Barack Obama campaigned in Michigan last week, and during his trip, he met privately with a prominent Muslim leader. It wasn’t especially noteworthy; candidates meet with prominent religious leaders frequently, from a variety of faiths, in communities nationwide.
Imam Hassan Qazwini, head of the Islamic Center of America, said in an email that he met with Obama at Macomb Community College. A mosque spokesman, Eide Alawan, confirmed that the meeting took place. During the meeting, the two discussed the Presidential election, the Arab-Israeli conflict, and the Iraq war, according to Qazwini.
At the end of the meeting, Qazwini said he gave Obama a copy of new book, “American Crescent,” and invited Obama to visit his center. […]
Born in Iraq into a long line of Shi’ite clerics, Qazwini and his family left for Iran to escape persecution under the regime of Saddam Hussein. He later moved to the U.S. and become head of the Dearborn mosque, one of the largest Shi’ite Muslim centers in the U.S.
No one cared. No one, that is, until Debbie Schlussel, one of the more unhinged members of the conservative blogosphere, argued the day after the Obama meeting that the senator had met ”with one of Hezbollah’s most important imams and agents in America.” She also accued Qazwini of being “an agent of the Iranian government,” and a supporter of “Palestinian homicide bombings, HAMAS, and Hezbollah.” She added that the Wednesday meeting “says a lot about the company Obama keeps … and why he shouldn’t be President.”
Schlussel’s attack was widely parroted by the far-right, with the usual suspects charactering the Obama meeting as something scandalous.
Schlussel also quoted the Detroit Free Press article noting the Obama meeting, but omitted the one sentence that undermined her vacuous smear: “Qazwini has also met several times with President Bush and other elected officials.”
Yep, this allegedly radical, terrorist-supporting agent of Iran is so dangerous, he’s been able to hang out with George W. Bush. Better yet, Oliver Willis posted some photos of Qazwini with Bush, including one in which the president gives the imam a little kiss.
I guess the right now believes Bush “shouldn’t be president”?
Filed Under: Barack Obama, Religion, Right Wing Stupidity, Wingnuts
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Are there any photos of Bush giving the Imam a little reach around?
It’s easy for those of us in the reality-based community to ignore mental midgets like Schlussel, but that crap is making an impact on those in that Purgatory between high-information and low-information voter. I talked to a friend last night who has good intentions, but just doesn’t take the time to look at everything critically. He said that he couldn’t vote for Obama because he coundn’t vote for anybody who wasn’t a christian. I was dumbfounded. I’m going to really have to work on this guy.
Words to be used in the bush Legacy statements.
Inept
Obdurate
Cowboyish (sic)
Swaggering
Stumbling
Ungrammatical
Pejorative
Adamant
Care to add any?
Eric Hussein Elite Almighty @ 2:
Sounds like a classic case of willful ignorance to me. I suppose he missed the non-stop Rev. Wright coverage? Or did he think Rev. Wright was an imam?
Eric Hussein Elite Almighty @ 2:
Wouldn’t bother. That kind of stupidity goes straight to the bone.
My inlaws are of the “low information” variety but they remain so due to their determined lack of curiosity or anything resembling independent thought. The inlaws are 100% sure that Obama is a covert muslim operative waiting to turn ‘merka into a slave nation the second he’s elected.
But when asked who they were supporting they had no answer. A couple of them have some interest in supporting a local politician for reelection but as for president their choice is “Anyone but Obama”.
So basically they’ve got no candidate. Aren’t particularly fond of the reslugs anymore but have no intention of voting for the “black librul” because they’re simply not programmed to.
♠Bangkok-Bob♠ @ 3:
I’ve always found “dumber than cold dog shit” to be an accurate description of both shrub’s intelligence and his appeal.
♠Bangkok-Bob♠ @ 3:
Gee, let’s see…. How about these:
Liar
Criminal
Coward
Evil
Reptilian
Loser
Anti-Christ
Moron
Yet another Reich-wing-fake-outrage-of-the-week.
