Clarion Fund to Inject Millions in November Elections Throgh Iran Mushroom-Cloud Propaganda

Richard Silverstein

Posted Mar 28, 2010      •Permalink      • Printer-Friendly Version
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Clarion Fund Mystery Donor to Inject Millions in November Elections Throgh Iran Mushroom-Cloud Propaganda Film

by Richard Silverstein

Those of you who read my blog during the last presidential campaign will remember the Clarion Fund, which spent $15-million to distribute its Islam-hating Obsession to 28-million voters in swing states.  The purpose was to scare Jewish voters and others frightened of the ‘Muslim menace’ into voting Republican.  You can see how well that strategy worked.

Thanks to Sarah Posner, Justin Elliott and reader John Dickerson for alerting me to a story about those folks who brought you two perfect-storm anti-Muslim films (Obsession and Third Jihad).  They plan to do to Iran what they did to Islamism.  Note the mushroom-cloud in the film promotion and the claim that Iran will use nuclear weapons to destroy everything we in the west hold dear, including Israel.  And like their last electoral effort, this one will be timed to the upcoming November elections.

Last time around, a media expert quoted by Ali Gharib and Eli Clifton estimated that the Obsession DVD distribution cost between $15-50-million.  Justin Elliott does his homework and finds that Clarion took in $18-million in 2008 and spent $15-million, most of this on the cost of duplicating the DVD.  The Fund’s 990 report doesn’t specify who gave the $18-million, but there are any number of right-wing Jewish Republican fatcats who’d be only too pleased to do so.  In the past, several have speculated it might be Sheldon Adelson.  But given Clarion Fund is an extension of the far-right pro-settler Aish HaTorah, my money is on a fellow far-right Orthodox donor.  Someone like Irving Moskowitz or Rabbi Irwin Katsof, a billionaire co-founder of Aish.

Elliott’s piece gives us an early warning of the shenanigans planned by the Jewish crackpot-right like Clarion and the Republican Jewish Coalition.  I like to say that it’s good that they waste their money on such ineffective projects.  If they didn’t, they might actually discover an effective way to do damage against the Democrats.  Garbage like this won’t.  So I say, along with a thankfully retired president, “Bring it on.”

During the last election, much of the Jewish media featured distorted, misleading ads from the Republican Jewish Coalition touting fear of Barack “Hussein” Obama as anti-Israel.  No doubt, Clarion’s Jewish Daddy Warbucks will pay for swank ads in the same publications touting the Iran mushroom cloud film.  I’d urge them to consider what Clarion Fund is and consider the lies of their previous two films.  Jewish Week, The Forward, Haaretz and JTA clearly need revenue in this terrible climate for print media, but do they need it so badly they have to take funds promoting such garbage?

Here are a few choice quotations from the film’s finely calibrated press release:

Since the inception of the Islamic Revolution in 1979, Iran has displayed hatred for the West.  Coupled with an extremist and apocalyptic messianic ideology, this regime has terrorized the world at large for over 30 years.

…The film will document…the West’s inability to recognize the true nature of an extremist Islamic Revolutionary regime…

I was just glancing at Clarion’s website, Radical Islam, when I noticed this absolutely hilarious Facebook feed:

Al-Qaida is laying deadly “booby traps” by equipping its female suicide bombers with explosive breast implants [!] that are impossible to be detected at airport security checkpoints…

The source?  That impeccable font of anti-jihadi wisdom, Robert Spencer’s Jihad Watch!  Should we speculate how Orthodox settlers might conceal their explosives should they ever turn to suicide bombing as a tactic for killing Palestinians?  Perhaps explosive tallises (which they wear as an undergarment)?

