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The Tribune, leads today’s roundup.
Gov. Rod Blagojevich on Wednesday stood by his controversial appointment of a Nation of Islam official to his anti-discrimination commission, saying the woman shouldn’t be judged by a history of anti-Semitic and anti-gay statements made by nation leader Louis Farrakhan.
Blagojevich said commission member Claudette Marie Muhammad should be judged by her own words in support of tolerance and acceptance, which she expressed in a brief written statement released earlier in the day.
“What Mr. Farrakhan said was deplorable, hateful, wrong and harmful,” Blagojevich said in an interview with the Tribune. “What I’m not going to do is engage in the practice of guilt by association. Ms. Muhammad didn’t say those things.”
Muhammad, who serves as chief of protocol to Farrakhan, said that she believes in “fairness to all people regardless of race, creed, color, national origin or religious beliefs” and that she respects those who “practice the true tenets” of any religion. She also said she supports human rights for gays and lesbians.
Then there’s this from the AP:
As tempers flared at the state Capitol, Gov. Rod Blagojevich said Wednesday that he didn’t know he had appointed a Nation of Islam official to serve on a hate crimes commission until learning it from news reports.
Claudette Marie Muhammad was named to the commission last summer, but Blagojevich said he only learned about it in the last week or two after criticism of her appointment was discussed in news stories.
He nodded vigorously when asked if he wished his staff had discussed the appointment with him, but he would say little more.
He didn’t know that The Daily Show interview was a spoof, either. Glad to know he stays on top of things.
And, finally, the Sun-Times.
Tempers roiled at the Statehouse, pitting Jewish and black lawmakers against one another over Blagojevich’s 2005 appointment of Claudette Marie Johnson to the Governor’s Commission on Discrimination and Hate Crimes. […]
Jewish lawmakers and their allies who pressed for Johnson to renounce Farrakhan’s statements expressed disappointment at the governor’s move.
“It is essential the commission be a place of the utmost integrity and there be no question as to whether it’s tainted by the presence of one member or another,” said Richard Hirschhaut, a commission member and director of the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center. “I fear we are now at a point where there is a cloud over this body.”
“It’s inadequate,” Sen. Jeff Schoenberg (D-Evanston) said of the governor’s response.
IMPORTANT UPDATE: Notice how Muhammad claims that she respects those “who practice the true tenets” of their religion.
Farrakhan talks a lot about “false Jews,” including just this past Sunday.
“These false Jews promote the filth of Hollywood that is seeding the American people and the people of the world and bringing you down in moral strength. … It’s the wicked Jews, false Jews that make it a crime for you to preach the word of God, then they call you homophobic.â€
Considering this, I don’t think that Muhammad’s statement was much of a conciliation at all. What about you?
LAST UPDATE: Comments closed on this one. Go to Friday’s thread and provide some ideas for ending this mess.
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Mar 2, 06 @ 8:14 am
Sorry, comments are closed at this time.
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It’s fairly simple. Either she publicly disavows Farrakhan’s specific hate comments (particularly the one listed above), or she should resign. She’s not just a member of Farrakhan’s church, she’s a leader in it.
Comment by On the Fence Thursday, Mar 2, 06 @ 8:29 am
Interesting … I found the inclusion of the two words important as well. What about those who practice no religion at all? …
I’d say it’s an attempt to pull the wool over some eyes - either to buy some time or until some other bigger fire comes along to put out.
Comment by YNM Thursday, Mar 2, 06 @ 8:30 am
“On the Fence†is right on the money. That’s really all there is to say.
In regards to the AP story:
How many other “Governor’s Commissions†are filled with people Blago doesn’t know he appointed? This is pathetic! What ever happened to “the buck stops here?†I’m so sick of Chicago Democrats who plaster there name over every project, program, and commission and then plead ignorance when something goes wrong. Blago has no idea what’s going on at the Tollway Commission, but he has no problem taking credit for Open Road Tolling. Mayor Daley says he can’t be held responsible for what happens in every agency or department of the city, but from the signs you’d think he personally supervises every graffiti blasting crew or plans every special event in the city.
I know that Republicans did it in the ‘90’s, but I think it’s hard to deny that no one can top Governor Blagojevich or Mayor Daley when it comes to such disgusting self-promotion then denial of accountability.
