Amateur Hour: Herman Cain Apologizes to Muslim Brotherhood
Ryan Mauro reports at Pajamas that Herman Cain, still smarting from the backlash over his declaration that Americans should have the right to oppose the construction of mosques, has since visited a mosque and had so heartwarming an experience there that he has apologized. Trouble is, the leader of the mosque -- and Cain's guide on the tour -- is Muslim Brotherhood.
Cain visited the All Dulles Area Muslim Society (ADAMS) of Sterling, Virginia, which is led by Imam Mohamed Magid. Magid is president of the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), which is a Brotherhood branch. The Brotherhood is, of course, all about the imposition of sharia law. This doesn't seem to square with Cain's stance as an opponent of sharia, but not to worry. Cain's okay with that.
Here is the text of Cain's statement following the visit:
I would like to thank Imam Mohamed Magid and the ADAMS Center for extending their hospitality to me this afternoon. We enjoyed heartfelt fellowship and thoughtful dialogue about how patriotic Americans of all faiths can work together to restore the American Dream.
While I stand by my opposition to the interference of shariah law into the American legal system, I remain humble and contrite for any statements I have made that might have caused offense to Muslim Americans and their friends. I am truly sorry for any comments that may have betrayed my commitment to the U.S. Constitution and the freedom of religion guaranteed by it. Muslims, like all Americans, have the right to practice their faith freely and peacefully.
As I expected, we discovered we have much more in common in our values and virtues. In my own life as a black youth growing up in the segregated South, I understand their frustration with stereotypes. Those in attendance, like most Muslim Americans, are peaceful Muslims and patriotic Americans whose good will is often drowned out by the reprehensible actions of jihadists.
I am encouraged by the bonds of friendship forged today at our meeting, and I look forward to continuing this very healthy dialogue. The relationship we established was so positive that the Imam has invited me back to speak to not only some of their youth, but also at one of their worship services.
Does this guy have a staff? Did anybody do any vetting at all? Did he have a clue who he was dealing with?
As Mauro points out, ISNA, the organization run by Cain's new friend Magid, is "listed as an 'unindicted co-conspirator' in the Holy Land Foundation trial. The HLF had been found guilty of being a front for Hamas set up by the Muslim Brotherhood." The Brotherhood itself includes ISNA on a list of its front organizations.
Magid's predecessor at ISNA, Muzammil Siddiqi, is a vocal advocate of the imposition of sharia "in all areas." He's still on ISNA's governing board. (Needless to say, Siddiqi is not a friend of the state of Israel. As he put it, "we shall be celebrating insh’allah the coming of Jersualem and the whole land of Palestine insh’allah and the establishment of the Islamic State throughout the area.")
But that's ISNA, you may be thinking. Perhaps ADAMS is as committed to the American concepts of pluralism, equal rights, and liberal democracy as you are. Maybe the mosque represents not Magid's stealth pulpit but his shift toward the values that American culture actually represents.
Except that in 2008, ADAMS hosted speaker Luqman Abdullah at a fundraiser. Abdullah -- an African-American formerly known as Christopher Thomas -- led a group called “Ummah,” an organization identified by the US Attorney's office as "a brotherhood that seeks to establish a separate state within the U.S. that would be ruled by strict Islamic or Sharia law." According to the federal affidavit, Abdullah encouraged his followers to embark on “an offensive jihad, rather than a defense jihad. He regularly preaches anti-government and anti-law enforcement rhetoric.” He was also considered a "person of interest" by the FBI "for espousing the use of violence against law enforcement." (Abdullah is no longer with us: he opened fire on FBI agents who came to arrest him on October 28, 2009 and was killed in the ensuing firefight. Mauro notes that CAIR, like ISNA a Brotherhood affiliate, was quick to denounce the FBI for the killing.)
Anyway. This business reminds me of Cain's stumbling over the issue of the Palestinian right of return. (As Greg Gutfeld pointed out at the time, if you're thinking the right of return has anything to do with Nordstrom's, you're probably not ready for prime time.) This guy appears to be a random politician with delusions of grandeur who has waded blithely into the spotlight without a clue about even the most basic details of matters concerning both foreign policy and national security. I understand he's a long shot, but it hardly burnishes the Republican escutcheon to have a blundering naif repeatedly drawing the national eye.