SOURCE:  Tikun Olam

SEE ALSO:

Americans are becoming indifferent to Obsession, Sheila Musaji http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/americans_are_becoming_indifferent_to_obsession/ 
American extremists use Islamic extremism to fuel anti-Muslim hate, Ray Hanania http://www.arabisto.com/p_blogEntry.cfm?blogEntryID=1242
American Muslims Must Accept That They Are Not Equivalent to Real Americans, Sheila Musaji http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/american_muslims_must_accept_that_they_are_not_equivalent_to_real_americans/
Anti-Muslim Film Produced by Pro-Israel Partisan Boosts McCain, Richard Silverstein http://www.israelenews.com/view.asp?ID=3104
anti-Semitism and Islamophobia, Aziz Poonawalla http://blog.beliefnet.com/cityofbrass/2008/11/antisemitism-and-islamophobia.html
Are Muslims “The Enemy Within?”, Sheila Musaji http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/are_muslims_the_enemy_within1/
The Battle of the Films - Obsession and Fitna Versus Schism, Sheila Musaji http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/obsession_fitna_and_schism/
The Big Lie About ‘Islamic Fascism’ , Eric S. Margolis http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/the_big_lie_about_islamic_fascism/
Bigger, Badder Jihad Plot in ‘Obsession’ Rebooted, Ali Gharib and Eli Clifton http://ipsnorthamerica.net/news.php?idnews=2247
The Bridge with Islam, Rabbi Haim Ovadia http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/the_bridge_with_islam/
Can only Muslims be terrorists, Kamran Memon http://iviews.com/articles/Articles.asp?ref=IV0307-2020
Claim that all terrorists are Muslims ignores history, Sheila Musaji (TAM article collection http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/claim_that_all_terrorists_are_muslims_ignores_history/0012587
The Clarion Fund’s Film Jihad Against “Islamism” http://islamonmyside.com/wordpress/?p=484
Clarion Fund puts lipstick on pig documentary http://popprog.blogspot.com/2008/09/clarion-fund-puts-lipstick-on-terrorism.html
Clarion plans a sequel to Obsession called “The Third Jihad” http://frontpagemag.com/Articles/Printable.aspx?GUID=3F1BB207-6426-4F2D-9382-3321B29E766F
Clarion Fund, distributor of DVD refuses to name sources (VIDEO) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1CS4wmhIbo
The Clarion Fund’s Second Dud: The Third Jihad, Loonwatch http://www.loonwatch.com/2009/05/the-clarion-funds-new-hate-the-third-jihad/
Coming Soon: More Fearmongering With Obsession Sequel, Nick POatler http://www.huntingtonnews.net/columns/070320-patler-comment.html 
Conservatives Stoke Fear of Fifth Column, Sarah Posner http://www.religiondispatches.org/blog/2004/conservatives_stoke_fear_of_fifth_column
Debunked: Ten Conservative Myths About National Security, By Sara Robinson http://www.alternet.org/audits/98766/debunked:_ten_conservative_myths_about_national_security/
Did Sheldon Adelson Fund Anti-Obama Propaganda DVD Distribution?, http://www.richardsilverstein.com/tikun_olam/2008/09/14/did-sheldon-adelson-fund-anti-obama-propaganda-dvd/
Faith leaders condemn anti-Muslim sentiments of Obsession http://www.santafenewmexican.com/Local%20News/Faith-leaders-condemn-anti-Muslim-sentiments
“Fascist-Islamophobia”: A Case Study in Totalitarian Demonization, Dr. Robert D. Crane (5 parts) http://www.theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/fascist_islamophobia_a_case_study_in_totalitarian_demonization/0014837
Fighting Words: The Abuse of Islam in Political Rhetoric, L. Ali Khan http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/fighting_words_the_abuse_of_islam_in_political_rhetoric/
Film on “Radical Islam” Tied to Pro-Israel Groups, Khody Akhavi http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=37090 
Howard Gordon Withdraws Endorsement of “Obsession: Radical Islam’s War Against the West”, Sheila Musaji http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/howard_gordon_withdraws_endorsement_of_obsession_radical_islams_war_against/ 
Hate Messages Have No Place in Our Community, Miami-Dade County CRB http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/hate_messages_have_no_place_in_our_community/
History of Obsession: Radical Islam’s War With the West, Sheila Musaji   http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/history_of_obsession_radical_islams_war_with_the_west/
