Rep. Sestak and Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) under the gun
Posted on March 20 2007 by Cecilie Surasky under Government.CAIR has long been a target of the enforcement arm of the Israel lobby for, among other things, its refusal to explicitly condemn Hamas or Hezbollah, though it has explicitly condemned terrorism.
(We’ll be examining these issues later, but it is important to remember that Hamas and Hezbollah both respectively represent significant portions of the Palestinian and Lebanese communities. Both are political bodies, in addition to being militias, that have received significant support in democratic processes. CAIR has explicitly condemned attacks on Israeli civilians, and that is all anyone should expect them to do.)
Lately, any American politician that wants to reach out to Muslims by connecting to CAIR, the largest Muslim advocacy group in the country, which largely follows the standard formula for US religious or ethnic advocacy groups, will soon find themselves under attack for being anti-Israel.
Freshman congressman Joe Sestak (D-Pa.), a tough talking former Navy Vice Admiral, is getting a pounding for agreeing to speak at a local CAIR fundraiser. This report of a meeting with Sestak at a suburban Philadelphia Jewish community center makes it clear that at least some folks in the audience consider CAIR either a 5th column. On questioner seems to suggest that CAIR should be in the same category as the KKK.
Politico writes:
Sestak is among a growing number of lawmakers to take flak over dealings with CAIR. In January, Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) rescinded a letter of appreciation that she offered to the head of CAIR’s Sacramento chapter after drawing criticism. Boxer later said her office hadn’t vetted the organization thoroughly.
CAIR vigorously disputes criticisms of the organization. Legislative director Corey Saylor said his group has “gone above and beyond in terms of condemning terrorism and extremism.” In 2005, CAIR signed on in support of a fatwa condemning “religious extremism and the use of violence against innocent lives.”
Referring to critics, Saylor said, “These groups want to see Muslims disenfranchised.”
But at the very least, CAIR has taken positions that appear to clash with supporters of Israel. That could prove to be politically harmful to Sestak in his suburban Philadelphia district, where about 20,000 Jewish voters live. And some supporters, including one of the speakers at the fundraiser, have made statements Jewish leaders have labeled as anti-Semitic.
One of the featured speakers at the event is Muslim activist Rafael Narbaez, who has made a number of controversial comments about Israel in the past. During a July 2006 speech at a Detroit mosque, Narbaez said the Zionists have “the same racist ideology that the Nazis of Germany had.”
“To me, the notion that you can sit down with CAIR and help them, and affirm yourself as a supporter of Israel is a contradiction,” said Jonathan Tobin, executive editor of the Jewish Exponent. “Many people in this region feel the same way.”
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March 20th, 2007 at 3:04 pm
“(We’ll be examining these issues later, but it is important to remember that Hamas and Hezbollah both respectively represent significant portions of the Palestinian and Lebanese communities. Both are political bodies, in addition to being militias, that have received significant support in democratic processes. CAIR has explicitly condemned attacks on Israeli civilians, and that is all anyone should expect them to do.)”
That is absolutely ridiculous. If you disagree with a policy you don’t just abstractly talk about how you disagree with the policy you also disagree with the people implementing the policy. It doesn’t matter how much support a group has, if you really against killing civilians, then you won’t make excuses such as: “the group has much support”
March 20th, 2007 at 3:23 pm
It seems that CAIR is essentially trying to do what AIPAC is doing. Their position on the Israel-Palestine conflict is hardline pro-Palestinian.
The difference is that AIPAC is specifically operating as a lobbying group with respect to Israel. CAIR, by contrast, acts as a gatekeeper for Muslim concerns generally.
This is interesting, because Muzzlewatch consistently says “AIPAC doesn’t speak for all Jews.” You’re right, it doesn’t. It specifically speaks for a strong U.S. - Israel relationship. As it happens, the overwhelming majority of Jews support such a relationship, as do the strong majority of Americans.
CAIR, by contrast, claims to be serving as a group to speak for Muslims. Yet they directly involve themselves in a foreign policy matter as a “Muslim” issue. Muzzlewatch should be demanding that CAIR stop trying to speak for Muslims on the Israel-Palestinian conflict.
March 20th, 2007 at 6:38 pm
ohhh, “hardline pro Palistinian” What does hardline pro…. mean?
Look, my friend there are no innocent parties but when you compare Cair to Aipac, there is, indeed, a huge cultural and power difference: Aipac has power and dough and Cair is nothing (you like that…no?)
From the respective official statements.
“CAIR condemns all acts of violence against civilians by any individual, group or state.”
CAIR advocates dialogue between faith communities both in America and worldwide
CAIR supports equal and complementary rights and responsibilities for men and women.
AIPAC mission and accomplishments:
Extending U.S.-backed loan guarantees to Israel until 2011 and renewing the authority to transfer U.S. military equipment to be stored in Israel for use in a potential crisis.
Increasing Military Aid to Israel by working for $1 billion in government grants that will help cover the escalating costs of the war on terrorism.
FEAR—-MONEY—–CONTROL and more money
“The Promoting Anti-Terrorism Cooperation Through Technology and Science (PACTS) Act (H.R. 884) establishes an office of international cooperation within the Department of Homeland Security to foster joint projects between the United States and key allies such as Israel”
Blah blah blah. Cant we get these Homeland security wonks and fear mongers out of our lives.
March 20th, 2007 at 9:31 pm
I voted for Sestak. He is now taking a lot of heat for wanting to talk with Muslim constituents. Well, it will be interesting to see what happens to him. Poor devil — perhaps too honest and too innocent for a Congress dominated by “Friends of Israel” — Hey, with friends like this, who needs an enemy? Next stop Iran, and then Uncle Sam, once having lost a few thousand more soldiers and a few more billion dollars, will call it quits,and go home. The Lobby will be laughed out of town, and Israel will have to go it alone against an enemy which will then have just as much military skill and technology as israel. Nuclear war anyone?
March 21st, 2007 at 1:12 pm
Indeed, fear and money are two of the most powerful and nastiest tools one can use to get almost anything they want, even if that means compromising America’s security.
It was fear that led us to question Prez. Kennedy’s patriotism to his country, since he was Catholic. It was fear that led us to accuse MLK of being a commy. Demonize the “other.” Now, fear is being used to silence American Muslims. Don’t talk about civil rights, cuz you’re Muslim and you don’t have any. Don’t talk about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, although we are giving away $3.5 billion precious dollars annually to you know who (that could be spent on domestic programs such as education!!) and ruining America’s image abroad.
Lets stop the fear-mongering!