Peter King’s Civics Lesson for American Muslims

by Sheila Musaji

This week Rep. Peter King will begin his hearings into what he has named “The Extent of Radicalization in the American Muslim Community and that Community’s Response.” 

The initial witnesses are:  L.A. County sheriff Lee Baca, Dr. M. Zuhdi Jasser, Melvin Bledsoe, Abdirizak Bihi, Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.), and Rep. Frank Wolf (R-Va.).

The members of the Homeland Security Committee are listed HERE                         

TAM has an ongoing collection of statements by elected representatives and officials of our government that are disparaging of Islam, Muslims, or Arabs.  Here is a summary of key statements from that collection.  Check out the collection for links to references, and full quotes, some of which are lengthy.  And, sadly many members of this committee are listed as having made remarks that might call their impartiality into question.  There seems to be a partisan split between the Democrats and the Republicans on the issue of these hearings.  See GOP leaders back hearings on Muslims: Democrats, rights groups see panel singling out community by Seth McLaughlin.

As an American Muslim, I believe that hearings into the causes of radicalization, and possible solutions for countering them is important.  I believe that the limited focus on only one community is a concern and may show a bias on the part of the leadership of the hearings.  It is possible that some good might come out of these hearings, but based on Rep. King’s background, the limited focus, and the overwhelming evidence of a climate of Islamophobia in the United States at this time, even among our elected representatives and government officials, I have my doubts that this can be anything other than a witchhunt.

Consider the following statements, and put the name of your own community -  Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, whatever -  in place of Muslim or Islam, and imagine how it would feel to have these statements made about you.  And, then ask yourself how confident you would feel if these were the individuals who were supposed to represent you and protect your rights as a citizen.  I, can’t help but be a little nervous, and I can’t imagine that you wouldn’t also be nervous.

Denis McDonough did give a positive speech to the American Muslim Community on behalf of the White House this week, but he did not directly deal with either King’s hearings or the rampant Islamophobia.  It is difficult to tell whether or not the White House approves of these hearings.

Japanese Americans (who previously received a civics lesson from bigots) are calling these hearings “sinister”.

These hearings will be a civics lesson for American Muslims and for all Americans.  They will also be observed carefully by Muslims around the world who will be anxious to see just how honest the “we are not at war with Islam” mantra is.

UPDATE 3/10/2011

I watched the entire first day of hearings on CSPAN.  In today’s hearings those who expressed support for the hearings and their scope were:  Representatives:  Michael McCaul (R-TX), Jim Cooper (R-TN), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Dan Lungren (R-CA), Frank Wolf (R-VA), Paul Broun (R-GA), Joe Walsh (IL), Patrick Meehan (R-PA), Scott Rigell (R-VA, Jeff Duncan (R-SC), Thomas Marino (R-PA), Chip Cravaack (R-MN), Mike Rogers (R-AL).  Many of these individuals are listed in our collection of bigoted statements.

Here are some of the statements by these Congresspeople who should be ashamed of their statements today:

Rep. Chip Cravaack (R-MN) called CAIR “a terrorist organization” and said “You are aware that this is a Hamas and Muslim Brotherhood entity?”  He actually pronounced Muslim as “moo-slim.”

Rep. Jeff Duncan (R-SC) warned of “the threat of Sharia law to the U.S. constitution.”  He also said that that “nobody on his side of the aisle” was intent on attacking Islam in general.

Rep. Dan Lungren (R-CA “I would say to those who criticize us for a singular focus here that I have been on panels that have investigated the continuing presence of Nazi war criminals in the United States,” Lungren said, adding, “I’ve been there where we’ve examined the Ku Klux Klan…and skinhead groups and militias.  We were not criticized—or if we were, I didn’t think it was reasonable criticism to say we didn’t look at other gangs at that time.”  What I hear is the American Muslim community is equivalent to the KKK or militias or Nazi’s.

Rep. Thomas Marino (R-PA) was one of the last to speak and actually had the nerve to say “I have many friends who are Muslims”

Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX) “We have to know our enemy, and it is radical Islam in my judgment.”

Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Ala.) defended the committee, claiming that no one had said there were too many mosques in the country. He was interrupte­d by King, who acknowledg­ed that he had made such a statement.­”

See also Elected Representatives & Government Officials Who HAVE Questioned Islamophobia for statements countering the scope and format of these hearings.