Ok, Where were the 9/11 terrorist from? And doesn’t chimpy and his partners in crime deal with them ( didn’t he ask them to increase the amount of oil pumped?- which really doesn’t matter because there’s no where to refine it)
And isn’t it common knowledge that they also fund some of the suspected terrorists.
Now we have some loonie on the right saying that obama talks to terrorists all I have to say is if you can’t come up with something that is 1) factual and 2) not parroted by guy in his basement STFU
t-bone @ 1:
I was able to find a pic of Chump giving the evil Imam a hug. Have to scroll down a bit to catch it.Was posted yesterday i believe.
http://www.dailykos.com/
Abbybwood @ 7:
F…A…I…L…U…R…E
So now he is Muslim again? I get so confused. He was secretly Muslim, then he wasn’t Muslim, then he was Muslim again, then he couldn’t be Muslim because he sat in the pews listening to his crazy Pastor for 20 years and now his is Muslim again or just meets with them? It is hard to keep up these days.
It is really funny that she posts a response to Oliver Willis on the thread IN ALL CAPS. What a maroon!
Debbie Schlussel reminds me of Meir Kahane. Like Meir Kahane, only the rabid Kach fascists take her seriously.
I’m glad I’m not Middle Eastern. It’s just easier to be a Muslim this way. I blend in.
Ah little Debbie…..drunk alone in her room, writing movie reviews, dreaming of being as big a blogger as Ann Althouse, and warning everyone that Teh Muslims are going to outbreed us, put our women in burqas, and take over the free world.
Abbybwood @ 7:
Some of my favs.
Petulant
Arrogant
Oblivious
Recovering ? ( see also booze and cocaine )
Devious
Calculating ( usually wrong )
Ive been pondering an ABCs of Bush list myself.
I heard a Jehovah’s Witness knocked on Obama’s door during the 70’s, you know while the Beatles World Domination Tour was going strong. Instead of slamming the door like any good American, Obama listened politely before saying no thanks.
Nobody knows who that Jehovah’s Witness was, but I’m sure someone could make a convincing argument that it was Osama bin Laden during his youthful hippy days. Because Islam lets a person experiment like. Very open minded religion.
(I wounder how many righties are knodding thier heads, this will be on CNN’s Situation Room tomorrow!)
Schlussel also quoted the Detroit Free Press article noting the Obama meeting, but omitted the one sentence that undermined her vacuous smear: “Qazwini has also met several times with President Bush and other elected officials.”
Yep, this allegedly radical, terrorist-supporting agent of Iran is so dangerous, he’s been able to hang out with George W. Bush. Better yet, Oliver Willis posted some photos of Qazwini with Bush, including one in which the president gives the imam a little kiss.
I guess the right now believes Bush “shouldn’t be president”?
***************************************************
What…you mean you actually expect logic, consistency, and fair play from the right?!? With all due respect, where have you been for the past seven-odd years?? You’re giving them far more credit that the majority of them deserve — in fact, truth be told, I think you’re giving human beings as a whole far more credit than the majority of them deserve!
Schlussel’s accusations are probably legally actionable as defamation and slander.
I hear tell that Obama is black.
Obama needs to start being a lot more aggressive about refuting the lies that are told about him. He cant keep passing these stories off as mere nonsense, because too many people believe them to be true.
emphasa @ 20:
I heard that Obama is McCain’s illegitimate black son. (Possibly his illegitimate black grandson)
Paul @ 19:
I’ve always wondered why she hasn’t been sued for defamation of character yet. legal loophole?
Still with the bullshit-phrase: “homicide bombings”? Dude it’s SUICIDE BOMBERS. Could crooks and liars please add a sic to every reference to the fantasy-sentence “Homicide bombers[sic]” that if by chance a fow viewer lands on here, he at least knows its a meaningless catchy phrase for something decades old.