Sorry for the rant. Just had to get that off my chest.
Comment by grand old partisan Thursday, Mar 2, 06 @ 8:52 am
“On the Fence” says it so well.
Comment by NON - "Elvis" fan Thursday, Mar 2, 06 @ 9:04 am
I am begining to wonder if this Gov. even knows what state he is in.Why is it that everytime something like this happens he blames it on the hired hands.I have been taught all my life that the person most responsible is the man in charge of the people making these decisions.If they make or continue to make wrong decisions then they get replaced.All this amounts to is a move to shore up the Black vote and no one around him gave a hoot about her back ground.The other bad news is the Jewish people will give lots of money to who is willing to unseat this idiot.
Comment by DOWNSTATE Thursday, Mar 2, 06 @ 9:16 am
I want to add the funny side of this.Can’t you see this bunch when they first came up with this idea.OH BOY A AFRICAN-AMERICAN MUSLIM WOMAN MAN-O-MAN IS SHE GOING TO GET THE VOTES FOR US!Give that guy a day off with pay.
Comment by DOWNSTATE Thursday, Mar 2, 06 @ 9:33 am
“False Jews?”
Can Faux Frenchmen be far behind?
Comment by Pat Hickey Thursday, Mar 2, 06 @ 10:22 am
Rich - Thank you for noting this. I had seen her statement and was wondering what “true tenents” meant, and you’ve now supplied the missing piece.
But what about those of us who aren’t practicing in whatever our religion, and what about aethiests?
Most importantly, who gets to decide who is practicing the true tenents of their religion? History is replete with examples of those who try to make that determination for others, from the Inquisition to the Salem Witch Trials to modern day stonings.
Sounds like Ms. Muhammad has appointed herself as the new Torquemada. This appointment is a disgrace.
Comment by Anon Thursday, Mar 2, 06 @ 10:28 am
Does Sister Muhammad really believe that an evil scientist named Yacoob created white people 6,000 years ago? That’s an NOI tenet.
Comment by John Ruberry Thursday, Mar 2, 06 @ 12:25 pm
this is so ridiculous i shouldn’t even comment. since when did the bill of rights get thrown out the window. who cares what ms. muhammad’s religious faith or affiliation is? CAN SHE DO THE JOB? apparently someone thinks she can. give her a chance, the same chance that followers of pat robertson, and jerry falwell and others get. this guilt by association witch-hunt is just stupid! what is this mccarthyism or the gestapo all over again??!!…GET A GRIP AND GIVE THIS WOMAN A CHANCE!
Comment by MARK GEE Thursday, Mar 2, 06 @ 12:36 pm
It’s nice to know that our trade imbalance is tipping even further to the negative. Now we are importing the Arab-Israeli conflict, too.
And this conflict outlines the difficulty of the Democrats in general holding together a coalition of groups who, when their agendas flare up, really have disdain for each other, when not under the veneer of common interests. Of course, the Republicans’ opposite dilemma is finding a tent big enough to hold a majority while still “pure” enough for the wingers.
Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Thursday, Mar 2, 06 @ 12:59 pm
give her a chance to what? to serve on a commission that aims to combat some of the very things the orgainzation she helps lead stands for?
believe me, i’m all for giving people opportunity - even opportunity to disprove assumptions about themselves or to overcome prior shortfalls, etc.
but removing her from this commission just seems to make sense to me. she had a chance when she made her statement and didn’t say what she needed to.
Comment by YNM Thursday, Mar 2, 06 @ 1:03 pm
CAN SHE DO THE JOB? apparently someone thinks she can. give her a chance, the same chance that followers of pat robertson, and jerry falwell and others get. this guilt by association witch-hunt is just stupid! what is this mccarthyism or the gestapo all over again??!!…GET A GRIP AND GIVE THIS WOMAN A CHANCE!
Name?
Applicant - Joe Goebbels
Education?
Applicant - Doctor of Humane Letters
Position Sought?
Appilicant - Minister of Propaganda
Can You Do the Job Joey?
Applicant - Can Do, Mr. Reichs Chancellor
The kid’s a go getter! Got a bad gimp but a head ful of great stuff!
