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* We now have two attacks on suburban mosques since Congressman Joe Walsh made his hysterical comments about radical Muslins last week. Again, I’m not saying at all that the incidents are related to Walsh’s big mouth, but it does show you why prudent political leaders know they need to keep a civil tongue in their head…
Two suburban Islamic institutions apparently were the targets of weekend incidents that caused property damage and raised concerns among Islamic leaders that the attacks were intended to harm worshippers.
On Monday, David Conrad, 51, of Morton Grove, was ordered in court to undergo an anger management evaluation and to stay away from members of the local Muslim Education Center, at which he is alleged to have fired a high-velocity air rifle Friday evening. No one was hurt during the shooting in the north suburb, but about 500 people were in the building observing evening prayers for the holy month of Ramadan.
Meanwhile, police in west suburban Lombard were trying to determine the origin of a soda bottle filled with household chemicals that apparently was thrown at an Islamic school Sunday night, also during Ramadan prayers. The crude, homemade explosive scared worshippers because of its loud noise but did not injure anyone, Lombard police said.
Islamic community leaders called for federal authorities to step in, saying they do not consider either case isolated. They believe Muslims were targeted in the past because of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, said Ahmed Rehab, executive director of the Chicago Office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.
Walsh has never been known as “prudent.”
* Meanwhile, a reader has put together a video of Walsh’s greatest hits…
* And Walsh premiered a new “soft side” TV ad during the closing ceremony of the Olympics. Rate it…
* From an accompanying fundraising appeal…
While Tammy is spending all of her resources going negative with baseless lies and shameless attacks, I will be focusing on a positive campaign of real solutions that will help get this country back on the right track. But I need your help getting that message out there.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Aug 14, 12 @ 8:55 am
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I think the Walsh positive ad is really quite good. It’s him trying to connect with folks who don’t like politicians. And, I thought the very first line was well delivered.
Comment by BFro Tuesday, Aug 14, 12 @ 9:08 am
If you’re going to run as a tea party republican and make it your raison d’etre you expose yourself as a fraud if you don’t run on that in your ads. If you’re a moderate like dold and you don’t want the label, that’s one thing. This is another.
As for the Islamic stuff, anytime a jewish organization has an issue anywhere near that (there was a synagogue in west rogers park a few years ago that got mailed a bomb from the middle east), pretty much every politician in the area races to assuage the community and coordinate between that community and local/federal agencies to deal with community concerns. The elected officials in those areas need to start giving the muslim community the same due. I don’t know which congresspeople are those districts, but Senator Durbin especially should wear the big boy pants on this and at least meet with Rehab.
I see where you’re going with walsh and a connection, but I think it could be framed better.
Comment by Shore Tuesday, Aug 14, 12 @ 9:27 am
– “One thing I’m sure of is that there are people here in this country — there is a radical strain of Islam in this country; it’s not just over there — trying to kill Americans every week,” Walsh said. “It is a real threat. And it is a threat that is much more at home now than it was right after 9/11.”
“It’s here, it’s in Elk Grove, it’s in Addison, it’s in Elgin, it’s here,” he said, referring to Chicago suburbs. –
Given his position on the Homeland Security Committee, I’m sure Rep. Walsh has responsibly reported to the proper authorities his evidence of the weekly threats to kill Americans.
In addition, I trust he’s filled in law enforcement in Elk Grove, Addison and Elgin.
Otherwise, some folks might suspect he’s peddling irresponsible hysteria, or trafficking in bigotry to scare up votes.
And I’m sure his office will be releasing a statement soon in which he condemns attacks on Americans of all faiths as they worship peacefully.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Aug 14, 12 @ 9:42 am
Joe Walsh swims with Michele Bachmann in a fetid swamp of bigotry, fear, and xenophobia. Hand-in-hand with violent imagery, their language is part and parcel of national Republican rhetoric, and has been for a long time.
These despicable people spew forth and then someone fires shots at a mosque or an Arizona Congresswoman. Or walks into a Sikh gurdwara and opens fire on peaceful worshippers.
The dots aren’t hard to connect, lying side by side as they are.
Comment by Northsider Tuesday, Aug 14, 12 @ 9:47 am
on his facebook page there’s a picture with a woman in a hijab who attended his townhall on saturday in elgin smiling and waiting to talk to him. I don’t think his staffer knows enough to put it up there just to make a statement about diversity or in response to this, but it’s worth pointing out, given what’s being said here and yesterday.
Comment by Shore Tuesday, Aug 14, 12 @ 9:52 am
The Voters should limit Joe Walsh to 1 term in office.Instead of voting for a jobs bill a year ago,Walsh like the rest of Grover Norquist’s
lackeys did nothing. Sorry I forgot they voted 33 times against Obamacare. Walsh wants to make cuts to everything except Defense.
