The fight for the Muslim vote is on. "Oona King deletes 'Muslim' in leaflets," from the Evening Standard, with thanks to Diana West:
Labour's Oona King was accused of double standards today after dropping references to Muslims in leaflets for predominantly white areas.The two leaflets, both headed "Oona King - Working Hard for the East End" - point out her work as MP for Bethnal Green and Bow but in one of them all references to Muslims have been deleted.
The area is the centre of a bitter fight between Labour and George Galloway's Respect party, which is opposed to the invasion of Iraq which Ms King backed.
Now she stands accused of playing down her work on issues of concern to Muslims in the leaflets her supporters are said to be delivering to mainly white areas.
The row follows accusations of hypocrisy against Woking Tory candidate Humfrey Malins over leaflets with different messages for white and Asian voters. He wrote in Urdu to Asian voters asking for support, citing his record on helping with immigration visas and visits, while in a leaflet delivered in predominantly white areas he promised to take a tough line on immigration.
Two of Ms King's recent campaign leaflets contain key differences.
Under a panel contrasting her Commons voting record with that of her rival Mr Galloway, one of the leaflets states: "Oona voted to protect Muslims from hate crimes."But in the other leaflet it says: "Oona voted to make incitement to religious hatred a crime."
The following section appears in the leaflet for Muslims: "Ken Livingstone added: 'Working hard for local people has not stopped Oona getting the Government to increase funding to Bangladesh. And her brave stand against human rights abuses of Palestinians has made her a leading campaigner for Palestinian rights'."
By contrast, in the other leaflet that passage has been replaced with: "Ken Livingstone added: 'Oona has been a great supporter of my neighbourhood policing scheme and, thanks to her efforts, by July Tower Hamlets will be the first London borough to have police on the beat in every local community'."
One leaflet has a section highlighting-Labour work for Muslim communities. This section has been left out of the other leaflet.
When it comes to the thorny issue of the war, the two leaflets also differ. In a personal message from Ms King, she sets out her reasons for backing the invasion of Iraq but in one leaflet, presumably aimed at shoring up support among Muslims, she refers to "Iraqi Muslims" throughout, while in the other she talks only of Iraqis.While one leaflet states: "I had made that promise to Iraqi Muslims and I stuck to it", the other says: "I had made that promise to
Iraqis."...
I WILL NOT, WILL NOT,WILL NOT, vote British National Party.
Their flyer came through my door yesterday, along with the Independents and local issue parties. Their first statement "Only the BNP tells the truth about the threat of Islamic fundamentalism"
I remember their racist origins too well, from Colin Jordan's British Nazi Party of the 60s, (when they attacked Jews and West Indians), through the National Front of the 70s, via the League of St George (unhand my patron saint you nasty facist person!) to todays sanitised party.
Then I read about cynical vote wheedling scams like that above, and I wonder who is least dishonest. I have said before on this issue that the BNP is a tiger I will not attempt to ride. I fear our mosque groupie politicians will find Islam to be much hungrier than they first thought.
So, Granny. Who does that leave you with? Given that Michael Howard is Jewish, I don't see any likelihood of the Tories taking a majority (or do I know enough about him and his policies to know if it would even be a good thing), but what I read on Melanie Phillips's site regarding the animosity towards Jews and Israel in the UK expressed by the media and academia, it sounds like a very poisoned environment.
Is it possible that the quiet majority of Brits know who really poses danger to civil society in the UK and abroad, but dare not speak their minds publicly?
"one of the leaflets states: "Oona voted to protect Muslims from hate crimes."
Oh the very irony of it. Ms King is Jewish and she was subjected to the very "hate crimes" by the Muslims.
Granny Weatherwax:
I find it disgusting and demeaning that the politicians will grovel for the Muslim vote.
If this kind of dhimminitude continues, England will go the way of Sweden, France, Holland and Denmark.
The shame of it is, there is a silent majority that's being silenced by the government.
Is there any indication that the British are emigrating to escape the Muslim Menace?
Waterdragon
It leaves me thankful that I can vote for my current MP again with a clear consience, on the strength of his very hard work on local issues and his demonstrated personal integrity. I have a very good opinion of him; I will not say why as it may identify the constituency.
Were I pushed for a party I really do not know. You are right, many people here know who poses the real danger; they are also the sort of people who will not vote for a party with a known racist core. The ones who can speak with most authority are of Indian or black African descent.
I think there is likely to be a lot of green and independent voting, in the hope that notice will be taken of the reduced majorities.
"Is there any indication that the British are emigrating to escape the Muslim Menace?"
BillR
Not much that I have come across. Those friends who have emigrated in recent years did so through marriage, (US and NZ) but both prefer their lives abroad which they see has having more opportunity, less PC and red tape.
What is other British JW experience?
For those of you interested, there's now a blog with Allahisms available at:
http://muslum-menace.blogspot.com/
It is nowhere near the stage where it is necessary for Jews to emigrate en masse from the UK. The AUT boycott has not had widespread support, but plenty of opposition. A leading article in The Times, a blistering denunciation in The Spectator and Melanie Phillips, shows this.
http://www.melaniephillips.com/diary/
There is a feeling, though, that the penny is dropping where Islam is concerned. Both party leaders know this. When they talk about immigration, Islam is the elephant in the room.