David Horowitz ‘Declares’ Islamo-Fascism Awareness Week for October 22-26, 2007 on college campuses across the U.S.  http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/islamo_fascism_awareness_week/
David Horowitz’ Islamo-Fascism Awareness Week, An Idea Whose Time Has Passed, Sheila Musaji http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/david_horowitz_islamo_fascism_awareness_week_an_idea_whose_time_has_passed/
In-Depth Summary & Analysis of “Obsession: Radical Islam’s War on the West”  http://www.theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/in_depth_summary_analysis_of_obsession_radical_islams_war_on_the_west/0016753
Interfaith leaders condemn anti-Muslim DVD, call for greater understanding http://al-amana.net/home/2008/10/10/interfaith-leaders-condemn-anti-muslim-dvd-call-for-greater-understanding/
Islamic Fascists?  Deceptive Labels & Propoganda are Counterproductive, Sheila Musaji (TAM article collection) http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/islamic_fascists1/ 
“Islamic terrorists”:  Who are they insulting?, Sheila Musaji   http://www.theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/who_are_they_insulting/0016647
‘Islamo-fascism’ is an Oxymoron, Enver Masud http://www.twf.org/News/Y2005/1025-Oxymorons.html
The Islamo-Fascist Rationale for Abandoning Liberty, by Jacob G. Hornberger 3/16/07 http://www.fff.org/comment/com0703f.asp
ISLAMOPHOBIA: MEDIA, PROPOGANDA & PERCEPTION - article collection http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/media_radio_tv_film_print_free_speech/
Islamophobia and Arabophobia: Laying The Groundwork - Us vs. Them, Sheila Musaji http://www.theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/islamophobia_laying_the_groundwork_us_vs_them/0016128
Islamophobia Does Not Represent American Values, Sheila Musaji http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/islamophobia_does_not_represent_american_values/
Islamophobia, From Screen to Capitol Hill, Sarah Posner http://www.prospect.org/csnc/blogs/tapped_archive?month=10&year=2009&base_name=islamophobia_from_screen_to_ca
Islamophobia worse in America now than after 9/11, survey finds, Analysts blame politicians and media coverage http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2006/mar/10/usa.religion
Rabbi Steven Jacobs confronts Clarion Fund’s Gregory Ross on Obsession http://thehollytree.blogspot.com/2008/10/rabbi-steven-jacobs-confronts-clarion.html
Jewish Voice for Peace statement on Obsession http://www.westandwithyou.org/
Jewish Week Uncovers Aish HaTorah’s Illegal Election Meddling – New Film Produced By Aish’s Clarion Fund Claims Muslims Seek Sharia Law In US http://failedmessiah.typepad.com/failed_messiahcom/2008/10/expos-jewish-we.html
Judeo-Christo-Fascism Awareness Week Comes to American Campuses!, Rabbi Arthur Waskow http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/judeo_christo_fascism_awareness_week_comes_to_american_campuses/
The Language of Islamophobia, Dr. Jeremy Henzell-Thomas http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/the_language_of_islamophobia/
Bernard Lewis speaks and Obsession film shows at same program at Hebrew University of Jerusalem http://www.cross-currents.com/archives/2007/02/11/islamists%E2%80%99-historiography/ 
The License to target Islam, by Ghassan Michel Rubeiz http://usa.mediamonitors.net/content/view/full/54747
Mission statement of Honest Reporting, producers of Obsession http://www.honestreporting.com/a/page.asp?page=4
Mistranslation in Obsession http://obsession.swflnet.com/obsession_lie.htm
Museum of Tolerance screens Third Jihad, Richard Silverstein http://www.richardsilverstein.com/tikun_olam/2009/05/21/museum-of-in-tolerance-screens-muslim-hating-film-third-jihad/
The Muslim Boogeyman, Anouar Boukhars http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=28525
Muslim Voices Against Terrorism and Extremism - article collections http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/muslim_voices_against_extremism_and_terrorism_2/
Muslims and people of conscience we have to fight against this “Obsession”, Robert Salaam http://www.theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/muslims_and_people_of_conscience_we_have_to_fight_against_this_obsession/0016738
Muslims rap DVD ad in the Observer http://www.charlotteobserver.com/100/story/190032.html
