If you’re going to accept the tag of “rising Democratic superstar” you need to really ingratiate yourself with the far left base of the party, including the transgender community. That seems to be the case with newly minted congresswoman Ilhan Omar. So what transgender pet issue will she tackle? Mandatory use of opposite pronouns? Bathroom inequality? Nope. In typical fashion, she’s going for one of the most controversial aspects of the ongoing discussion.

Omar wants to ensure that men (who “identify” as females) can compete against actual women in sports. And it’s not just any sport. She’s talking about weightlifting, specifically the ban on males imposed by USA Powerlifting, preventing one of her new constituents from competing against the ladies. And to sweeten the deal, she wants her buddy Keith Ellison to investigate the matter. (Daily Caller)

Democratic Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar recommended Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison investigate USA Powerlifting for barring biological males from women’s events, according to a Jan. 31 letter she sent USA Powerlifting. Omar called it a “myth” that men who identify as transgender women have a “direct competitive advantage” and copied Ellison on the letter, “with a recommendation that he investigate this discriminatory behavior.” Omar sent her letter on behalf of JayCee Cooper, a biological male who identifies as a transgender woman, and whom Omar identified as one of her constituents.

Since Ellison is now the Attorney General in Minnesota, I suppose he could look into the matter if so inclined. It would certainly be a curious argument to make in court, though.

More stunning is Omar’s claim that the concept of men being physically stronger than women is a “myth.” Looking specifically at the organization under attack, here are a few pertinent facts that the congresswoman might want to keep in mind about this myth. The current Olympic (and world) record holder for the snatch, clean and jerk in the men’s heavyweight division is Lasha Talakhadze of Georgia. He hoisted 1,043 pounds (473 kg) in the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.

The current women’s record in the same event is held by Zhou Lulu of China. This impressive athlete put 734 pounds (333 kg) up during the 2012 London games. I’ll be the first to admit that Zhou Lulu, who competes in the 75 kg and up weight class, can not only put me to shame but could probably snap me like a twig if she had a mind to. But she still lifted more than 400 pounds less than the men’s champion. In fact, her record is less than the record for the men’s champion in the 152-pound maximum weight class.

This pattern holds true in virtually every sport we’ve looked at, but in weightlifting, the differences are more than stark. It is not a “myth” that the strongest men are stronger than the strongest women. It’s a product of evolution and a result of fundamental physical differences between the genders. And as I’ve written here repeatedly, if you start allowing men to compete in the women’s divisions of sports, even if they claim to be transgender, you may as well do away with female athletic programs entirely.

This is not smart public policy. It’s insanity. And it needs to come to an end.