FrontPageMag.com By Robert Spencer By Hugh Fitzgerald Books Jihad Watch Islam 101 Qur'an Blog Raymond Ibrahim Robert Spencer
 
« Parties behind Yemen's proposed religious police have lengthy "to do" list | Main | UK government taking Islamic theology seriously? »

July 19, 2008

CAIR demands apology from McCain regarding Muslim remark

McCain campaign reveals that it understands the nature of Islam, sort of. "McCain surrogate makes controversial Muslim comment," from CNN, July 18:

A leading John McCain surrogate stirred controversy Friday after defending the Iraq war in particularly stark terms, telling reporters "the Muslims have said either we kneel, or they're going to kill us."

Bud Day, who was a prisoner of war with McCain in Vietnam and often advocates for the Arizona senator's presidential bid, made the comments during a conference call with Florida reporters organized by the Florida Republican Party.

The Miami Herald has posted audio of the call

"I don't intend to kneel, and I don't advocate to anybody that we kneel, and John doesn't advocate to anybody that we kneel," he also said.

Asked to respond to Day's comments, the McCain campaign issued a short statement from spokesman Michael Goldfarb.

"The threat we face is from radical Islamic extremism," he said.

What, no groveling and profuse apologies? No denouncing a colleague to save face? Actually sticking to one's guns---even if it makes you look politically incorrect, or worse, an "Islamophobe"? Ah but wait! CAIR is on the move:

Corey Saylor, the national legislative director for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, told CNN Friday McCain should directly repudiate the remarks.

"CAIR would like to see Senator McCain come out and make a clear statement repudiating these remarks," he said. "We don't believe they're helpful at all in either putting out the campaign's message or winning the hearts and minds in the Muslim world that America needs to be winning."

Posted by Raymond at July 19, 2008 8:59 AM
Print this entry | Email this entry | Digg this | del.icio.us

Comments
(Note: The Comments section is provided in the interests of free speech only. It is mostly unmoderated, but comments that are off-topic, offensive, slanderous, or otherwise annoying stand a chance of being deleted. The fact that any comment remains on the site IN NO WAY constitutes an endorsement by Jihad Watch or Dhimmi Watch, or by Robert Spencer or any other Jihad Watch or Dhimmi Watch writer, of any view expressed, fact alleged, or link provided in that comment.)

An improvement (because it ticked off CAIR which is always a good thing)...but not there yet.

Once again...

"Islam" come on it can't be that hard Sen. McCain.."Islam says either we kneel, or die."

Not "radical Islamic extremism", but "Islam".

Posted by: greatcometof1577 [TypeKey Profile Page] at July 19, 2008 9:30 AM

Win the hearts and minds of Muslims. Yes always the hearts and minds of Muslims, none others but Muslims. With billions and billions of dollars pumped into Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan what are the results more violence against non Muslims, more kidnappings of young non Muslim girls, more bomb threats and plots to blowup infidels, and nothing by the Muslims to counter Jihadis who are following the commands of Islam and Mohammad.

Posted by: savsiv [TypeKey Profile Page] at July 19, 2008 9:35 AM

"Bud Day, who was a prisoner of war in Vietnam..."
-- from the article above

Bud Day was indeed a prisoner of war in Vietnam. But he has a long history of heroism before that. He first went to war, aged seventeen I think, in World War II. He was in that war, and the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. You can read about Bud Day by googling. If you had seen him speak, as I have, you would know who Bud Day is, and why he is so important and why we all in the end must depend, for certain tasks important for our survival, on those who are like Bud Day.

Posted by: Hugh [TypeKey Profile Page] at July 19, 2008 9:41 AM

Bud you made my day.

I do agree that he should have said Islam instead of "radical Islamic extremism", however; that is light years better than anything that anyone would say in the Democrat Party, the friends of the prophet.

That includes the prophet Obama.

Oh, I'm sorry Obama believes in Black Liberation Theology where god and Jesus are black and hate white people.

Don't worry the Obama's aren't Muslim just sympathizers lol.