Muslims Who Fought Against the ‘Real’ Fascists, Sheila Musaji http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/muslims_who_fought_against_the_real_fascists/
National Council of Churches Interfaith Relations Commission warns against Obsession DVD http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/national_council_of_churches_interfaith_relations_commission_warns_against_/
Neo-Kharijite’s Not Islamic Fascists, Dr. Hesham A. Hassaballa http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/neo_kharijites_not_islamic_fascists/
never again? Simon Wiesenthal Center to screen Islamophobic film “The Third Jihad”, Aziz Poonawalla http://blog.beliefnet.com/cityofbrass/2009/05/never-again-simon-wiesenthal-c.html
New anti-Muslim DVD ‘The Third Jihad’ released this week: A protocols of the elders of Islam?  http://www.progressiveislam.info/diary/715/
Not all Muslims are terrorists, but ..., Dr. Hesham Hassaballa http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/not_all_muslims_are_terrorists_but/
Not all terrorists are Muslims, M. Shahed Alam http://www.counterpunch.org/shahid10242006.html
Obsessed With Defamation and Slander, Imam Zaid Shakir http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/obsessed_with_defamation_and_slander/
Obsession: Hate and the conspiracy of silence, Jeff Siddiqui http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/obsession_hate_and_the_conspiracy_of_silence/
Obsession:  Has Your Newspaper Put a Hate DVD On Your Front Porch?, James M. Wall http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/obsession_has_your_newspaper_put_a_hate_dvd_on_your_front_porch/
Obsession:  Radical Judaism’s War With Islam, Sheila Musaji   (TAM article collection)  http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/obsession_radical_judaisms_war_with_islam/
The “Obsession” film: Is there something wrong with being a Muslim in America?, Rabbi Arthur Waskow http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/the_obsession_film_is_there_something_wrong_with_being_a_muslim_in_america/
Obsession:  Deja Vu! Never Again?, by Jeff Siddiqui http://www.theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/obsession_deja_vu_never_again/0016723
Obsession, Fear and Loathing from Israel, John de Groot http://blogs.browardpalmbeach.com/pulp/2008/09/obsession_local_newsapers_dist.php
Obsession Generates Applause and Controversy http://www.stljewishlight.com/topstories/372310241815237.php
“Obsession” is a Shallow Fear-Mongering Propaganda Piece, Junaid M. Afeef http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/obsession_is_a_shallow_fear_mongering_propaganda_piece/
“Obsession” - Happy Ramadan:  “The Third Jihad” - Happy Eid, Sheila Musaji http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/the_third_jihad_happy_eid/
Obsession Promotes Intolerance of Islam http://media.www.mtsusidelines.com/media/storage/paper202/news/2007/03/19/Opinions/obsession.Promotes.Intolerance.Of.Islam-2779546.shtml
Obsession Review by Jared Cinman http://jarredcinman.wordpress.com/2006/10/01/movie-review-obsession-radical-islams-war-against-the-west/
Obsession Review http://www.honestreporting.com/obsession/
Obsession site’s timeline of Islamist linked terror, Sheila Musaji http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/through_the_looking_glass_muslim_timeline_for_world_rule/
‘Obsession’ stokes passions, fears and controversy, Dapha Berman http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/873843.html
`Obsession` Stars Have Lectured at U.S. Military Colleges; U.S. Navy Uses Film http://www.israelenews.com/view.asp?ID=3168
Obsession, War Against the Truth http://www.onmilwaukee.com/myOMC/blog/show/1982
The Paranoid and Abhorrent Obsession with Muslims in the Media, By Jeremy Henzell-Thomas http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/the_paranoid_and_abhorrent_obsession_with_muslims_in_the_media/
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Jewish Community to Show “Obsession” film and Host Dennis Prager http://www.jewishexponent.com/ViewArticle.asp?ArtID=2697
Protocols of the elders of Islam: Third Jihad, Nick Schou http://blogs.ocweekly.com/navelgazing/the-hilarious-haters/protocols-of-the-elders-of-isl/
Rebutting Obsession, Rabbi Haim Dov Beliak, Eli Clifton, Jane Hunter and Robin Podolsky http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/obsession/