Enough is enough,send him home.
Comment by mokenavince Tuesday, Aug 14, 12 @ 10:02 am
If Walsh wants to connect with people who don’t like politicians, shouldn’t he stop being a politician?
I’m glad nobody was hurt in the mosque attacks. Attacking mosques to me defeats the very principles we supposedly defend with military force.
Comment by Grandson of Man Tuesday, Aug 14, 12 @ 11:03 am
Here we go again trying to politicize an violent act in order to demonize your political opponent. Conflating Walsh’s speech to the recent spate of violence is not reasonable unless you are looking for partisan gain.
The reality is that Muslims were/are targeted by crazy people who get the notion that someone who is different is somehow hurting them. Kind of like 5 year olds who have no rational way to focus their anger, so they lash out at the most convenient target.
The same goes for those who target any subset of people. It makes no difference whether you are a white devil or any other group. There are people in the business of marginalizing you in order to make money. Talk, while despicable is one thing. Actions that hurt people for any reason are not carried out by the rational folks in the population. Culling the violent from our society is the job of law enforcement.
Comment by Plutocrat03 Tuesday, Aug 14, 12 @ 11:23 am
===crazy people who get the notion that someone who is different is somehow hurting them===
Gee. And all I did was point out that maybe Walsh might possibly be giving these lunatics a notion. Glad to see you agree.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Aug 14, 12 @ 11:29 am
Wordslinger and Northsider already covered it.
We have a situation where many people of faith are understandably becoming afraid of what might happen to them in their place of worship. No one should ever feel that way in the United States and it is a terrible stain on our country. Religious freedom has been the one thing we really do right.
Every single candidate, elected official, police chief, teacher, person of faith, NRA member, or concerned citizen should be condemning these actions, reaching out to those affected and actively working to change our culture.
That Walsh is instead out there fanning the fire reveals a truly cold-blooded and unpatriotic character.
Comment by Dan Bureaucrat Tuesday, Aug 14, 12 @ 11:33 am
@Plutocrat03 -
Sorry, but it was Walsh who politicized the issue when he made his notorious remarks at a campaign event.
Walsh went even further, blaming “political correctness” for the festering threat of terrorism.
Well, now folks in the Chicago suburbs are engaging in some pretty politically incorrect behavior.
Congrats Congressman. You got your wish.
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Tuesday, Aug 14, 12 @ 11:53 am
The Joe Walsh ad is interesting. My girlfriend who knows a bit about politics but didn’t connect the dots asked if he was a Democrat or a Republican after watching the ad. She realized who it was when I went into it. Very mild ad.
Comment by Anon Tuesday, Aug 14, 12 @ 12:04 pm
Nice ad. If that were all you knew about Joe Walsh, you might vote for him. But I think Tammy Duckworth has done a pretty good job of letting people know who he is and what he stands for.
Comment by Soccermom Tuesday, Aug 14, 12 @ 12:08 pm
It was 20 people who performed the attacks and most of them came from 1/ONE country—a country that we share a very close relationship due to our interest in oil. People need to get over it and stop blaming it on normal Muslims. It’s too bad that it is so easy to capitalize on people’s ignorance in this country.
Comment by Belle Tuesday, Aug 14, 12 @ 12:13 pm
So if you don’t believe that there are bad people plotting to do harm to the people of this country, then why do we have a Department of Homeland Security or TSA who make our live miserable? We can save a ton of money and time if we don’t need them.
Was or was not Sen. Lieberman ‘Startled’ by the Pentagon’s Failure to Mention ‘Islamist Terrorism’ In Report on Ft. Hood Massacre? Was there not a lot of discussion about political correctness having a link to that massacre?
I get it, most of you don’t like Walsh and will be happy to see him gone. However it is petty politics to try to blame him for the acts of a number of nutters.
Comment by pluocrat03 Tuesday, Aug 14, 12 @ 12:57 pm
Leni Riefenstahl produced some of the greatest documentary films of her time, but it didn’t mean her subject matter was acceptable. This ad is a video novella. A nicely produced capture of an image that is not, in fact, Joe Walsh. Joe Walsh is the one screaming at the constituent, pushing the fear button regarding Islamic terrorists, and calling the President ’son.’ It’s a sad state of affairs that we have to actually demonstrate any modicum of respect for this man just because he happened to land in Congress. He’s due only the respect he gives, and that, we know, is bupkis.
Comment by Springfieldish Tuesday, Aug 14, 12 @ 1:06 pm
Correlation is not causation.
Rich this is your 2nd report of these shameful crimes. Stating that Walsh might be giving lunatics a notion, yet hiding behind your opening statement disclaimer comes off as hypocritical.