REPRESENTATIVES WHO HAVE PROPOSED ANTI-SHARIA LEGISLATION IN THEIR STATES:

Sen. Gerald Allen (R-AL) - Rep. Leo Berman (R-TX) -  State Rep. Bruce Borders (changed his mind about introducing the bill) (R-IN)  - Rep. Paul Curtman (R-MO)  -  Rep. Rex Duncan, (R-OK) - Sen. Mike Fair (R-SC) - Rep. Carl Gatto (R-Alaska)  - State Rep. Gerald Gay (R-WY) - Sen. Alan Hays (R-Umatilla) - Sen. Alan Hays (R-Umatilla FL) - State Rep. Mike Jacobs (R-Atlanta GA) - Rep. Phil Jensen (R-SD) - Rep. Bill Ketron (R-TN) - State Rep. Wendy Nanney (R-SC) - Rep. Carl Wimmer (R-UT) withdrew his anti-Sharia bill to ban foreign law in Utah after he learned that it could harm banking and international businesses. “My bill was just too broad,” he says. - State Rep. Judd Matheny (R-TN) - Rep. Ernest Wooton (R-LA)

Representatives who want Federal anti-Sharia legislation

- Newt Gingrich ** it’s time to take federal action to prevent Shariah Law from infiltrating courtrooms in the US.
- Rep. Louis Gohmert (R-TX) has said that he will be pushing for anti-Sharia hearings in Congress.

States that have considered anti-Sharia legislation

Passed

: Both Tennessee and Louisiana passed variations of the American Public Policy Alliance’s “American Law for American Courts” legislation in 2010.

Working on it

: Alaska; Arkansas; Arizona; Georgia; Indiana; Kansas; Nebraska; Oklahoma; South Carolina; South Dakota; Texas; Wyoming.

Tried but failed

: Florida; Mississippi; Utah. (From Tim Murphy with a great map ** )

Arizona’s proposed bill In addition to banning the implementation of Sharia law, the bill would also ban “canon law, halacha and karma.” 

In an article on this anti-Sharia craze, I said: As an American Muslim I would be opposed to any suggestion that Sharia replace our American legal system for American Muslims or any other Americans, and I would be the first to fight any such possibility.  However, the inclusion of Sharia arbitration or alternative dispute resolution that might be utilized by Muslims who so choose after signing a binding arbitration agreement (signed by both parties in a dispute), or that might file an amicus brief with the court is not an alarming new idea.  In fact, it is an existing option for religious communities.  Any decision rendered by a tribunal or a panel of mediators is subject to appeal to the courts and must be consistent with American law and our Constitution.   (See the full article:  Islamic Sharia and Jewish Halakha Arbitration Courts for a discussion of this anti-Sharia effort as well as an extensive list of articles.  See also Frank Gaffney’s Center for Security Policy Sharia Report a Threat to American Ideals and Frank Gaffney’s Obsession with Sharia for information on the primary force behind this movement.)

REPRESENTATIVES WHO DON’T UNDERSTAND THE U.S. CONSTITUTION:

- Rae Hart Anderson

the U.S. is a “Christian nation

“. 
- Former Atty. General Bob Ashcroft *

America has “no King but Jesus”

. 
- Ret. Gen. William Boykin *  “questions

whether or how the First Amendment should properly be applied to Islam

” 
- Rep. Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) * to combat terrorism officials should “

Arrest every Muslim that comes across the state line” into Georgia

.
- Newt Gingrich *

America should not allow the construction of any further places of Islamic worship until Saudi Arabia allows the construction of Christian churches

. 
- Rep. Virgil H. Goode, Jr. “The Muslim Representative from Minnesota (Rep. Keith Ellison) was elected by the voters of that district and

if American citizens don’t wake up and adopt the Virgil Goode position on immigration there will likely be many more Muslims elected to office and demanding the use of the Koran

.” 
- Mike Huckabee *  “I have opponents in this race who do not want to change the Constitution. But

I believe it’s a lot easier to change the Constitution than it would be to change the word of the living God.

