Debbie Schlussel: Extremist Imam/Bush Buddy: "Bush Told Me Christians Are Extremists Like Muslims, Appointed Spence Abraham For Us"
I've written a lot about Imam Hassan Qazwini (see here, also), the extremist Imam and friend of President George W. Bush, who runs the largest mosque in North America, the Islamic Center of America in Dearbornistan.
In 1998, the mosque--then in Detroit--was the first mosque to which I went undercover. I wrote about it in The Detroit Newsistan, before the paper became Muslim-occupied territory under such boneheaded individuals as editorial page editor Nolan Dhimmi Finley. At the time, the mosque hosted Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, who delivered a long hate-filled rant against Jews and Christians (and in praise of Saddam Hussein). When Farrakhan called Jewish Americans "forces of evil" with a "Satanic mentality." Imam Qazwini and his congregants gave him a standing ovation. That's not to mention that the Imam and other Muslim officials introduced Farrakhan as "our dear brother" and "a freedom fighter."
Imam Qazwini is also tight with Hezbollah spiritual leader, Sheikh Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah, who issued the fatwa to blow up 300 U.S. Marines and embassy officials in 1983. Qazwini is tight with the Ahmadinejad government of Iran and is an open supporter of Hezbollah, HAMAS, and every other terrorist group you can think of (though he claims--like they all claim--that he is against Al-Qaeda).
That's why I was disgusted when I learned in late 2000 (right after he was declared the winner of the Presidential elections), that President Bush invited Imam Qazwini (more than once) to his Crawford, Texas ranch to help design his "faith-based funding" program. Qazwini's background was well known, but the Bush camp--including the President, himself--did not care. They embraced Qazwini, anyway. And they put Qazwini front and center, next to Bush, at his January 2001 press conference announcing the faith-based funding tax-money giveaway. I wrote about this here.
Now, Qazwini has a new book out, "American Crescent," to which I am not linking because I do not want to help the sales of this extremist (or the clickover rate to his book listing online, which helps in the sales rankings). While Qazwini is a BS artist, there are items in the book which I believe--the parts about Qazwini's buddy, President George W. Bush.
Qazwini details to him how Bush compared Christian "extremists" with Muslim terrorists and how Bush agreed to appoint Spencer Abraham (now one of three "National Co-Chairs" of Fred Thompson's Presidential campaign) to his cabinet to serve yet again (as he had in the U.S. Senate) as the Muslims "emissary" a/k/a waterboy:
The book Qazwini describes meetings with Bush, including one in 2000 that was held weeks before the presidential election. Qazwini writes that Bush told him and others at the meeting that it was wrong to stereotype Muslims as extremists.Bush also talked about his love of Lebanese food, Qazwini wrote, and said there was no division between Muslims and Christians.
"There are some Muslims who create trouble, but the majority are good people, just as there are some Christians who create trouble even though most are good," Qazwini quoted Bush as saying. "People talk of Muslim extremists? Come with me to Texas, and I'll show you the Christian extremists."
In the same meeting, Qazwini said he asked Bush to name a liaison to the Muslim community if he were to be elected. Bush replied that he would appoint Spencer Abraham, a Lebanese-American Christian who was then a U.S. senator from Michigan.
"He will be your key to the White House," Qazwini wrote, quoting Bush.
After the election, Bush named Abraham as his secretary of energy.
"The president had kept his word," Qazwini wrote.
It is because of hundreds of actions like these in Bush's first administration that I now feel I can reveal that I did not vote for George W. Bush in 2004. I was so disgusted with his "outreach" to--and even White House employment of--Muslim extremists and open terrorism supporters that I chose to throw my vote away and vote Libertarian.
No I am not a Libertarian. I considered the vote the same as voting for Mickey Mouse or Daffy Duck. But I could not vote for Bush twice in a row. And I certainly would never vote for John Kerry. But I would not vote for a man who not only hangs with the man who cheers Hezbollah and thinks Jews are "forces of evil" with a "Satanic mentality," but invites him to the ranch to design the giveaway of millions of U.S. tax dollars. It's unconscionable. And it's how I will remember George W. Bush. (I live in Michigan, where I knew both Gore and Kerry would win resoundingly anyway, so it didn't matter that much and wouldn't decide the election.)
Frankly, with GWB in the White House, we didn't do much better than Kerry. Did we? I don't know about you, but I don't think we deserved a President--of ANY party--who compares Christians to Muslim extremists.
Sickening. Which of the Republicans running this time won't act like this? Hard to tell if there are any (other than Duncan Hunter who isn't really in the running).
Posted by Debbie on January 7, 2008 01:54 PM to Debbie Schlussel