In a recently obtained internal documents obtained by Scott Johnson of Powerline, show a member of the crisis communication team representing Ilhan Omar stating “Someone should reach out to talk off the record [with Olson] and shut it down with him as we do with the Strib” (page 22).”
Blois Olson has denied that anyone called him but said in his morning newsletter: “This is the type of reporting that other media should be doing, which is why there continues to be fair criticism about local coverage of Omar and others.”
Ilhan Omar has received overwhelmingly positive press not just nationally but locally from Minnesota media.
Nationally Time put her on the cover of their magazine with a glowing photo without any mention of numerous controversies including her marriage to a man who is alleged to be her brother or her constant anti-semitic remarks
A painting was hung at the same building shared by the Star Tribune
Local nonprofits used taxpayer money to promote a documentary about Ilhan Omar that didn’t mention a single controversy surrounding her troubled tenure as a Congresswoman.
Former Alpha News journalist Preya Samsundar tweeted her frustration saying
“As someone who worked with @scottwjohnson to cover this story with the seriousness it deserved back in 2016, I was always shocked to see the local media treat this story and subsequent stories relating to Ilhan Omar with kid gloves. It was clear that the mainstream media like the @StarTribune never took the documentation or evidence presented seriously, but saw it as a right-wing conspiracy. Scott wrote about his experiences with the local media in regards to this story. It was clear that the mainstream media like the @StarTribune never took the documentation or evidence presented seriously, but saw it as a right-wing conspiracy. Scott wrote about his experiences with the local media in regards to this story.”
THREAD:
— Preya Samsundar (@psamsundar) June 13, 2019
As someone who worked with @scottwjohnson to cover this story with the seriousness it deserved back in 2016, I was always shocked to see the local media treat this story and subsequent stories relating to Ilhan Omar with kid gloves. https://t.co/jLrcvs2ibp
Former Majority Leader Matt Dean also mocked the double standard when it comes to the coverage of Ilhan Omar by tweeting
“Last night I had a dream Michele Bachmann hired lawyers because she was still married to someone other than her husband and the media didn’t care, but spent a lot of money investigating Ilhan Omar to see if she really had 23 foster children. No more spicy food after dinner!!!”
Last night I had a dream Michele Bachmann hired lawyers because she was still married to someone other than her husband and the media didn’t care, but spent a lot of money investigating Ilhan Omar to see if she really had 23 foster children. No more spicy food after dinner!!!
— Matt Dean (@repmattdean) June 13, 2019
Former Alpha News columnist John Gilmore has previously dedicated a whole column about the lack of interest in any story that could be seen as damaging to Ilhan Omar.
In the meantime Ilhan Omar who typically is quick to comment is staying quiet.
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