No Muslim Should Ever be a Republican
I've noted a few times the inherent contradiction, in my view, in Muslims identifying as Republican in today's political climate. Not because there aren't areas of overlap for practicing Muslims with certain conservative principles the Republican platform traditionally supports, but more because of the increasingly mainstream anti-Islam and anti-Muslim views espoused not just by GOP rank-and-filers, but party leaders and elites (including, in some shape or form, every one of the leading presidential contenders). As I said in August of '10 (in my first Huffington Post pickup, FYI):
How much more of this stuff do you have to see? After years of systematic marginalization, after the bastardized transitive property that saw Obama labeled as a Muslim and thus intrinsically evil, is the ginned-up Cordoba Controversy that the GOP has cynically run with -- and the rampant Islamophobia that's followed in its wake -- enough to finally convince you that the Republican Party's so-called "Big Tent" doesn't have very much room for you?
Well, in yet another example of how the Big Tent stretches only so far, we have this vid from The Daily Show chronicling one Muslim Republican's windmill-tilting crusade in Florida to proudly brandish his party credentials -- whether they like it or not. I actually followed this story when it was first happened last fall, and even then I thought it was tailor-made for the Daily Show treatment, so this one's been a long time coming for me:
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Hilarious? Oh yea, many of us know all about the Daly Show and Colbert Nation. They are part of Comedy Central. Courage is a commodity sorely lacking by Comedy Central (like SNL). They certainly didn't care if they offended Jews or Christians. Their lack of backbone is what's offensive. Comedy Central should be ashamed of itself for giving in to the threat, and every peaceful, moderate Muslim in this country ought to be out there right now denouncing this at the top of their lungs. OK, does that sound reasonable? I DON'T THINK SO! Immediately, these pieces of vomit belonging to the "Revolution Muslim" group should be arrested and charged with harassment, threats of violence, intimidation, and hindering free speech. Where do these hoodlums, thugs, scalywags, goons, strong-armers, fanatics, combatants, militants, radicals, extremists, fundamentalists, militant Islamics, zealots, and pretty much a bunch of hell lovers think they're living? They are living in America, the home of the free and the land of the brave. So Comedy Central, maybe you need to grow some "apples" since all they seem to be able to do is cower in fear. YOUR A DISGRACE to our armed forces who put lives on the line every day in Iraq, Afganistan, and everywhere else. YOUR A DISGRACE TO AMERICA. Not only is this a shameful act by Comedy Central, but they were intimidated by this despicable, anti-American radical behavior. I knew Jon Stewart was a Barry Hussen Soetoro supporter but I had no idea that he would sell out when the going got tough. What a coward. Will Comedy Central's ratings go in the toilet? For the brave, yes. The comedy act that I can't wait to see is how Comedy Central is going to be able to find satire in this cowardly act? Barry Hussen's Washington and Hollywood's atheist's ignoring Christianity again.
Hilarious, as always. I am always amazed at these people not knowing about the Daily Show. What kind of person is in politics and knows nothing about the Dailly show or the Colbert Nation? Anyway, the GOP and those on the Muslim rightwing have a lot in commonl Opposition to gay rights and the ability of gays to marry the people they love, or even have consensual sex in their bedrooms. Opposition to a secular government. Opposition to birth control. Both favor to some extent (especially among Republicans) types of theocracies. Yes, Muslims are the natural allies of many Republicans, but like Mormons, the Christian rightwing doesn't want either.
Jerome McCollom