Let those freepers go stick some “freedom fries”[sic] up their a**e!
(oilplundering lying racist raping voyeuring torture fries would be more correct nowadays when referring to USA-neocon-values)
Dr. Biitter Hussein (Mission Accomplished) Matt @ 11:
A failure to you. A wild success for his constituents. The real ones.
FingLawyer @ 21:
Indeed, he really needs to feed the lunatics of the world who have nothing better to do than make stuff up while leaving out the facts that prove them wrong. Obama should really schedule a press conference ASAP to address the comments of a D-list pundit that most people have never heard of before.
Rebel Patriot @ 25:
All two of them. Him and his imaginary friend.
I’m just going to assume you’re kidding and move on.
MargeAggedon @ 27:
I am not kidding.
For the agenda that he was installed for - he has been successful.
You think he’s actually in office for you and the everyday American?
pffft.
But see…that’s where they get you.
You say that because Bush hung out with him, “Bush shouldn’t be President”
They don’t even have to answer…because you certainly believe that “Bush shouldn’t be President”.
So “Bush shouldn’t be president” and “Obama shouldn’t be President”.
Fine they say. “Obama shouldn’t be President”
MargeAggedon @ 27:
His real constituents would be those getting insanely rich due to him, so its not a joke.
http://bravenewfilms.org/blog/.....ce=rgemail
Now if I ever hear a single republican talk about not being a bigot I will literary spit in his/her face. Disgusting what sort of ministers the McCain group is trying to gather support from.
Hallan @ 23:
I’ve wondered the same thing myself. The Swift Boaters were not just stating personal opinion. They were proven liars. They knew they were lying yet nothing was done about it.
I can only conclude that taking legal action is considered political suicide for some reason. I have no idea but I can’t think of any other reason why politicians wouldn’t take action - at least in the most extreme cases.
Rebel Patriot @ 25:
Which “constituents”? The extremist 28%ers?
When you meet an imam, is the polite salutation ma’am?
Dr. Biitter Hussein (Mission Accomplished) Matt @ 33:
Think military industrial complex. The dumbass 28%ers think they’re part of the clique, but they’re not. I’d say the joke’s on them, but it isn’t very funny.
CafeenMan @ 32:
One reason is it airs it in court, and with the high-profile of those involved, create news and therefore coverage.
It even lends a level of creditability to the charges no matter how false.
I think it’s clear that Obama should abandon his quest for the presidency because he associates with shady characters. In this case, he’s hanging out with an imam who associates with a known terrorist, an imam who has been photographed in public being kissed by a man who holds political prisoners, an imam who hangs around with a man whose attacks on a foreign nation have led to innumerable deaths. But before Obama resigns, those even more closely connected with that terrible man ought to be investigated and prosecuted for their crimes…
Debbie is either lying or stupid. I’m gonna box-’em and take the bet to the windows.
Dr. Biitter Hussein (Mission Accomplished) Matt @ 33:
Try the top X=<1%, i.e the Ruling class.
the remaining 27.999999% are just wannabees or hopelessly (willfully) ignorant.
Rebel Patriot @ 28:
Well no. I hope not. I’m Canadian.
But if what you’re saying is that he was successful in ripping off america for his scum bag criminal friends then yes, I agree.
If you’re suggesting he’s been anything but a miserable failure in everything he’s done I have to disagree.
CafeenMan @ 35:
Well said.
At the end of the meeting, Qazwini said he gave Obama a copy of new book, “American Crescent,” and invited Obama to visit his center. […]
I like my crescents with plenty of melted butter, and French Roast, black.
lost_nacf_gop @ 38:
I remember when she’d appear on Political Incorrect wearing micro-minis over her flabby thighs tryinig to appear oh so sexy.
Simple minds want to keep it simple. If you spoon feed them simple notions to support the positions they want to believe, then they have all the ammunition they need or want. They can’t and won’t listen to anything else, but they are “dangerous” since they organize other mindl