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Home Front: Politix
Sestak Speech to Muslim Group Creates Uproar
2007-03-20
Freshman Rep. Joe Sestak (D-Pa.) has ignited a controversy after agreeing to be the keynote speaker at an April 7 banquet and fundraiser hosted by the Council on American-Islamic Relations Philadelphia chapter. CAIR is the largest Muslim civil rights group in the country, with 30 chapters nationwide. Jewish organizations and conservative groups have criticized CAIR for not labeling Hamas and Hezbollah as terrorist organizations, and for not speaking out specifically against suicide bombings against Israelis.

SestakÂ’s acceptance of the invitation has particularly enraged members of the Philadelphia Jewish community, who bombarded him with critical questions at a forum last week. Most of the questions during the two-hour meeting dealt with the CAIR fundraiser.

The brouhaha began two weeks ago when SestakÂ’s outreach coordinator, Adeeba Al-Zaman, booked the congressman for an event his aides presented as a banquet. But CAIRÂ’s Philadelphia chapter put out fliers billing the congressman as the featured speaker at a fundraiser. Al-Zaman is the former director of communications for CAIRÂ’s Philadelphia chapter.

Sestak said he will reiterate his “strong support for Israel” and criticize the terrorist groups in his speech. He added that he hasn’t seen any instance where CAIR has specifically singled out Hamas and Hezbollah for criticism. “I can’t find where it’s ever condemned Hamas and Hezbollah by name,” Sestak said.
We'll be waiting to see what you say in your speech. If CAIR lets reporters in , that is.
At the same time, Sestak also said CAIR was a “legitimate organization” and singled out their “good work” in fighting racial profiling.

In 2006 Sestak handily defeated GOP Rep. Curt Weldon, aided in part by a pre-election Department of Justice investigation into the RepublicanÂ’s lobbying ties.
Damn poor trade the voters of my district made...
Posted by:Dave D.

#11  LOL - at least I'm not the only one that read that as Sleestak.
Posted by: OldSpook   2007-03-20 18:24  

#10  Oh. Before getting too tingly about Sestak possibly taking the opportunity to "do the right thing", check out this article from my local paper: War debate rages; Sestak stands firm for redeployment.

Standing firm for cutting and running. God help us...

Posted by: Dave D.   2007-03-20 17:30  

#9  Oops. Sorry for the bad link. It's fixed now...
Posted by: Dave D.   2007-03-20 17:25  

#8  CAIR frequently refuses to allow press into the room. See: Ellison, Keith, & the Flying Imams Convention. Afraid that what's said will reflect badly, for some strange reason
Posted by: Frank G   2007-03-20 14:00  

#7  Doh! Forgot to mention the title link is bad - points back to Rantburg.
Posted by: SteveS   2007-03-20 12:56  

#6  A speech by a politician at a fundraiser without the press? Inconceivable!

I don't know Sestak or his politics except for the (D-Pa) part, but this seems like a not-to-be-missed opportunity to step up and do the right thing. Lots of Rantburgers would leap at the chance to make a keynote speech at a CAIR banquet.
Posted by: SteveS   2007-03-20 12:36  

#5  pressure him not to appear if the press isn't allowed in to cover it. Embarrass him with the audience's response to his "support for Israel and denouncement of terrorists" - if he actually has the guts to say it
Posted by: Frank G   2007-03-20 10:04  

#4  presented as a banquet, billed a fundraiser.

how sleazy of CAIR. how unsurprising.

If he's as pissed as he should be from the fraud they perpetrated, he should go there and tear 'em a new one. He should talk about how Israel is the only democracy in the region. He should ask CAIR bluntly to condemn Hamas and Hezbollah by name. He should ask them if they consider Israeli citizens to be legitimate targets of suicide bombings. He should ask them if suicide bombers are "shaheeds" or simply sons of bitches. He should ask them why they don't mention, let alone condemn muslim on muslim massacres by the hundreds, but scream bloody murder when Israel kills one.

C'mon Joe. Use this as an opportunity to grow a pair.
Posted by: PlanetDan   2007-03-20 09:11  

#3  I always thought Sleestaks were dumb looking.
Posted by: Jackal   2007-03-20 08:23  

#2  SestakÂ’s acceptance of the invitation has particularly enraged members of the Philadelphia Jewish community

But they'll still vote for him because he has a D behind his name. Jewish voting patterns are simply irrational.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble   2007-03-20 06:43  

#1  Sestak is apparently positioning himself to be the local Quisling.
Posted by: Bobby   2007-03-20 06:32  

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