Is Newt Gingrich Giving Aid and Comfort to the Enemy?
By louisehartmann
For months, far right-wing conservatives have led a hateful campaign against the proposed Park 51 Islamic community center near Ground Zero in New York City. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich is even claiming it will be a launching pad for “Sharia law” in America. In an interview with Newsweek magazine, Zabihullah, a Taliban spokesman said, by “preventing this mosque from being built, America is doing us a big favor.” The, "...more mosques you stop, the more jihadis we will get.” Meanwhile, a new Newsweek poll is showing that most Republicans believe President Obama “sympathizes with the goals of Islamic fundamentalists who want to impose Islamic law around the world.” Only 33 percent of Republicans said the “allegation” was “probably not true,” while 38 percent said it was "probably true" and 14 percent said it was “definitely true.” Gingrich's hysterical campaign about the Park 51 community center is hurting Americans in two ways. First, he succeeded in turning a majority of Republican Americans against their own President based on a lie. Second, he's giving aid and comfort to recruiters for the very extremist in Islam whose credibility would be most diminished by the building of this community center.
Comments
#2
People of all faiths to wear Hijab or Kufi on September 11th
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=109407399115470
As a protest against persecution of Muslims we pledge to show that not all Americans are bigots. We will adorn ourselves with symbols of the Islamic faith on an infamous date that is falsely blamed on Muslims. We are calling on people of all faiths, or no faith, to join us and to prove that Muslims are people of peace and NOT our enemies.
The Facebook group I started has spread like wild fire in the Muslim world. I've received many thanks and blessings from around the world. A smaller percentage of group members are non-Muslims. I'm hoping for more non-Muslims to join.
Wear Hijab on 9/11, Defy "Burn a Quran Day"
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=144913692209438
Join us! If you are also horrified by the recent outrageous fear mongering of the right wing against American Muslims then here is a way to push back. I am not a Muslim but I plan to wear the hijab on 9/11 as a gesture to American Muslims that they are full citizens of this country and deserve the same rights as the rest of us. Concerned men might wear skull caps in solidarity with us women.
Yes, it will take some courage to make this gesture. However, I remembered how the people in Billings, Montana put menorahs in their windows to protest the anti-Semitic activities of the KKK in their town. See http://www.facinghistory.org/explore/exhibit/stories/niot/read
Another wave of anti-Semitism is sweeping our nation, this time against Muslims. Let's stand up and stand out to demonstrate that not all Americans are bigots.
I hope you'll join me in making this gesture. I feel that it demonstrates true American values as written in our Constitution.
Peace, Shalom, Salaam,
~ Charell
I'm blown away by the response to this. I've already done two interviews and the BBC has even requested an interview. They haven't writen back with their questions yet though.
~ Charell in Pico Rivera, California
#3
Newt Gingrich has a big mouth and is a liar, he lives in a new media age that call lies miss-statements. Newt is the type of American that causes wars yet does not fight them he profits from them.
#4
Newt Gingrich is an unconscious human, fat with the nectar of power, degraded, depraved, ugly to behold. He is a caricature of a human being. Self-centered to the core, he parades himself as a peacock, but is really a worm.
#5
Chutzpa is defined as a person begging the judge for leniency when sentencing him for murdering his parents because he is now an orphan. Newt's picture appears next to the entry.
#6
I just get so confused over the whole thing. We were told by Bin Laden himself that 9/11 was done by them and it was a "holy war" but for years that fact has been ignored. Now, the conservatives are being blamed for perpetuating more jihad. Well, while I am not taking sides I as this question: Which is it? They have a right to build there but to open it on that day, when so many people (even Bin Laden himself) believe that it was from Islamic extremists is just cruel. Since nobody knows the truth why not play it on the side of caution for the respect of the families?
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#7
Holy War ?
The hope should be that we do not succumb to that. The fact's on the ground are such that we continue to trend in that direction to the point that it can't be ignored without enduring further blood shed and depravity.
Preachers preaching hate. I can't see as how any of them can possibly prevail but in the meantime the bloodshed continues at the expense of "collateral damage". 9/11 victims ,"collateral damage" and fallen soldiers alike.
Humanity needs to come to terms with the truth we have discovered along side of the mystery that is left to discover and apparently that's what this all is adding up to. Global reformation in how we regard the preconditions of our existence and our participation with those preconditions as our time to participate passes. Wonderful and challenging.
#8
Chris Hedges on Moral Courage
http://www.truthdig.com/avbooth/item/chris_hedges_on_moral_courage_20100901/
I'm sure by now Thom knows Chris Hedges' articulation of our current Societal Crisis. The above link to his speech on the topic was recently posted on Truthdig.com. The information therein is mostly outlined in his book "Empire of Illusion." I would like to hear Thom address Hedges' harsh realistic point of view. I feel that Thom is sugar coating things too much because of the fear of a “circular firing squad." Nevertheless, we need a plan of action to revolt against our corporate overlords in a non-violent way. Hedges grimly points out that the change we fight for now, we will not see in our lifetime. He uses good catch phrases like: Inverse Totalitarianism. Coup d'état in Slow Motion. Mafia Capitalism & Mafia Politics. Societal Cannibalization. Celebrity Culture. He also quotes Albert Camus.
#9
Newt's very existence is a comfort to republicans and terrorists alike
#10
Some facts to consider about the developer of this project:Ground Zero mosque imam to appear in New Jersey Court Wednesday
New York Post reports- 14-Sept.-2010
Imam Faisal Abdul Rauf, the religious leader behind the planned community center and mosque near Ground Zero in New York, is expected to appear in court Wednesday in Union City, N.J., to face charges that he failed to address tenants' complaints and city orders as the landlord of two apartment buildings, Fox News Channel reported Tuesday.
Rauf's attorneys, and possibly Rauf himself, will appear in court for a hearing at 2:30pm Wednesday.
Union City filed the lawsuit against Rauf, claiming he ignored complaints by tenants and orders from the city on issues ranging from moldy bathrooms to fire hazards, local newspaper The Star-Ledger reported.
The suit identifies Rauf as the sole officer of Sage Development LLC, a company based at the imam's home address in North Bergen, N.J., and lists him as the owner of the two buildings. The suit also alleges that the state revoked Sage's corporate status in 2005 for failure to file annual reports.
The larger of the two buildings cited in the suit has been vacant since a fire broke out there in February 2008, one year after the city claims it issued 12 separate fire code violations that Rauf allegedly ignored.
"He's a terrible landlord who's unresponsive to the residents who live in his building," said Mark Albiez, a spokesman for Mayor Brian Stack.
"City officials and inspectors have reached out to him to
express the urgency in correcting problems in his buildings, and it's unfortunate that it's gotten to this point, but it's our responsibility to ensure that residents receive the care that is needed."
The newspaper said calls to Rauf's home were met with a busy signal.
#11
This is going to be an argument that continues for quite sometime I think. I mean, there is such a huge conflict of interest here. It's really sad that this is the way it has to be.
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#12
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"Yes", says the Taliban. -----------
According to ThinkProgress, the Taliban says they are using Conservative protests against the "Ground Zero Mosque" as a recruiting tool:
http://thinkprogress.org/2010/08/30/taliban-says-park-51/