impose boycott against Beijing Olympics MORE.

Trump’s early support for Boebert was apparently prompted by passage of a House bill condemning anti-Muslim bigotry. The bill, passed by the Democratic majority, was designed to shame…