McCain chews out Ga. congressman for ’specious, degrading’ attack

U.S. Rep. Lynn Westmoreland, Republican of Georgia, has joined four other Republican congressmen in alleging infiltration of top levels of the U.S. government by the Muslim Brotherhood, an organization that according to the congressmen is “devoted to destroying Western civilization from within” and “is determined to impose shariah world wide.”

Huma Abedin

Huma Abedin

More specifically, Westmoreland and his colleagues have demanded an investigation of Huma Abedin, deputy chief of staff to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton,  whom they claim has tight ties to the Muslim Brotherhood and has perverted U.S. policy on its behalf, producing decisions that may “pose security risks for this nation, its people and interests.”

Westmoreland and his colleagues, including former GOP presidential candidate Michele Bachmann, cite no evidence for that scurrilous claim.

Earlier today, another former GOP presidential candidate took to the floor of the U.S. Senate to condemn Westmoreland and his colleagues. Here are excerpts from the remarks by U.S. Sen. John McCain:

“To say that the accusations made in both documents are not substantiated by the evidence they offer is to be overly polite and diplomatic about it. It is far better, and more accurate, to talk straight: These allegations about Huma, and the report from which they are drawn, are nothing less than an unwarranted and unfounded attack on an honorable citizen, a dedicated American, and a loyal public servant… These attacks on Huma have no logic, no basis, and no merit. And they need to stop now….

When anyone, not least a member of Congress, launches specious and degrading attacks against fellow Americans on the basis of nothing more than fear of who they are and ignorance of what they stand for, it defames the spirit of our nation, and we all grow poorer because of it….

All Americans owe Huma a debt of gratitude for her many years of superior public service. I hope these ugly and unfortunate attacks on her can be immediately brought to an end and put behind us before any further damage is done to a woman, an American, of genuine patriotism and love of country.”

Thank you, Sen. McCain.

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(Two notes:

One: I have contacted Westmoreland’s office by email requesting any response that he might have to McCain’s statement. If a response is forthcoming, I will post it as soon as I receive it.

Two: Although it is not relevant here, Abedin is the wife of former U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner, who resigned in the wake of his infamous social-media escapades.)

– Jay Bookman

713 comments Add your comment

gm

July 19th, 2012
9:34 am

MiltonMan

I guess the white American who shot the congress women and killed the little girl was a muslim?
I guess Timothy M. the Okl bomber was a muslim? what the bigots on the right need to concetrate on are the sickos whites who hurt people in the name of America?
How many muslims Americans sent our jobs overseas? oh thats right, the true American Willard sent them, what a bunch of hypocrites twisted minds on the right.

lovelyliz

July 19th, 2012
10:27 am

“Westmoreland and his colleagues, including former GOP presidential candidate Michele Bachmann, cite no evidence for that scurrilous claim.”

Since when has lack of evidence ever stopped them from spending our tax $$$$$$$$$$ to gain easy, empty political points?

GT4EVER

July 19th, 2012
3:57 pm

GW said his 8 years in office was “Awesome, and he was famous and powerful”.

GT4EVER

July 19th, 2012
4:00 pm

Hillbilly rednecks are not the face of GOP,It might seem that way but it’s not.

ld

July 19th, 2012
4:50 pm

Strengthen SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE,

including by constitutional amendment clearly stating that no religious dogma of any group can be enacted into law and imposed on others, and

that will stop this kind of alleged threat to our nation from Islamic extremists in their tracks.

It should also stop the nutters from getting laws enacted that say life begins erection and/or conception.

Life begins at birth–as in when a baby is born and can survive w/o the massive amounts of modern medical intervention which now exist but which did not exist at the time when Jesus walked the earth.

independent thinker

July 19th, 2012
8:48 pm

Anyone notice that all Republican wingnuts were out in full force this week displaying their bigotry and ignorance to help Willard respond to that America the beautiful ad with Roney singing? Bachman,Beck, El Rushbo, Arapaho, Palin,Sununu, Westmoreland etc. I did not realize theyhad that many clown cars.

Brandt Hardin

July 19th, 2012
8:51 pm

Bachmann is just the latest example of the homegrown fear-mongering our country has been subjected to in the decade following 9/11. These are NOT allegations to be played with in today’s society where dissidence is not being tolerated and minorities are being held without trial. As an elected official, Michelle should be leading by example not spewing her own form of politicized terrorism. You can read much more about living in this Orwellian society of fear and see my visual response to these measures on my artist’s blog at http://dregstudiosart.blogspot.com/2011/09/living-in-society-of-fear-ten-years.html We must acknowledge this type of bigotry erodes our freedoms from the inside out for ALL races of Americans.

gm

July 20th, 2012
8:00 am

Instead of worring about muslim brotherhood the focus should be on these crazy white boys here in America that are going on shooting sprees””””

[...] Westmoreland gets chewed out. [...]

[...] Westmoreland gets chewed out. [...]

marcos

July 22nd, 2012
12:44 pm

I am ashamed to live in a state with such trash.

L Elliott

July 22nd, 2012
10:14 pm

I know Cynthia McKinney sure is trash!

www

July 23rd, 2012
3:16 pm

republicans in georgia ==>

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