Posted by: cybo [TypeKey Profile Page] at July 19, 2008 9:47 AM

Given the fact that the McCain campaign needs to stay focused, and given the general benefit of the doubt that "a major world religion" and its adherents are afforded, the campaign's statement should suffice; now, if McCain will just hold fast to it, that will be progress!

Posted by: John C [TypeKey Profile Page] at July 19, 2008 9:48 AM

CAIR official: "We don't believe they're helpful at all in either putting out the campaign's message or winning the hearts and minds in the Muslim world that America needs to be winning."

How about this: CAIR, you worry about stopping violence against infidels around the world, stop trying to replace our legal system with sharia and stop promoting all types of hatred and incitement in mosques and Islamic schools...and you will find the view we infidels have of Muslims will improve.

As long as the Koran, Hadith and Sura remain the literal guide for all Muslim behavior, there isn't much hope of the US winning "hearts and minds in the Muslim world" regardless of what statements our politicians make, how many times we engage in "interfaith dialogue" or how much aid we continue to lavish on Muslim countries.

Posted by: 4infidels [TypeKey Profile Page] at July 19, 2008 10:09 AM

"winning the hearts and minds in the Muslim world that America needs to be winning."

The last thing the US and the West should consider doing is winning the hearts and minds of Muslims. Who wants them? Who needs them? We should be doing everything we possibly can to alienate and estrange them and make them feel very very unwelcome in the free world. This may encourage them to vacate our precious lands but I'm not holding my breath on that one. The truth is they do not care to be liked by infidels but seek only for us to crave their respect.

Posted by: johndoe [TypeKey Profile Page] at July 19, 2008 10:12 AM

You can read about Bud Day by googling - Hugh. . .& watching these:

A CONVERSATION WITH A TRUE AMERICAN HERO, COL. BUD DAY

McCain POW Cellmate Speaks Out on McCain's Heroism


Now, lets see whether McCain maintains his mettle against CAIR aggression as firmly as he did against his Vietnamese captors.

Posted by: heroyalwhyness [TypeKey Profile Page] at July 19, 2008 10:20 AM

Quote: "The threat we face is from radical Islamic extremism"

- Why add 'radical' when you have 'extremism' on the end? Why add 'extremism' when you have 'radical' at the beginning? It just sounds like the over-emphasis of ambiguity.

Posted by: Rogster [TypeKey Profile Page] at July 19, 2008 10:54 AM

Oh, I fully expect McCain to kiss moslem a$$.
He is on the wrong side of nearly every issue.

Obamanation
McCain
Sharp stick in the eye *

Posted by: interestinconundrum [TypeKey Profile Page] at July 19, 2008 10:59 AM

"Asked to respond to Day's comments, the McCain campaign issued a short statement from spokesman Michael Goldfarb.

"'The threat we face is from radical Islamic extremism,' he said."

I can just imagine the next step in mccain's about face:

"We do face a threat from super-duper, radical, over-the-top, way-out islamic extremism. But I do admire the islam."

If mccain throws Col. Bud Day (a Medal of Honor recipient) under the bus to appease cair, mccain should be sent back to the hanoi hilton.

Posted by: sheik yer booty [TypeKey Profile Page] at July 19, 2008 11:01 AM

interestinconundrum
McCain may be on the wrong side of a great many things; however, no-one knows where Obama is because he keeps changing the side he was on. This is called,"A Change We Can Live With".

Posted by: DeadRecknoning [TypeKey Profile Page] at July 19, 2008 11:11 AM

interestinconundrum
McCain may be on the wrong side of a great many things; however, no-one knows where Obama is because he keeps changing the side he was on. This is called,"A Change We Can Live With".

Posted by: DeadRecknoning [TypeKey Profile Page] at July 19, 2008 11:11 AM

I am not put-off by McCain's redundant label for our enemy. Radical--of, at, or from the root--Islamic (the nature and character of the threat) Extremism--perfectly connotes the fanatic degree and extent of aforsaid radicalism--hey, it works for me! First, we defeat Extremism; then, we deal with its Radical foundation; finally, we pacify, curb, and defang Islam.