And that’s what

we need to do is amend the Constitution so it’s in God’s standards

rather than trying to change God’s standards so it lines up with some contemporary view of how we treat each other and how we treat the family.” 
- Rep. Mark Kirk (R-IL) *  ”[I’m] okay with discrimination against young Arab males from terrorist-producing states.”
- Sen. John McCain * America is better off with a Christian President and he doesn’t want a Muslim in the Oval Office.
- Ret. Gen. Thomas McInerney *, “We have to use profiling. And I mean be very serious and harsh about the profiling. . . .“

If you are an 18-28 year-old Muslim man, then you should be strip searched

.”
- Meyers Mermel (R Cand. Gov. NY) ]* ”

It’s not unheard that the religion of a nation at war with the United States be curtailed or disestablished

.” His example: “The Anglican religion was disestablished during the Revolutionary War.”  In ]a video he calls

Islam a “religion that sanctioned 9/11

” and calls Islam “the religion of the aggressor”, and discusses the supposed “silence of Muslims”, and calls Christianity “the religion of the victims”. 
-  Rep. Sue Myrick (R-NC)  * thought Muslim interns were trying to infiltrate Capitol.  She supports the work of The National Council on Bible Curriculum in Public Schools whose goals are clearly in opposition to the first amendment of the U.S. 
- Judge Roy Moore

compared the Qur’an to Mein Kampf

.  And said regarding Keith Ellison’s use of a Qur’an in ceremony “Our Constitution states, “Each House [of Congress] shall be the judge ... of the qualifications of its own members.”

Enough evidence exists for Congress to question Ellison’s qualifications to be a member of Congress as well as his commitment to the Constitution in view of his apparent determination to embrace the Quran and an Islamic philosophy directly contrary to the principles of the Constitution. But common sense alone dictates that in the midst of a war with Islamic terrorists we should not place someone in a position of great power who shares their doctrine

. In 1943, we would never have allowed a member of Congress to take their oath on “Mein Kampf,” or someone in the 1950s to swear allegiance to the “Communist Manifesto.” Congress has the authority and should act to prohibit Ellison from taking the congressional oath today!”
- Ron Ramsey (Lt. Gov., TN) ”

You could even argue whether being a Muslim is actually a religion or is it a nationality, way of life or cult, whatever you want to call it

.”  He seems to be questioning whether or not the Constitution protects Islam as a religion. 
- Mitt Romney said: “

Based on the numbers of American Muslims [as a percentage] in our population, I cannot see that a cabinet position would be justified. But of course, I would imagine that Muslims could serve at lower levels of my administration.

”  - Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL) raised the “issue” of Sharia and other * against Elena Kagan’s appointment to the Supreme Court.  He also said “The

civil libertarians among us would rather defend the constitution than protect our nation’s security

.” 
- Reps. John Shadegg (Ariz.), Paul Broun (Ga.), Trent Franks (Ariz.) and Sue Myrick (N.C.) all objected to Muslim interns on Capitol Hill as infiltrators.
- Rep. Jerry Weller (IL) * “if we know a Middle Eastern male has entered our community, I believe our

law enforcement needs to be able to go out and look for Middle Eastern males

...”
- Lou Ann Zelenik (R Cong. Cand. TN) opposed Murfreesboro mosque * “

we are not obligated to open our society to any of them

,” meaning American Muslims.

 
Right, let’s just throw out the Constitution.  The constitutionally-protected religious rights of Americans don’t depend on the actions of any foreign government.  The U.S. Constitution which says in Article VI, section 3:  “ ...no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States”  makes it very clear that there is no religious test for public office.  There is no religious test for citizenship.  Absolutely amazing that Mormons, Jews, Irish people, and members of other minority groups have such a short memory about where such prejudice leads.  Believing that protecting our civil rights and Constitutional rights and freedoms is not an anti-American idea - Benjamin Franklin said They that give up essential liberty for temporary safety, deserve neither liberty or safety.

See Congressman Keith Ellison and the Qur’an, American Muslims must defend the Constitution of the United States, American Muslims, First Amendment Rights, Reciprocity, and Collective Guilt, A Constitutional Amendment to Ban Islam?, Civil rights and the Patriot Act,  Democracy and Islam, Losing our civil rights, Separation of church and state for much more on this topic.

Representatives who have a strange view of U.S. foreign policy:

- Rep. Richard Armey promoted expelling the Palestinians somewhere else, and said “I’m content to have Israel grab the entire West Bank.” 
- Mike Huckabee suggested creating a Palestinian state elsewhere in the Middle East, outside of Israel.  He named Egypt and Saudi Arabia as possible alternatives.  He also said that

Palestinians who live in East Jerusalem and the West Bank, should settle in “territory that [is] in the hands of Muslims, in the hands of Arabs.

