This is a canny move for CAIR: choosing an American who does not use an Arabic name will give an emphasis to the “American” aspect of the name “Council on American-Islamic Relations” that had not been present before, and the fact that he is a politician also will strengthen the perception that the group unhesitatingly endorses the American system and the U.S. Constitution, despite the statement by its cofounder and former Board Chairman, Omar Ahmad, that the Qur’an should be “the highest authority in America,” and the organization’s ties to the Muslim Brotherhood, which is dedicated in its own words to “eliminating and destroying Western civilization from within.”
But all is not well with Shaw: Pamela notes, among other things, that Shaw traveled to Saudi Arabia to participate in a Muslims-only conference on Islam and its “enemies” (why doesn’t Buddhism have “enemies”?). The notorious Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi also appeared there — the cleric who recently described Jews as “a profligate, cunning arrogant band of people”: “Oh Allah, count their numbers, and kill them, down to the very last one.”
Now, anyone with an ounce of common sense and fair-mindedness knows that to appear at a conference at which someone else also appears, or to appear in a photograph with someone, does not mean that one necessarily agrees with every statement made and position taken by that person. But why isn’t the mainstream media asking Shaw to clarify his own positions? As far as I know, he hasn’t been asked a single, solitary question about this jaunt to Saudi Arabia (and who paid for it), and about what he thinks of Qaradawi’s Jew-hatred and his positions on other matters. Now, why is that?
“Islamic group taps Fayetteville senator,” from the Fayetteville Observer, March 4:
RALEIGH “” Sen. Larry Shaw of Fayetteville has been elected chairman of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.
Shaw, a Democrat, has served on the organization’s board for three years.
He described the council, known as CAIR, as a civil rights organization. Shaw said he looks forward to partnering with President Obama’s administration to protect civil liberties and help improve America’s international image.
“We just want to work with them to foster better understanding and mutual accommodating,” Shaw said….