Does anyone have any evidence linking these crimes to Walsh? Did the suspects attend a townhall? Do the suspects even live in Walsh’s district?
Comment by Allen Skillicorn Tuesday, Aug 14, 12 @ 1:32 pm
Allen, my point is that responsible leaders don’t talk like idiots on the street corner.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Aug 14, 12 @ 1:35 pm
Lunatics and pranksters do not pick targets at random. The culture in which they swim tells them who the “prey” are — the weak, the marginalized. Anyone who marginalized a group of people — e.g., Muslims — with their rhetoric contributes to that culture. You do not have to draw a direct link between Walsh and these specific incidents. By his rhetoric he has helped create the culture, and is guilty for his actions.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Aug 14, 12 @ 1:59 pm
Dear Allen:
As caught on tape:
“I’m looking for some godly men and women in the Senate, in the Congress, who will stand in the face of the danger of Islam in America without political correctness,” the man said. “Islam is not the peaceful, loving religion we hear about.”
The line was met with applause.
Walsh responded by asserting that radical Muslims are “trying to kill Americans every week,” and that “it’s not a matter of ‘if’ – it’s a matter of ‘when’” a 9/11-like attack will happen again.
Joe Walsh had the same opportunity afforded to Senator McCain to confront fear mongering bigotry among his own supporters.
Instead, Walsh rallied the lynch mob.
Then, he went on to essentially accuse anyone who suggests that anti-Muslim rhetoric is inappropriate is essentially coddling terrorism.
I don’t know where the Walsh campaign thinks its heading. I won’t be shocked to see ads attempting to link Duckworth to terrorists by the time this one ends, ala Bernie Stone.
But if anyone on Walsh’s staff has any sense, they sent Dold their resume yesterday.
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Tuesday, Aug 14, 12 @ 2:06 pm
Criticizing Walsh for comments = Fair play
Suggesting than he encouraged criminal hate crimes witout evidence is bit over the top in my book. This is no different than certain ‘journalists’ trying to link the joker or Gabby Giffords shooter to a political group.
Comment by Allen Skillicorn Tuesday, Aug 14, 12 @ 2:33 pm
The point with Walsh is he spent 2.5 years running around as a tea party guy trashing republicans and conservatives like mccain who had been fighting the wars back when he was whatever he was politically in the 1990s, and then when it comes time to run on who you are he becomes bob dold or mark kirk. That ad, running from his tea party label, is as much of an indictment of who he is as any of his goofiness or child support issues.
If you’re going to post this stuff about how awful these attacks on muslims are you should use the space to challenge their elected officials to give them the same support they give jewish groups and synagogues when they have issues with anti-semtisim or security concerns so that this stuff doesn’t happen more.
Comment by Shore Tuesday, Aug 14, 12 @ 2:36 pm
I didn’t know Walsh was looking for “godly men and women” to stand up against Islam.
Wow, the irony is too much.
Comment by Grandson of Man Tuesday, Aug 14, 12 @ 2:40 pm
@Skillicorn -
You are correct legally that there is no evidence indicating that Walsh’s comments were the “proximate and actual cause” of the attacks.
But just because he isn’t responsible legally doesn’t mean that he shouldn’t be held responsible socially, morally and politically…
…just as we highlight and condemn the bigoted fear mongering of foreign leaders, political and religious.
Because we KNOW that extremists will take that hateful speech as a call to action and promise of amnesty for grievous acts.
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Tuesday, Aug 14, 12 @ 2:53 pm
–Do the suspects even live in Walsh’s district?–
I’m trying very hard to figure out why that would matter.
The remarks were shown on every TV news show in the metro area and covered extensively by the Trib, Sun-Time and Daily Herald, as well as many Internet news sites.
A Congressman says Muslims are here in the United States and in the area trying to kill you every week. Are you supposed to check your Congressional map before bugging out?
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Aug 14, 12 @ 3:12 pm
=== A Congressman says Muslims are here in the United States and in the area trying to kill you every week. Are you supposed to check your Congressional map before bugging out? ===
LOL
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Wednesday, Aug 15, 12 @ 8:44 am
=== I was wondering why Rich never takes any of Bobby Rushs ramblings so seriously or maybe Danny Davis. Plummer and Walsh seem to get alot of attention when long term goofs like Davis Rush Schankowsy get coddled or ignored seems like Madigans mouth piece is doing a good job. ===
I was wondering why FED UP doesn’t start his own blog?
And what, BTW, do Davis, Rush or Schakowsky have to do with Madigan?
If you’re so fed up, I suggest you run against Davis, Rush or Schakowsky…when they have a serious political race, they’ll likely get more coverage from political reporters.
In case you haven’t noticed, there’s not much coverage of Roskam, Biggert or Shimkus here either.
YDD
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Wednesday, Aug 15, 12 @ 8:52 am