Posted by: John C [TypeKey Profile Page] at July 19, 2008 11:38 AM

I suggest Sen. McCain invite members of CAIR to dinner to discuss their differences.

A nice meal of Kansas City baby back ribs should help set the mood.

Posted by: PorkFatRules [TypeKey Profile Page] at July 19, 2008 11:39 AM

You can bring down the dehumanizing edifices of Islam by patiently, less obtrusively chipping away at the mortar that holds it all together--incrementalism works, too.

Posted by: John C [TypeKey Profile Page] at July 19, 2008 11:42 AM

If McCain waffles on this and does an Obama and "refines" his opinion, not only will I not vote in November (for the first time since 1968) I might petition my local Election Commission to cancel my registration.

Assembling about 200 people in front of a local courthouse and burning 200 voter registration cards would be a good demonstration.

Posted by: Pelayo [TypeKey Profile Page] at July 19, 2008 11:56 AM

OK, so McCain feels the necessity of using the "radical Islamic extremism" qualifier. At least he didn't say "Islamist"...and besides, if anyone can remember, during the entire Democratic nomination fight lasting almost a year, not a single candidate made a single reference to "Jihad", "Islamo-fascism", "radical Islamic extremism" or any other description of the enemy we face. It was a sharp contrast to the Republicans, who made repeated references...and a reminder that the Democrats are so ideologically blinkered and/or so politically correct that they dare not even attempt to define our enemy.

Now that he's no longer sopping to the Left wing of the Democrats, Obama might find the courage to use the word...too little, too late.

Anyone who feels McCain and Obama are of similar dhimmified ilk, you're simply not paying attention.

Posted by: Cornelius [TypeKey Profile Page] at July 19, 2008 12:25 PM

McCain doesn't need to capitulate on this one--luckily, I expect that Obama won't carry CAIR's water on this one; but, who knows, I may be wrong about both candidates.

Posted by: John C [TypeKey Profile Page] at July 19, 2008 12:44 PM

I don't want the "west" to win the hearts and minds of jihadists, a.k.a. "real Muslims". It is impossible, except to the extent that I become a Muslim.

But by exposing the religion, the hearts and minds of many can be won, while the "west" can defend itself, knowing what the problem is.

But we can't do that being blind to the whole problem.

Big credit to the McCain man.

Posted by: confused [TypeKey Profile Page] at July 19, 2008 1:19 PM

I don't want the "west" to win the hearts and minds of jihadists, a.k.a. "real Muslims". It is impossible, except to the extent that I become a Muslim.

But by exposing the religion, the hearts and minds of many can be won, while the "west" can defend itself, knowing what the problem is.

But we can't do that being blind to the whole problem.

Big credit to the McCain man.

Posted by: confused [TypeKey Profile Page] at July 19, 2008 1:22 PM

Quote: "The threat we face is from radical Islamic extremism"

- Why add 'radical' when you have 'extremism' on the end? Why add 'extremism' when you have 'radical' at the beginning? It just sounds like the over-emphasis of ambiguity.

What the McCain campaign meant to say was "really really REALLY radical Islamic super-duper-hyper-extremism".

Posted by: DenverRodeo [TypeKey Profile Page] at July 19, 2008 1:38 PM

Dear Cair:

EAT SH*T!

Yours truly,
Creditman

Posted by: credit man [TypeKey Profile Page] at July 19, 2008 1:58 PM

"CAIR would like to see Senator McCain come out and make a clear statement repudiating these remarks," he said. "We don't believe they're helpful at all in either putting out the campaign's message or winning the hearts and minds in the Muslim world that America needs to be winning."
=================================

I don't give a flying fiqh what CAIR would like to see or hear. I also don't much care for Muslims' "hearts and minds".

I DO, however, care about Muslims' ACTIONS, and the WORDS they use to further their aims.