” 
- Sen. Inhofe said that

“our religion” guides our foreign policy, and for example, “Israel has a right to the land because God said so.”

This is ethnic cleansing supported by religious bias.

REPRESENTATIVES WHO ARE BIGOTED TOWARDS MUSLIMS OR ARABS:

- Sharron Angle (Sen. cand. NV) ran an anti-Muslim campaign and said that Muslims had already taken over a city in Michigan. 
- Rep. Michele Bachmann called the American Muslims who came to pray at the Muslim Day of Prayer on Capitol Hill “

terrorist sympathizers

” and “

Islamo-Fascist bastards

”. 
- Rep. Paul Broun (R-GA)  Broun called Obama a Marxist, compared Obama to Adolf Hitler and Karl Marx, and warned of a dictatorship **.  He was also one of the Congresspeople who thought Muslim interns on Capital Hill were “infiltrators” and “spies” **
- Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite said that “not every Muslim is a terrorist, but

except for Timothy McVeigh, every terrorist was a Muslim

.”  She needs to look at our TAM article Claim that all terrorists are Muslims ignores history which shows this to be a vicious lie that can only be defended by refusing to look at the facts.
- Sen. Conrad Burns (R-MT) referred to Arabs as “ragheads” 
- Rep. Cary Condotta (R-WA) left the house floor when a prayer was led by a Muslim.
- Rep. Don Davis (R-NC) forwarded a message to all of his colleagues in the legislature that read in part ”

Two things made this country great: White men & Christianity. Every problem that has arrisen (sic) can be traced back to our departure from God’s Law and the disenfranchisement of White men.”

- Robert Dornan  denounced  “

the Koran as ‘a book of war and terrorism’ and said that the Koran ‘must be rewritten’ and that passages seen as endorsing violence ‘must be expunged

.’”
- Rex Duncan (R-VA) said about the Qur’an “Most Oklahomans do not endorse the idea of killing innocent women and children in the name of ideology.” He said he had researched the Quran on the Internet and believed it supports such killing.
- Renee Ellmers (R-NC) incendiary campaign ad equating Muslims with terrorists.
- Dan Fanelli (R Cong. Cand.) ran racist, anti-Muslim ads as part of his campaign.
- Newt Gingrich has produced through his Gingrich Productions an anti-Muslim film called “America at Risk”. 
- Guy Glodis (R-MA) distributed an incendiary and bigoted flier that “purports to provide a formula for responding to Muslim extremism.”  The flier said an execution of Muslim extremists in the Philippines was ordered by General John Joseph ‘‘Black Jack’’ Pershing before World War I, in which the terrorists were shot with bullets dipped in pigs’ blood, then buried with ‘‘pigs’ blood, entrails, etc.’’ According to the flier, contact with the blood and entrails of pigs ‘‘instantly barred’’ Muslims from paradise, dooming them to hell. It said news of the burial deterred other terrorist attacks for ‘‘the next forty-two years.  ...

maybe it’s time for this segment of history to repeat itself, maybe in Iraq

.  The question is, where do we find another Black Jack Pershing?’’
- Rudy Giuliani **:  “For four days in Denver, the Democrats were afraid to use the term “

Islamic terrorism

.” I imagine they believe it is politically incorrect to say it. I think they believe they will insult someone. Please tell me, who they are insulting if they say, “Islamic terrorism.” They are insulting terrorists!” 
- Rep. Louis Gohmert (R-TX) warns of

a plot to breed terrorist babies who will one day attack America

. 
- Jeff Greene (D Sen. Cand. FL) said that

the Quran contains “all kinds of crazy stuff. And unfortunately that’s motivating a lot of these extremists”.

- Adam Hasner (R-FL) walked out of a Muslim Led Prayer in chamber.  Hasner (R-FL) was criticized in a local paper “for seeming worried when some Muslims constituents were coming to speak with their representatives in Tallahassee.” 
- Isaac Hayes (R Cong. Cand.) used his campaign for an anti-Palestinian rant.
- Mike Huckabee was opposed to a church allowing Muslims to worship there and said that Islam “is the antithesis of the gospel of Christ.”
- Sen. Bob Kerry said that he

“apologized” for bringing up Pres. Obama’s Muslim heritage because it was “insulting”.

- Rep. Peter King said that there are: “

Too Many Mosques” in the U.S.”