Comment by Pat Hickey Thursday, Mar 2, 06 @ 1:30 pm
Mark Gee – who really needs to get a grip here? McCarthyism, Gestapo? I didn’t realize that getting thrown off this commission means she will be imprisoned or executed. As far as someone thinking she has the ability to do “the job,†seems to me that one of the jobs of a member of the Governor’s Commission on Discrimination and Hate Crimes would be to denounce hateful, racist, and anti-Semitic rhetoric by public figures. Well, here’s her chance to prove she can do the job. And I’d like to know who this ‘someone’ is, since it apparently isn’t the Governor.
Comment by grand old partisan Thursday, Mar 2, 06 @ 2:02 pm
DAMN! DOES FARRAKHAN FRIGHTEN YOU ALL THIS MUCH????…LOL…HE’S BEEN AROUND OVER 50 YEARS AND THERE HASN’T BEEN A VIOLENT UPRISING LED BY HIM OR HIS NATION OF ISLAM. HELL IF SHE’S GONNA CRITICIZE FARRAKHAN THEN WHY NOT THROW IN BUSH AND COMPANY FOR THIR INCOMPETENCE AND NEGLIGENCE AS IT RELATES TO THE KATRINA DISASTER. TELL ME RACE DIDM’T PLAY A ROLE IN THE RESPONSE TO THIS DISASTER? I HOPE SHE GETS IN AND BLASTS THE FED GOV’T FOR THEIR DISCRIMINATORY RESPONSE IN THIS INSTANCE.
Comment by MARK GEE Thursday, Mar 2, 06 @ 2:39 pm
From the Commission’s website:
“The Commission actively works……..to educate and foster acceptance and tolerance. The Commission also offers the citizens of Illinois direct access to the people who are addressing the issues of hatred and bigotry.â€
Louis Farrakhan has stated that “White people are potential humans…they haven’t evolved yet.” (Philadelphia Inquirer, 3/18/00).
I don’t know what you call it when someone says you are subhuman, but I certainly wouldn’t call it acceptance and tolerance. Seems more like hatred and bigotry to me. I’d like to hear Ms. Muhammad address that.
I don’t think that’s out of line.
Comment by grand old partisan Thursday, Mar 2, 06 @ 4:01 pm
Mark - her affiliation matter because that’s why she was appointed. She wasn’t appointed because she’s a smart or nice or caring person. She was appointed as a representative of the Nation of Islam on the commission. The question is whether the Nation of Islam belongs on a commission devoted to opposing hatred and bigotry. It would seem that Minister Farakhan answered that in his speech Sunday with a resounding no. Ergo, it doesn’t belong on the commission and neither does she.
Comment by ChicagoCynic Thursday, Mar 2, 06 @ 5:35 pm
It’s a little like putting Leon Ridgeway on the Green River vice squad- he might offer up some good tips, but it just doesn’t feel right.
Comment by Shallow Pharnyx Thursday, Mar 2, 06 @ 7:06 pm
it seems as if many of you want ms. muhammad to denounce farrakhan or his statements in order to POSSIBLY serve on this panel. my question is: is ANYBODY asking members of the panel who are associated with the christian right to denounce equally repugnant statements by pat robertson, or jerry falwell? and is anyone gonna denounce the pope for his turning a blind eye and deaf ear at what some catholic priests were doing with little boys????…..
Comment by MARK GEE Friday, Mar 3, 06 @ 8:05 am
Mark,
Are any of the Christians on the commission members of, let alone high ranking officials in, Robertson or Falwell’s churches?
Comment by grand old partisan Friday, Mar 3, 06 @ 8:45 am
And while the sexual abuse of children by priests is a despicable crime and shameful issue for the Catholic Church, I’m not sure what that has to do with Discrimination or Hate Crimes.
It’s pretty simple, Mark. Mr. Farrakhan has made many hateful, bigoted and otherwise racists statements against Jews and whites in general. Sister Muhammad is a high-ranking member of his Church. If she wants to sit on a commission whose purpose is to fight discrimination, hate, bigotry and racism, why is it out of line to ask her if she either agrees with or is willing to repudiate Mr. Farrakhan’s statements?
Comment by grand old partisan Friday, Mar 3, 06 @ 9:07 am
Remember, I asked for some solutions today.
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Mar 3, 06 @ 9:11 am