If Muslims want to be accepted in America, they REALLY need to stand up and say "I'm an American first" and "I believe in liberty, democracy, freedom of speech, and freedom of conscience" and "Women are not chattel, they are independent individuals with equal value and the same rights as other citizens" and "I do not support violence in any form to subdue non-Muslims and/or promote Islam". (The familiar "Islam means Peace" statement is insufficient; all that means is graveyards are quiet.)

McCain, STAND UP TO CAIR. They claim to represent all 258 million Muslim-Americans. They DO inflate their numbers (and their self-importance).

Posted by: A_Nonny_Mouse [TypeKey Profile Page] at July 19, 2008 4:03 PM

The only jihadist hearts and minds that I want are the ones that can put in a jar of formaldehyde.

Posted by: Pelayo [TypeKey Profile Page] at July 19, 2008 4:39 PM

telling reporters "the Muslims have said either we kneel, or they're going to kill us

more Communist Anarchist Idiots Rechcing winning
they need to disprove the above before they start bitching

Posted by: ISLAMSNOTFORME [TypeKey Profile Page] at July 19, 2008 6:12 PM

I've read that Bud Day is one of the most decorated US military veterans. He has received the Congressional Medal of Honor. He also appeared wearing his "Medal of Honor" in one of the Swiftboat Veterans commercials about Sen Kerrey.Bud Day is hero and patriot. I find it amusing that CAIR a group that was named an unindited co-conspirator in a terror trial would want McCain to repudiate the remarks of Bud Day. Especially since CAIR has refused on several occasions to repudiate HAMAS.

Posted by: Roxane [TypeKey Profile Page] at July 19, 2008 6:24 PM

If you ask me I think Muslims desperately need to be told what a insane pedophile monster their prophet was and what a poor, pathetic excuse for a 'god' Allah is.

Told boldly, and told often.

Posted by: CrazyFool [TypeKey Profile Page] at July 19, 2008 11:25 PM

If Mc Cain is elected, I hope that he will apologize and get rid of CAIR and pass a law that this company of monkeys cannot raise any more money in this country ,, and he will shut down all their offices

Posted by: Tartine [TypeKey Profile Page] at July 20, 2008 12:35 AM

CAIR would like a lot of things to happen-like the annihilation of the country as we know it and it's replacement by some Islamic theocracy-where are the moderate Muslims-honestly, they are just enablers with their silence. McCain and Obama both spread their cheeks for Islam...

Posted by: AryanMjolnir [TypeKey Profile Page] at July 20, 2008 2:56 AM

How do we 'win the hearts and minds' of people whose religion - straight down the line - teaches them to HATE us and fight us?

And why? - because we are not Muslim, we don't want to become Muslims (because sharia is cruel and inhuman), and we don't want to lose our hard-won rights and freedoms to become cringing dhimmi slaves robbed and sneered at and bullied continually by a bunch of arrogant, strutting Muslims whose ideal man is the amoral bandit 'Mohammed' (or, as we have lately been shown by events in Lebanon, a child-murderer like Samir Kuntar) and whose ideal woman is a suicide assassin like Dalal Mughrabi?

Here, yet again, are some of the telltale texts that teach Muslims to attack and to despise all non-Muslims.

Qur’an 8:7 - “Allah wished to confirm the truth by His words: ‘Wipe the infidels out to the last.’”

Qur’an 8:39 - “So, fight them till all opposition ends and the only religion is Islam.”

Qur'an 3:28 - "Let not the believers Take for friends or helpers [some translations read: allies] Unbelievers rather than believers: if any do that, in nothing will there be help from Allah..."

Qur'an 3:118 - "O you who believe! do not take for intimate friends from among others than your own people..."

Qur'an 5:51 - "O you who believe! do not take the Jews and the Christians for friends; they are friends of each other; and whoever amongst you takes them for a friend, then surely he is one of them; surely Allah does not guide the unjust people."

Ibn Ishaq, Sira or Life of Mohammed, 231 - “Muslims are one ummah (community) to the exclusion of all men. Believers are friends of one another to the exclusion of all outsiders.”

