Wonder if Dr. Dean was concerned about this NYC Imam's closeness to the Bushies?

[NNN0LHI]

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/08/ground_zero_mosque_imam_bush_partner_for_peace.php

'Ground Zero Mosque' Imam Was A Bush-Era Partner For Mideast Peace

Megan Carpentier | August 12, 2010, 8:20AM

Tuesday, Reps. Peter King (R-NY) and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) called Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf -- best known for his work with multicultural Cordoba Initiative to build a mosque and community center in Lower Manhattan -- a "radical" and criticized the Obama Administration for including him on a Middle East speaking tour. That tour, which includes stops in Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, is designed by the public diplomacy office to explain to Muslims abroad what it's like to be a Muslim in America.

Outside of how getting constantly called a radical by American politicians busy flacking the proposed "Ground Zero mosque" for political purposes might affect Rauf's view of what it's like to be a Muslim in America, there's one other big problem with King's and Ros-Lehtinen's accusation: Rauf already represented America in this way, under the Bush Administration.

If one were to hearken back to the halcyon days of the Bush Administration, one would remember that, when Bush adviser Karen Hughes was appointed Undersecretary of State for Public Diplomacy, the Bush Administration saw improving America's standing among Muslims abroad as a part of its national security strategy. And, as such, Hughes set up listening tours, attended meetings and worked with interfaith groups that -- shocking, by today's Republican standards -- included actual Muslims.

One of those people was Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf.

Contemporary press accounts indicate that Rauf and Hughes were part of the February 2006 U.S.-Islamic World Forum in Doha, Qatar. He was part of a delegation that met with her in March 2006 and held a joint press conference. A letter to then-Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in November 2007 indicates that contacts with Hughes and Under Secretary for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns had continued apace.

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Lets not kid ourselves. Anyone can be bought off. Even an Imam has his price. Especially one that is as close to the Republicans as this one has been over the years.

I think we may need to reanalyze this entire situation.

I started thinking about this after seeing that Republican Muslim on TV the other night on the Rachel Maddow Show who said even though his own party is treating him this way he still wants to continue being a Rethug. A Muslim Rethug. Geebuz.

Don

[still_one]

1. There is nothing to "rethink" on this issue. They have valid permit issue over a year ago

and they have every right to have that community center

[NNN0LHI]

2. Well if thats the case why do we need to even concern ourselves with it?

[still_one]

5. You are correct, this should not be an issue, but obviously there are some who want to

debate it

The fact is that the repugs are using this as a diversion, and as usual, some Democrats, like Reid are afraid of political consequences so they will say anything they believe will get them elected

They did that for the IWR and the Patriot Act

[dkf]

3. Who is saying they don't have rights? What a load of bullcrap.

What they don't have is funding though. They only need a $100 million. They could barely scrape together the $5 million and had to do so by going overseas. Who knows what source of funds this mosque will have. I imagine there will be heavy scrutiny when those funds are wired into the US from suspect countries. That is SOP.

[emilyg]

4. My local news said they might

accept money from Iran and Saudis.

[still_one]

7. and what is the local new's source? The news also said saddam had WMDs, and so many

misrepresentations, I want to know where that is from

Also I would like to find out if the center is Shia or Sunni since we have to factions that don't see eye to eye

[still_one]

6. Do you have proof that the source of the funds for the community center is from terrorist groups?

Frankly I have heard that bullshit argument from people here regarding other countries funding projects in this country, and there prejudice is also obvious

However, if you have some evidence to show that this is being funded by terrorists, please share or stop the accusation

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

8. So in an attempt to defend Dean's bigotry, you'll assasinate the Imam's character?

Wow.