.  He said “

85 percent of American Muslim community leaders are an enemy living amongst us

” and that

“no (American) Muslims cooperate in the war on terror

”. 
- State Sen. Jake Knotts (R-SC) said We’ve ‘got one raghead in the White House, we don’t need a raghead in the governor’s mansion.’
- Sonny Landman (Sen. Cand. KY) announced his support of

a blanket ban on all Arab immigration to the United States

and referred to

Arabs as “camel-dung shovelers

”.  He also made comments in which he seemingly advocated for indiscriminate attacks on Arab peoples during an appearance on the Weekly Filibuster internet radio program.
- - Bob Lane (R-Iowa) placed a sign on his property reading “

Never Trust a Man Named Mohamed

.”
- Rep. Frank Lassee  sent out a newsletter which said in part “The Pope’s comments were right on the mark.

Islam is NOT a religion of peace

. It doesn’t have a peaceful history of co-existence. And has created empires whose main goal was to convert or destroy all non-believers.

Islam IS a religion intent on conquering the world

. This global domination is preached and encouraged by Imams in mosques. And it is a central theme in the Koran, the Islamic Bible, and is an important part of their history.” 
- Sherry Marquez (R-Lancaster, CA) promoted the inflammatory “Everybody Draw Mohammed Day” event. 
- Sen. John McCain when a voter accused President Obama of being an “Arab” during a campaign rally in the 2008 presidential race, McCain responded by saying “No, ma’am. He is a decent family man” (failing to challenge the bigotry implied in the question).  McCain said  “The greatest danger facing the world is Islamic Terrorism”.  McCain’s “bomb, bomb, bomb Iran” ditty was irresponsible.
- Bill McCollum (Atty. Genl. FL) sent an email to about 500 state employees urging them to attend a screening of the film “Obsession: Radical Islam’s War Against the West,” a controversial film vilifying Muslims as terrorists and Islam as “evil.”
- Ret. Gen. Thomas McInerney called the entire religion of

Islam“an ideology, not a religion

.”
- Rep. Lois McMahan, (R-WA)  said regarding her opposition to a Muslim leading a prayer in the Washington State Legislature:  “It’s an issue of patriotism.

The Islamic religion is so . . . part and parcel with the attack on America

.  I just didn’t want to be there, be a part of that.  Even though the mainstream Islamic religion doesn’t profess to hate America, nonetheless it spawns the groups that hate America.”  “[T]he religion is the focal point of the hate-America sentiment in the world.”  “My god is not Mohammed.”
- Rep. Gary Miller (R-Diamond Bar) told the protestors at an anti-Muslim hate fest in Orange County “I’m proud of you”, “I’m proud of what you are doing.” (see also Ed Royce & Deborah Pauly)
- Rep. Sue Myrick (R-NC) said regarding domestic security threats, “You know, and this can be misconstrued, but honest to goodness (husband) Ed and I for years, for 20 years, have been saying,‘You know, look at who runs all the convenience stores across the country.’ Every little town you go into, you know?”  “

My point is people (who) don’t like us are all over the country, and we know that

.”
- Sen. Dan Patrick (R) walked out on First Muslim Prayer in Texas Senate  
- Deborah Pauly (R-Villa Park, CA) said at a demonstration objecting to the speakers at a Muslim community charity fundraiser:  “What’s going on over there right now, make no bones about it,

that is pure unadulterated evil

...

I know quite a few Marines who would be very happy to help these terrorists to an early meeting in Paradise

.”  “Over there” was the community center which Muslim families (many with small children) were entering.  I can see no other meaning to Councilwoman Pauly’s statement except that she knows United States Marines who would be happy to kill these men, women, and children because since they are Muslims, they must be terrorists. Video here
- Johnny Piper (Mayor. Clarksville, TN)forwarded an email that

urges “patriotic Americans” to protest a U.S. Postal Service stamp commemorating two Islamic holidays

. ... Piper sent the e-mail to every City Council member, every department head, and numerous other city employees, friends and family members.”
- Councilman Don Redman (Jacksonville, FL)  asked a newly elected Muslim council member, Parvez Ahmed to “

say a prayer to your God

” at a Council meeting.  This followed a particularly Islamophobic campaign against Dr. Ahmed’s appointment to the Council’s Human Rights Commission.
- A member of the Republican Party of Virginia State Central Committee, read into the record this statement:  “From 1619 to closing of the bloody Virginia frontier , the General Assembly never felt compelled to call in an Amer-Indian shaman to call on pagan gods in prayer.