Republican Jewish Coalition mails Obsession and book by CUFI’s executive director to Rabbi’s (2/07) http://www.jewsonfirst.org/08a/cufi_obsession.html
Resources for Responding to Obsession DVD Mass Distribution, Sheila Musaji (TAM article collection)  http://www.theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/resources_for_responding_to_obsession_dvd_mass_distribution/0016707 
Walid Shoebat Preaches Violence Not Peace http://www.usforacle.com/home/index.cfm?event=displayArticle&ustory_id=c4c6f849-2ec2-420b-9f0d-fdac22304338&page=1 
Selective Hearing of Muslim Voices Against Extremism and Terrorism, Sheila Musaji http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/selective_hearing_of_muslim_voices_against_extremism_and_terrorism/
Shoebat, Saleem, and Anani - Three Arab Villages Are Missing Their Idiots, Sheila Musaji http://www.theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/print/walid_shoebat_kamal_saleem_zacharia_anani/
Walid Shoebat’s New Incarnation http://www.newvoices.org/cgi-bin/articlepage.cgi?id=238
Walid Shoebat Preaches Violence Not Peace http://www.usforacle.com/home/index.cfm?event=displayArticle&ustory_id=c4c6f849-2ec2-420b-9f0d-fdac22304338&page=1
Walid Shoebat Denied Entry Into Canada http://www.canadianchristianity.com/cgi-bin/bc.cgi?bc/bccn/0704/04israel
Should Muslim Americans Be Afraid?, Sheila Musaji http://www.theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/should_muslim_americans_be_afraid/
Robert Spencer’s Obsession With Islam:  What Would Jesus Do?, Khaleel Mohammed http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/robert_spencers_obsession_with_islam_what_would_jesus_do/ 9/08
Significant Terrorist Incidents, 1961-2003: A Brief Chronology http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ho/pubs/fs/5902.htm
Spiritual jihad against terrorism, Sheila Musaji (5 parts) http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/a_spiritual_jihad_against_terrorism_part_i/
Statement of Concerned Scholars about Islamophobia in the 2008 U. S. Election Campaign http://www.theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/statement_of_concerned_scholars_about_islamophobia_in_the_2008_u_s_election/0016801
Statement on the Film Obsession, Rabbi Jack Moline http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/statement_on_the_film_obsession/
Statement from American Religious Leaders in Response to Mass Distribution of ‘Obsession’  http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/statement_from_american_religious_leaders_in_response_to_mass_distribution_/
Terrorized by ‘War on Terror’, Zbigniew Brzezinski http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/23/AR2007032301613.html
Terrorism, Neocons and Islamophobia, Jeff Siddiqui http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/terrorism_neocons_and_islamophobia/
Uncovering the Obsessions of “Obsession”, David Shasha http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/documentary_review_uncovering_the_obsessions_of_obsession/
Us vs Them, Paul Craft http://www.stanfordreview.org/Archive/Volume_XXXVIII/Issue_2/Opinions/opinions4.shtml 
War against tolerance, Chris Hedges http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/20080211_the_war_against_tolerance/
What is The Clarion Fund? - Marketing Hate to the Masses, Joachim Martillo http://eaazi.blogspot.com/2008/09/what-is-clarion-fund.html
When Language Grows Darker and Darker, Joan Chittister http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/when_language_grows_darker_and_darker/
Why Are Some Florida Jewish Groups Sponsoring Anti-Muslim Hate Speech?, Ahmed Bedier http://ahmedbedier.blogspot.com/2006/03/why-are-some-florida-jewish-groups.html 
Who is behind Relentless, Obsession and The Third Jihad?, Sheila Musaji http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/who_is_behind_relentless_obsession_and_the_third_jihad1/
Who Put Hate in My Sunday Paper?, Omid Safi http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/obsession_dvd_who_put_hate_in_my_sunday_paper/
Will America Tolerate Anti-Muslim Discrimination,  Moustafa Bayoumi http://www.courant.com/news/opinion/editorials/hc-bayoumi0911.artsep11,0,5275389.story
The world according to Brigitte Gabriel http://www.ajn.com.au/news/news.asp?pgID=3403
Wrong War, Wrong Word, Katha Pollitt http://www.thenation.com/doc/20060911/pollitt

 

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