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Not exactly big news: Walsh confrontational, unapologetic in meeting with Muslims

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* A meeting between Congressman Joe Walsh and Muslims on Friday didn’t go all that well…

If you were expecting a kumbaya moment when Rep. Joe Walsh met with Muslims in Lombard on Friday, you bought tickets to the wrong movie.

Walsh antagonized many in the religion by claiming that radical Muslims have infiltrated the Chicago suburbs, and are trying to kill Americans.

At the town hall meeting, attendees who ranged from doctors to housewives challenged Walsh’s assertation that radicals are in places like Elk Grove, Addison and Elgin.

Walsh said that he was making a broader point that radicals are infiltrating small towns, and although the meeting became heated at times, Walsh didn’t back down from his original statements.

* But Haris Ahmed, who is the public affairs director Ahmadiyya Muslim Community USA Chicago West Chapter, was more upset with the participants than Walsh…

Ahmed said the meeting turned confrontational after a few in the crowd demanded an immediate apology from Walsh, which Ahmed said wasn’t the purpose of the meeting.

“Somehow, it turned out to be confrontational,” Ahmed said. “I don’t think that helps anything.”

He said it appeared some people were attacking Walsh and there was a lot of shouting, but some people did actually want to engage in discussion.

Ahmed said Walsh’s initial comments were controversial and incited some people, but Walsh was trying to make a point in last night’s meeting and he wasn’t allowed the opportunity.

“Our view is that a good opportunity was frankly lost in advancing the dialogue,” Ahmed said.

* Even so, Walsh was his usual bombastic self. There’s very little one can do to have a “dialogue” with him. For instance…

Walsh went so far as to blame the federal government for the Fort Hood Massacre nearly three years ago. He said the government was trying to be politically correct and not offend Muslims, so much so that an American Muslim in the Army allegedly killed 13 people.

* Watch the video…

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Aug 27, 12 @ 11:53 am

Comments

Walsh is in an extended audition for Fox TV or WLS radio. He needs to make some money.

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Aug 27, 12 @ 12:02 pm
=== a few in the crowd demanded an immediate apology from Walsh ===

What did the meeting’s organizers expect? I’m surprised it was only a few. Not that surprised that Walsh didn’t have an apology ready.

Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Monday, Aug 27, 12 @ 12:04 pm
The Republicans should buy Congressmen Walsh and Todd Akin from Missouri an hour of prime time TV to illuminate America and the world on their views. Maybe Sarah Palin could MC the event. And Grover Norquist could lead the No New Taxes band for musical accompaniment. The Ayn Rand Institute may provide additional funding in order to pitch copies of Atlas Shrugged.

Comment by Cook County Commoner Monday, Aug 27, 12 @ 12:51 pm
Walsh confrontational, unapologetic …

Yep …it’s Monday.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Aug 27, 12 @ 12:52 pm
Who is to say he isn’t right? We are fighting an irregular war with no borders as far as our enemies are concerned. Remember the federal building in Springfield, or the hot dog vendor in NYC that spotted the suspicious van a couple of years ago. For those of you who have been watching the news lately how many attacks have there been in Afghanistan where individuals in Afghan military uniforms have turned their guns on coalition troops and private security contractors. If I turned the map around and viewed the war on terror from the enemy’s perspective I would definately try to put the so called sleeper cells in place and infiltrate whever and however I could. This all sounds a lot like the Alger Hiss hearings in the late 40s.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Aug 27, 12 @ 12:54 pm
–This all sounds a lot like the Alger Hiss hearings in the late 40s.–

Yeah, just like that….. how?

Last I checked, Afghanistan is a few miles from Elk Grove.

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Aug 27, 12 @ 12:57 pm
No one wanted to believe that there were communists in the federal government

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Aug 27, 12 @ 1:09 pm
Afghanistan is also a few miles from New York City too

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Aug 27, 12 @ 1:10 pm
Oy. Both sides should take a breath.

Fact is, the family of the Ft. Hood victims are suing the federal government and the army - and one of their allegations is just what Walsh is saying. Namely, that the army turned a blind eye to the highly unusual activities of one of their officers because of concern about offending the Muslim faith. The courts will eventually sort it out, but it was enough of an argument to survive a motion to dismiss. Walsh repeating it doesn’t make it wrong.

And kudos to Haris Amed for his attempt to promote dialogue. I’d also give props to Walsh for attending the event. No one is attacking an entire religion, just extremists who hide within it. Hijacking a great religion is not worthy of defending.