Such an act would be a descecration - as much as a public place can be shamed – in an act against the God

in whose name Virginia was founded.  In whose time Virginia’ days are measured.  In whose ideas, creation and history every good thing which is Virginia can be traced.  The God of the Christians and Jews and none other.

Asking a Muslim to pray to before the General Assembly is political correctness

, the sophistry of socialist Human Secularism, beyond the folly of begging the prayers of a Wiccan, Druid, or some other modern pagan poseur.  Islam, unless it is highly compromised, accomodated, reformed,

Islam is incompatible with Western Civilization

.  It has been so since Mohammed’s first act of genocide against a Jewish tribe in 627 AD. It remains so today.  Muslims can be lovely people – especially the more Westernerized they are.  Muslims can be Virginians as long as they deny parts of the Koran.

Islamic Civilization is the foe to all things Virginian.  All things American

.  Islamic Civilization is more barbaric to us than the Visigoths were to the Romans – whose civilization they destroyed.  The Visigoths were only 600 years behind Rome.  Islam is 800 years behind the West – America and Virginia.    Politicians shouldn’t mock God in the General Assembly with political correctness.  It is beyond folly.  I condemn this invitation.”
- Rep. Mike Rogers (R-MI) apeared on Frank Gaffney’s radio program discussing “Sharia, the threat to America”
- Congressmen Ed Royce (R-Calif.) who chairs the international terrorism subcommittee of the House Foreign Affairs Committee said regarding Deborah Pauly’s vicious performance at an anti-Muslim demonstration in California (see Deborah Pauly)  “Kudos to Karen Lugo and Deborah Pauly and the other protest organizers. 
- Marvin Scott (R Cong. Cand. IN) ran an Islamophobic campaign against Andre Carson (a Muslim Congressman).
- Rep. Joe Seiwert (R-KS) sent an e-mail indicating Muslims couldn’t be considered U.S. patriots because they owed their allegiance to Islam.
- Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX) insists on the term “radical Islam” and argued with Eric Holder about this.
- Shawn Steel (R-CA) attacked Anaheim City Council candidate Bill Dalati, an arab,  as potentially being “an extremist.”
- Rep. Tancredo (R-CO) at a town hall meeting in Iowa said  “

you cannot integrate some people into your society

.”  Tancredo also proposed a “jihad prevention act” and he told a Danish journalist that

Europe Should Deport its 20 Million Muslims

.  Tancredo’s bill would bar foreign nationals who advocate Sharia law from entering the United States and make advocacy of Sharia law a deportable offense.  Tancredo said: “What do you do with people coming for the purpose of advancing sharia law, which is not compatible in any way with the constitution of the United States?  How do you deal with that? That’s another very scary thing because demographically the numbers are on their side.”
- Lynn Torgerson (R Cong. Cand. MN) ran an Islamophobic campaign against Keith Ellison (a Muslim Congressman).
- Rick Torres (R-Bridgeport CT) said ”

It turns out, folks, they [Muslims] are here, they’re among us. We are at war with Islam. I don’t tolerate people who are not tolerant

.” It was also reported that Torres said that he “wants America’s mosques and Imams to openly condemn terrorists’ actions.”
- Bob Vander Plaats, Mike Huckabee’s Iowa campaign manager said “

we’re fighting a radical religion in Islam” and “the war on terror is a theological war

.”
- Rep. Tim Walberg (R-MI) said ‘I Really Don’t Know’ If Obama’s Muslim Or Born In U.S.
- Alan West (R-FL) said “

We are in a war against a political, theocratic, authoritarian ideology and it is called Islam!

”  West also said that the

Bible proves that the Arabs are “wild” and “against everyman” quoting Gen 16:11-12

.  West won in a campaign that included frequent “history lessons,” teaching, among other things, that “

Islam is a totalitarian theocratic political ideology. It is not a religion

.”  He also said that

people who display the popular “Coexist” bumper stickers, which use various religious symbols as font, are those who would “give away our country” and “our rights and freedoms and liberties because they are afraid to stand up and confront that which is the antithesis, anathema of who we are

.  ...  that

Islam is a “very vile and very vicious enemy that we have allowed to come in this country because we ride around with bumper stickers that say ‘coexist

.’”  He said “We already have

a 5th column that is already infiltrating into our colleges, into our universities, into our high schools, into our religious aspect, our cultural aspect, our financial, our political systems in this country. And that enemy represents something called Islam and Islam is a totalitarian theocratic political ideology, it is not a religion

. It has not been a religion since 622 AD, and we need to have individuals that stand up and say that.”  He said I think one of the critical things that we must come together is that

there is an infiltration of the Sharia practice into all of our operating systems in our country as well as across Western civilization

. So we must be willing to recognize that enemy.  More here

This sort of bigotry towards a minority religious group in the United States is unacceptable.  I don’t believe that it would be possible to make such comments about any other group without a public uproar. 