Tabari (earliest Muslim historian) Book 9:69 “He who believes in Allah and His Messenger has protected his life and possessions from us. As for those who disbelieve, we will fight them forever in the Cause of Allah. Killing them is a small matter to us.”


Bukhari:V5B59N727 - "When Allah's Apostle became seriously sick, he started covering his face with a woolen sheet. When he felt short of breath, he removed it, and said, "That is so! Allah's curse be on Jews and Christians".

The attitudes expressed in these classic texts of Islam, are still taught today - as was shown by Andrew Bostom in *this* article, on 'Textbook Jihad in [modern] Egypt',

http://frontpagemag.com/articles/Read.aspx?GUID=C4BA519B-3644-4738-99B9-6B2BD900C894

where he refers to two scholars who described the inculcation of hatred against non-Muslims, within Islamic societies in the 20th century:

"The seminal modern scholar of Islamic civilization, S.D. Goitein, warned more than a century later, in 1949, speaking of the Arab world generally, in particular Egypt:

'Islamic fanaticism (wrote Goitein)…is now openly encouraged…writers whose altogether Western style (was mentioned earlier) have been vying with each other for some time in compiling books on the heroes and virtues of Islam…

'What has now become possible in educated circles may be gathered from the following quotation from an issue of the ‘New East’, *an Arab monthly periodical describing itself as the ‘organ of the academic youth of the East’*:

- ‘Let us fight fanatically for our religion; let us love a man-because he is a Moslem; let us honor a man- because he is a Moslem; let us prefer him to anyone else-because he is a Moslem; and never let us make friends with unbelievers, because they have nothing but evil for us.’ [Commentary, January 1949, “Cross-Currents in Arab National Feeling”, p. 161]

In 1958, Lebanese Law Professor Antoine Fattal, perhaps the greatest scholar of the legal condition of non-Muslims living under the Shari'a, lamented:


"No social relationship, no fellowship is possible between Muslims and dhimmis...

'Even today, the study of the jihad is part of the curriculum of all the Islamic institutes. In the universities of Al-Azhar, Nagaf, and Zaitoune, students are still taught that the holy war is a binding prescriptive decree, pronounced against the Infidels, which will only be revoked with the end of the world..." [Le Statut Legal de Musulmans en Pays d'Islam, Beirut, 1958; pp. 369, 372]."


Samuel Zwemer found the same mindset in the first decades of the 20th century, among the 'educated' and literate class, in what is now Iraq. He reported on it as follows, in the periodical Moslem World, 1920, Vol 10, p. 155 :

"A few years ago one of the leading Moslems of Baghdad wrote an article for a French journal entitled, 'The Final Word of Islam to Europe' :
- ‘For us [Muslims] in the world there are only believers and unbelievers; love, charity, fraternity toward believers; contempt, disgust, hatred, and war against unbelievers.
- ‘Amongst the unbelievers the most hateful and criminal are those who, while recognizing God, attribute to Him earthly relationship, give Him a son, a mother.
- ‘Learn then, European observers, that a Christian of no matter what position, from the simple fact he is a Christian is in our eyes a blind man fallen from all human dignity.'…".

It should be noted, from the date - 'a few years' before Zwemer wrote the article, in 1920 - that this classic statement of traditional Muslim hatred of and contempt toward Christians, was written around 1917, *before* the founding of the notorious Muslim Brotherhood.


Posted by: dumbledoresarmy [TypeKey Profile Page] at July 20, 2008 3:45 AM

Well, I'm still waiting for the multiple apologies we all have coming from CAIR for everything they and other Muslims are pulling. But I don't see them rushing to do so!

Hell, CAIR should have been closed down long ago anyway, due to their ties. I'm still waiting for an explaination from our own government on that one. But that will never come either.

Posted by: samhein [TypeKey Profile Page] at July 20, 2008 7:57 AM

McCAIN! If any of your people read this: For the nation: DO NOT BACK DOWN!!!

Posted by: thelittlegreekwoman [TypeKey Profile Page] at July 21, 2008 12:43 AM

Comments are turned off and archived for this entry.


Web Site Counter