The Republican field is focused primarily on the domestic economic agenda, which is of course understandable. But anyone purporting to contend for the highest office in the land needs to have at least a few toes in the reality of the wider world -- to have some degree of awareness of the issues, at the very least. Particularly in areas where foreign and domestic policy intersect, like the influence of the Muslim Brotherhood and its goals regarding the global imposition of sharia.
This performance by Cain is real bush league stuff. It also confirms the suspicions -- and the hopes -- of many of the enemies of the US about the kinds of people who appeal to the American electorate, particularly at a historical moment when the bloom is off the rose of the alleged statesman in the White House.
I know, I know. Cain is just chaff. Where's the wheat?
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Comments :
Jul '10
Re: Amateur Hour: Herman Cain Apologizes to Muslim Brotherhood
God, this is sad. I like the guy on money issues, but he'd be a disaster on the jihad front. Inability to forumulate any Afghan policy (the listen to the experts bit is just craven) and now cozying up to Islamic supremacists. I really think Allen West is the only man with a coherent idea about the nature of our enemy.
May '10
Re: Amateur Hour: Herman Cain Apologizes to Muslim Brotherhood
Idiots. We have idiots running for the Republican candidacy.
Jun '11
Re: Amateur Hour: Herman Cain Apologizes to Muslim Brotherhood
Cain has surely botched the Muslim issue and was terrible in not being up to speed on the right of return on Chris Wallace's show.
He is an amateur in politics. That's one of the points. He's not a politician.
I listened to Frank Gaffney yesterday in Denver. I would be surprised if any mosque in the US was not tied in some way to a front group that was providing money from the Muslim Brotherhood. Maybe Zuhdi Jasser's group in Phoenix would be an exception.
Cain is a smart guy with American values. President Obama is a smart guy with leftist values.
Cain is going to influence the campaign in a positive way.
He is no blue blood Republican. The Republican and Democrat crowd that looks down on the Tea Party, Rush Limbaugh, Hannity and Levin won't like Cain. That's fine.
Mar '11
Re: Amateur Hour: Herman Cain Apologizes to Muslim Brotherhood
I've really become disappointed in Herman Cain. I'd held him in pretty high regard until recently. But a knowledge of foreign affairs is always critical for the presidency. For crying out loud, we're suffering from completely mismanaged foreign policies right now. I really think that foreign affairs expertise is more important for the Presidency than economic expertise, although economic knowledge is important during the election.
Jun '10
Re: Amateur Hour: Herman Cain Apologizes to Muslim Brotherhood
He would have been far better off just apologizing to the first Muslim he saw on the street.
Jun '10
Re: Amateur Hour: Herman Cain Apologizes to Muslim Brotherhood
I love Cain. I would trust him for president. That's me.
We have to ask ourselves if he can be elected -- sure. But, he would be great as president if he could be elected. Now, I know this post is ostensibly addressing his competence but beware of another aspect of this attack: it damages a very good Republican leader. Is this necessary? Maybe so -- maybe not.
How about this. We 1) discuss his ability and competency as president and differentiate it from 2) his elect-ability. Otherwise, he doesn't get evaluated fairly -- and it causes so many unnecessary disagreements. I don't doubt that one could just do the 2nd item, elect-ability, but I find so many people here and in the conservative elites unable to stop themselves from helping the Dems and the MSM in order to damage the candidate so that he can't go up the ladder to nomination.
This is unforgivable really. We must not damage our own guys. The primary campaigns have to do it for their own legitimate reasons but we are not in that business. Cain might lose the primary but go onto some other very important post.
Dec '10
Re: Amateur Hour: Herman Cain Apologizes to Muslim Brotherhood
I keep seeing people say this and I don't buy it. He has the pretensions to intellect, but I really don't see any there there.
I mean, do you really think that he would pass a sophomore multivariable calculus class, for instance?
Dec '10
Re: Amateur Hour: Herman Cain Apologizes to Muslim Brotherhood
Larry Koler:
How about this. We 1) discuss his ability and competency as president and differentiate it from 2) his elect-ability. · Jul 31 at 9:18am
I understand your concern, but you don't get to run for president without being considered to be president. Herman Cain had been a very good speaker and advocate for several causes and so I'd say the rule applies. But he is running for president and so his public statements and public appearances are fair game.