REPRESENTATIVES OPPOSED TO CORDOBA HOUSE:

- Roy Barnes (D-GA) said the site “is hallowed ground and

it is too painful and divisive to build a mosque there

.” 
- Rep. John Barrow opposed NYC mosque
- Sen. Bill Brady (R-IL) called the location

“insensitive.”

- Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) said that this is “

not about freedom of religion.  I do think it is unwise to build a mosque on the site of where 3,000 Americans lost their lives as a result of the terrorist attack

.”
- Sen. Mike Crappo (R-ID) called the Cordoba project

“improper”

. 
-  Nathan Deal called the project

“an insult.”

- Howard Dean called the mosque proposal

“a real affront”

- Renee Ellmers (R-NC) called the proposed mosque

“a victory mosque

”.
- Newt Gingrich said ”

It’s not about religion, and is clearly an aggressive act that is offensive.

“  Gingrich compared the backers of the Cordoba House to Nazis.  Gingrich claimed that the Islamic center project

‘would be like putting a Nazi sign next to the Holocaust Museum.’

- Rudy Giuliani called the Cordoba project

a “desecration”

and said that

“Nobody would allow something like that at Pearl Harbor ... Let’s have some respect for who died there and why they died there.”

- Rep. Peter King said “

It’s a house of worship, but we are at war with Al Qaeda

.”  Unless you believe that all Muslims are somehow supportive of or connected with Al Qaeda, that is one colossal non sequitur.  Most Muslims are at war with Al Qaeda. 
- Rick Lazio (R Cand. Gov. NY) used the proposed mosque as a campaign issue.  He released an Anti ‘Ground Zero Mosque’ Ad Attacking Cuomo  
- Ray McKinney (R. Cand. Gov. GA) said  “About 3,000 people died there at the hands of Islamic fundamentalists,” he said. “Building this project is

blatantly insensitive

.
- Meyers Mermel (R Cand. Gov. NY) put out a racist, Islamophobic video opposing the Cordoba House and calling it a “

victory symbol

“.
- Rev. Carl Paladino (Cand. Gov. NY)  said that if he is elected he will use eminent domain against the proposed building.  Palaldino says ”

it’s an affront to those murdered on 9-11, it’s an insult to all Americans and it must be stopped

.”
- Sarah Palin sent a tweet asking “peaceful Muslims” to refudiate the “ground zero mosque”.  Palin also said: “To build a mosque at Ground Zero is

a stab in the heart of the families of the innocent victims of those horrific attacks

.” 
- Ilario Pantano (R. Cand. Gov. NC) sent out a fund raising letter using his opposition to the Cordoba House as a talking point.
- Tim Pawlenty (Gov. MN) said:  “I’m strongly opposed to the idea of putting a mosque anywhere near Ground Zero.” and “We shouldn’t have images or activities

that degrade or disrespect

that in any way.”
- Gov. Pat Quinn of Illinois said  “I would strongly urge those who are thinking of putting a mosque within that zone to rethink their position.”
- Harry Reid saod  It ‘should be built someplace else’
- The Republican National Trust PAC is promoting a viciously anti-Muslim ad called “Kill the Ground Zero Mosque”.
- Sen. Jim Risch, ID called the Cordoba project

“improper”

. 
- Rick Santorum called Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf “a jihadist” 
Rep. Mike Simpson (R-ID) called the Cordoba project “

inappropriate and insensitive

“. 
- Sen. Olympia Snowe (Maine) called the project “

insensitive to the families

“.