Comment by phocion Monday, Aug 27, 12 @ 1:18 pm
@Anonymous:

Give me a break. Put your tinfoil hat back on and go have dinner with Congressman Walsh so you can discuss the finer points of being ignorant bigots and chicken littles. Being vigilant is one thing, but singling out an entire group like this is getting really old. It’s the new 21st Century witch hunt and unfortunately there are idiots out there that are more than willing to sign on to participate.

Comment by Demoralized Monday, Aug 27, 12 @ 1:18 pm
~ No one is attacking an entire religion~

No one at all? Really? Read what Anonymous has posted here today.

Comment by Cheryl44 Monday, Aug 27, 12 @ 1:31 pm
Sorry, Cheryl, Anonymous didn’t come close to doing that. Again, take a deep breath people.

Comment by phocion Monday, Aug 27, 12 @ 1:38 pm
What was said about Joe McCarthy can now be said about Joe Walsh. Can this man show ANY class?

Comment by Dirty Red Monday, Aug 27, 12 @ 1:51 pm
And this is what happens when you invite a skunk to your picnic.

– MrJM

Comment by MrJM Monday, Aug 27, 12 @ 1:53 pm
- No one wanted to believe that there were communists in the federal government -

Yeah, I sure wish everyone would have taken that more seriously, eh Comrade?

Comment by Small Town Liberal Monday, Aug 27, 12 @ 1:54 pm
Anon
You bring up green-on-blue violence in Afghanistan. Is it your contention that violence is due to Islam, or could it be the Afghan tradition of expelling occupiers?

Comment by reformer Monday, Aug 27, 12 @ 2:07 pm
Is it that there is no such thing as Radical Muslims or that neither Joe Walsh nor anyone else issupposed to talk about them?

Comment by Keith E. Turner Monday, Aug 27, 12 @ 2:34 pm
@Keith:

The issue isn’t about “radical Muslims.” If the Congressman or anybody else has any evidence of threats from Muslims living in these areas then they should bring them forward. Otherwise, their talk is complete hyperbole and is directed at an audience that you apparently belong to - the hysterical Muslim-hating crowd.

Comment by Demoralized Monday, Aug 27, 12 @ 2:43 pm
==Walsh antagonized many in the religion by claiming that radical Muslims have infiltrated the Chicago suburbs, and are trying to kill Americans.==

@Keith - this is what I’m referring to in my comment above. Evidence please. Otherwise keep your traps shut.

Comment by Demoralized Monday, Aug 27, 12 @ 2:45 pm
@Turner -

You don’t have to look too far to find radicals of all faiths, or radicals of no religious faith at all, or just plain crazies.

No one is arguing whether or not we talk about foreign or domestic policy, only that we talk about it factually and responsibly.

So, for example, let’s stop pretending that ALL of the undocumented immigrants in this country come from Mexico and they are ALL criminals and NONE of them pay taxes.

Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Monday, Aug 27, 12 @ 2:55 pm
From a practical, political perspective - try saying that three times fast! - these actions could cost Rep. Walsh the election. There are no “moral victories” in the real political world. He can hem and haw all he wants, but he needs to shut up now because he’s making it worse. And with all due respect to Mr. Ahmed, Rep. Walsh is an elected official who should know better and have thicker skin.

Comment by Team Sleep Monday, Aug 27, 12 @ 3:06 pm
November cannot come soon enough for this ugly idiot.

Comment by VanillaMan Monday, Aug 27, 12 @ 3:12 pm
I shouldn’t call him that. Sorry. Just seemed to be so easy to say.

Comment by VanillaMan Monday, Aug 27, 12 @ 3:13 pm
There are active Muslim communities and houses of worship in Walsh’s district. Why hasn’t he visited them previously, and why doesn’t he already know many of the leaders who came to that local event. That’s what good public servants do with faith communities in their Districts on a continuing basis.

Comment by walkinfool Monday, Aug 27, 12 @ 4:12 pm
If Walsh wants to stick to the ‘Muslims are killing Americans’ maybe he should read this little review of mass shootings:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/9414540/A-history-of-mass-shootings-in-the-US-since-Columbine.html

Looks like lots of non-Muslims doing a lot of shooting. Maybe Walsh should change to ‘I hate everyone’ to be consistent or shut up.

Comment by zatoichi Monday, Aug 27, 12 @ 4:18 pm
maybe he should apologize for criticizing the beheading of 17 people for the sin of dancing.

Comment by park Monday, Aug 27, 12 @ 7:13 pm
@park -

Excellent point, Park. Remind me again: was that in Addison or Yorkville?

Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Monday, Aug 27, 12 @ 9:51 pm
I can’t seem to load the video for some reason.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Aug 27, 12 @ 11:51 pm