The Democrats Dilemma

(Politico) TIM ALBERTA March 08 2019 MINNEAPOLISThey have gathered in defiance of the freezing temperatures on a late Februarys night scores of them twirling Somali flags in one hand and American flags in the other crowding around the arrivals terminal and waiting to welcome one of their own. The vast Somali community in the Twin Cities is like one sprawling extended family explains Ali Aden a 39-year-old engineer who came to the U.S. two decades ago as we survey the scene. When a prominent member of the family arrives its customary to greet them this way. Is it Congresswoman Omar theyre waiting for?" I ask referencing the freshman Democrat whose district were standing in. Ilhan?" he smiles broadly. No no. If it were Ilhan the whole city would be here." As it turns out the reception is for an obscure Somali government dignitary. In normal times his arrival would be the talk of the local expat community; some 80000 people of Somali descent are estimated to live in Minnesota the largest such diaspora in the United States one that has distinctly flavored the Twin Cities culture and caused some occasional unease on the right such as when then-candidate Donald Trump warned in 2016 of the disaster" of Somali refugees moving into Minnesota and becoming radicalized by ISIS. But these are not normal times. The voters of Minnesotas 5th District knew they were making history last November: Omars victory made her both the first Somali-American to serve in Congress and along with fellow newcomer Rashida Tlaib of Michigan its first Muslim woman member. What they didnt expect was that in her first seven weeks on the job she would become one of the most prominent polarizing and recognizable politicians in Americathe subject of fierce debates on the House floor and cable news lauded on the left for standing up to Israel and vilified on the right for comments seen by many as anti-Semitic.