REPRESENTATIVES WHO HANG OUT WITH EXTREMISTS:

- Rep. Paul Broun (R-GA) invited

David Yerushalmi

of

SANE

to testify at a hearing on Capitol Hill.
- Adam Hasner (R-FL) was a “coalition partner” for a “free speech summit”  featuring

Geert Wilders

. 
Rep. Steven King (R-Iowa) defended

Pamela Geller

of SIOA’s participation in a tea party event and believes believes that Geller “is a credible spokeswoman on these sort of issues,”  Her organization

SIOA

was named as a hate organization by the Southern Poverty Law Center.
- Rep. Peter King supported the

IRA

(Irish Republican Army) which is named as a terrorist organization.  He raised money for the I.R.A. and said it was “the legitimate voice of occupied Ireland” and praised the “brave men and women who this very moment are carrying forth the struggle against British imperialism in the streets of Belfast and Derry”.
- Sen. John Kyl  (R-AZ) hosted a screening of the film “Fitna” by Geert Wilders.  Kyle facilitated the event because “all too often, people who have the courage to point out the dangers of militant Islamists find themselves vilified and endangered,” said spokesman Ryan Patmintra. 
- Sen. John McCain McCain appeared at a campaign rally in Cincinnati with the Reverend

Rod Parsley

who has said that America was founded, in part, with the intention of seeing this false religion (Islam) destroyed.
- Rep. Sue Myrick (R-NC)  promoted and wrote the foreward for

Dave Gaubatz’

vicious “Muslim Mafia” book.  She launched a YouTube video series.  In the first video, called Beyond Terrorism: The Whole Story, she warns that extremists live in our midst, “even in positions in our government.” But the wide-eyed Myrick tells the camera: “You’re not being told the whole story… This is something that nobody ever tells you.”  She has endorsed the hate group ACT for America and Brigitte Gabriel.
- Alan West (R-FL) mets with

Brigitte Gabriel

, head of the anti-Muslim group

ACT! for America

.

Geert Wilders has been denied entry to Britain because of his extreme anti-Muslim views, including urging that the Quran should be banned.  David Yerushalmi’s anti-Islam group SANE has advocated prison terms in the U.S. for “adherence to Islam.” **.  Pamela Geller’s SIOA has been designated a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center.  See also David Yerushalmi and (in)SANE — Frank Gaffney’s Obsession with Sharia — Frank Gaffney’s Center for Security Policy Sharia Report a Threat to American Ideals — Brigitte Gabriel and ACT for America — Pamela Geller Attempts to Make a Point, Muslims Shrug — Should McCain Reject and Denounce Minister Rod Parsley? — Geert Wilders’ Attempt to Provoke Fitna Is Failing — The Politically Incorrect Guide to Robert Spencer —  Resources for Responding to Obsession DVD Mass Distribution  for detailed information on these extremists and their activities.

 
HISTORIC MOMENT - PETER KING’S HEARINGS

Rep. Peter King’s hearing “The Extent of Radicalization in the American Muslim Community and that Community’s Response.” took place on March 10, 2011. 

TAM has an article The American Muslim Community and Rep. Peter King’s “Islamic” Radicalization Hearings which has a great deal of background on Peter King and these hearings, and an extensive article collection.  We also have a series of articles breaking down various aspects of the hearings:
-  Peter King’s Hearing: What Was the Point? discussing the content of the hearings, with a collection of articles written after the hearing ended. 
-  Peter King’s Civics Lesson for American Muslims which has a collection of anti-Muslim statements by elected representatives and government officials made during and before the hearings. 
-  Existing reports and studies on radicalization in the American Muslim Community and Polls, Surveys, and Statistics Relating to Islam and Muslims  with actual hard evidence so lacking in the hearing. 
-  Response of Civic Organizations and Interfaith Community to “Muslim Radicalization” Hearings  
-  Elected Representatives & Government Officials Who HAVE Questioned Islamophobia with quotes from elected representives and government officials attempting to counter the bias of this hearing both during and before the hearing. 
- Peter King’s hearing: witness testimonies - allegations but no facts
- Zuhdi Jasser and AIFD - Identified by Rep. King as the Ideal American Muslim Leadership
- Does Rep. King’s IRA/Terrorist Connection Matter?
-  Answers to Peter King’s Claims About the American Muslim Community which lays out all of his claims and allegations and provides detailed answers to each.  (e.g. Do Muslims cooperate with law enforcement?  Do Muslims speak out against terrorism and extremism?  Are most Muslims terrorists?  Are 80 to 85% of mosques run by radicals?  Have American Muslim organizations responded to the issue of radicalization?  Are mosques the source of radicalization?  etc.)
- The scope of Rep. Kings Hearings Creates Homeland “in"Security

All of these articles will be updated as further information comes in, and there will be more articles in this series.