The personal stuff and the heads-I-win-tails-you-lose character assassination is certainly beyond the pale, but that isn't happening here.
May '10
Re: Amateur Hour: Herman Cain Apologizes to Muslim Brotherhood
I don't think Cain was completely off-base with his mosque comments. Islam indeed appears to be inseparable from government in a way which other religions are not. Perhaps this view is mistaken, but it seems a caliphate (worldly rule) is an explicit goal of the faith. Mosques thus relate to society differently than do churches or synagogues.
But suggesting we should ban mosques which advocate imposition of shariah and dhimmitude is like suggesting we should ban neo-Nazi organizations which advocate similarly hateful changes to government. We (conservatives, anyway) don't ban hate speech or deviant political suggestions in this country. We place faith in the power of good ideas to overcome bad ideas in a free market.
Cain's complete unfamiliarity with the "right of return" propoganda was also disturbing. One doesn't have to know much about the Israel-PLO conflict to be familiar with that much.
The latter mistake is due to ignorance. The former is due to poor judgment. Wisdom is more important than knowledge.
Jun '10
Re: Amateur Hour: Herman Cain Apologizes to Muslim Brotherhood
AmishDude
I understand your concern, but you don't get to run for president without being considered to be president. Herman Cain had been a very good speaker and advocate for several causes and so I'd say the rule applies. But he is running for president and so his public statements and public appearances are fair game.
The personal stuff and the heads-I-win-tails-you-lose character assassination is certainly beyond the pale, but that isn't happening here. · Jul 31 at 10:04am
Vetting is necessary, defamation is not. But, I agree that Ricochet has less of this than other places but it does spend a lot of time going after people on our side.
Another thing about Cain's qualifications: The bar was lowered so much for Obama that Cain is truly stellar by that measure. I'm not saying we have to drop so low as the Dems did but I have to admit that after all the trouble the regular pols have gotten us into I simply do not believe that Cain won't be much better.
Jul '10
Re: Amateur Hour: Herman Cain Apologizes to Muslim Brotherhood
Cain should quit delivering apologies and stick with delivering pizzas.
Ooh, was that racist?!
Never mind. He's a "Republican."
Edited on Jul 31, 2011 at 5:17pmNov '10
Re: Amateur Hour: Herman Cain Apologizes to Muslim Brotherhood
Larry Koler
Vetting is necessary, defamation is not. But, I agree that Ricochet has less of this than other places but it does spend a lot of time going after people on our side.
I agree with this observation, but Cain has violated one of my non-negotiables by retracting a tough stance on Islamic issues.
I agree with this:
But would argue with this:
I wouldn't make this comparison. Neo-Nazi organizations in this country have little influence and thus pose no legitimate threat to society. The same cannot be said of Islamic organizations. See: Dearborn, Michigan where calls to prayer are broadcast publicly 5 times a day. A more extreme example: Sharia law enforced signs in England.
Mar '11
Re: Amateur Hour: Herman Cain Apologizes to Muslim Brotherhood
We've got plenty of worldly rule, or so our leaders would have us believe. I think you meant "world domination."
Jun '10
Re: Amateur Hour: Herman Cain Apologizes to Muslim Brotherhood
Elizabeth Dunn
I agree with this observation, but Cain has violated one of my non-negotiables by retracting a tough stance on Islamic issues.
Point taken.
Elizabeth Dunn
I wouldn't make this comparison. Neo-Nazi organizations in this country have little influence and thus pose no legitimate threat to society. The same cannot be said of Islamic organizations. See: Dearborn, Michigan where calls to prayer are broadcast publicly 5 times a day. A more extreme example: Sharia law enforced signs in England. · Jul 31 at 6:20pm
Yes, we have to be practical and protect ourselves and this country. Muslims who are seditious have to be treated differently than those who are not.
Sep '10
Re: Amateur Hour: Herman Cain Apologizes to Muslim Brotherhood
Herman Cain just became the epic fail candidate who would last exactly 6 seconds in a debate with Rudy Guliani.