Sen. Boxer Recalls Award to Muslim Activist

[ProgressiveMuslim]

Sen. Barbara Boxer recalled an award she recently gave to an Islamic activist because of his ties to a major American Muslim organization—that critics say has ties to terrorist activities.
WEB EXCLUSIVE
By Michael Isikoff and Mark Hosenball
Newsweek
Updated: 5:08 p.m. ET Dec 29, 2006
Dec. 29, 2006 - In a highly unusual move, Sen. Barbara Boxer of California has rescinded an award to an Islamic activist in her home state because of the man’s connections to a major American Muslim organization that recently has been courted by leading political figures and even the FBI.

Boxer’s office confirmed to NEWSWEEK that she has withdrawn a “certificate of accomplishment” to Sacramento activist Basim Elkarra after learning that he serves as an official with the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR). After directing her staff to look into CAIR, Boxer “expressed concern” about some past statements and actions by the group, as well as assertions by some law enforcement officials that it “gives aid to international terrorist groups,” according to Natalie Ravitz, the senator’s press spokeswoman.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16384987/site/newsweek/

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Explain to me again how Dems are different than neocons?

[cali]

1. I don't know the details of the story,

but Barbara Boxer is far from being a neocon. Here are some of the differences: She voted against the IWR. She's voted against bushco's extremist judicial appointment. She is strongly pro-environment and pro-choice. That's just off the top of my head. If you can't see the difference between a liberal democrat like Boxer and the neocons, I'd suggest that you're not looking very accurately.

[ProgressiveMuslim]

3. My point is that many, many liberal democrats

swallow the neo-con line on "Islam" hook, line and sinker.

We need to not only get out of Iraq, but re-think our entire foreign policy in the Middle East, as well as grow in our understanding of Islam.

When the "good guys" behavior in the same stupid knee-jerk fashion as the idiots in power, we're all in trouble.

[cali]

4. I disagree. Yes, some dems clearly do swallow the neocon

foreign policy line, including the neocon line on Islam, but many, in fact, the majority do not. And how do you know that Boxer does? As I said, she voted against the IWR; that's a pretty clear indication that she doesn't buy into the stupid neocon line about worldwide caliphate, and the evil Islamic threat. And I don't know enough about this particular instance to make a judgement about Boxer's motives, but if she is being unjust, I suspect it has a lot more to do with typical politician behavior and her constituency than it does with swallowing the neocon line. Your charaterization of her behavior as the same as the idiots in power, in the face of her record, is a little bit odd.

[roody]

2. She contested the 2004 presidential "vote."

Nevertheless she is still a politician, and this may not be justified. Maybe she does not want to be declared an enemy combatant.

[meti57b]

5. About two years ago, Barbara Boxer introduced the "Count Every Vote Act" for voter-verified ...

paper ballots. She did some tough questioning of Condoleeza Rice for her confirmation hearings.

In appreciation, DU members (and probably some others) took up a collection and sent her several thousand roses. She is certainly not a neocon.

[madrchsod]

6. there`s not much difference when it comes to muslims in the usa

i just went thru the anti-cair site and other links i dug out of that site. the anti cair site has nothing on it that tells the reader who is behind the site but a few clicks and i found the same assholes that we all love-little green footballs and their friends at pj media and other well known anti arab/muslims pro israeli sites.
funny how things change so fast when someone makes a phone call

[ProgressiveMuslim]

10. There's really not much difference at all.

I see very few Democrats using their noodles when it comes to the Middle East (beyong "bring our troops home" which some are now saying b/c it's politically expendient!)

Loved it when Dem leaders smacked Carter's hand as well.

[enfield collector]

7. maybe as a woman she objects to the mysogenistic treatment

of women by most Islamic leaders?

[Telly Savalas]

8. I kind of doubt that's the rationale here.

If it were, she would have mentioned it. (Unless you hold the position that Sen. Boxer lacks the courage to say what she thinks --- something I strongly disagree with)

Even if we accept the unplausible theory that Boxer is too much of a coward to admit her real reasons, do you have any evidence to suggest that CAIR is a proponent of the misogyny advocated by radical fundamentalists? Or are you just basing this on the same general Islamophobia which currently drives U.S. foreign policy?

Based on the article, it looks like the good Senator may have made a mistake here. Granted there's quite a bit of gray area here, so the article may not be giving the most accurate picture, so I'll withhold judgement until I read more about it.

[progressivebydesign]

9. A box from CAIR (felt like a book) was delivered by mistake to my house.

I looked their site up to contact them so I could send it back... It was addressed to someone else, but at my address. Which is wierd, because we're only the second owners of this house and the other people were not the name on the box. I emailed them and asked them how I should send it back, etc., but they never responded (which I thought was totally RUDE!). So I wrote.. not at this address all over it and gave it back to the Post office.

I looked up more about the group online and saw that some people think that CAIR is a terrorist group or something.. their site just looked like a group that fosters Islamic/American discourse... and had very reputable people involved.

The sad thing is that I freaked out when I found out what the group was, after getting the book, because we've all grown so paranoid and I was worried that suddenly Homeland Security would descend upon my house because of that goddamn package being delivered there... I got very tin foil over it and couldn't get it out of my house fast enough! The person it was addressed to did not appear in any local phone book.. it was really odd. What has America become that we're so afraid of stupid shit like that???

[Hatalles]

11. Did you open it?

My guess is it was either a copy of the Qur'an or a DVD about Muhammad's life. CAIR was offering either of these for free, to people who requested it through their website. I'm not sure if they still have this program going.

[Hatalles]

14. I think her inbox was hammered w/ e-mails from the anti-Muslim hordes on the internet...

... and she was pressured into making this rather stupid move. There is a concerted effort going on in this country to marginalize and slander any prominent Muslim American individuals and/or organizations.

Boxer has had strong constant support from the Muslim American community here in California.

[shance]

12. This is just ridiculous. The racism and cowardice is amazing.

God help this country and hopefully that we can recruit better leaders in the future.

[Hatalles]

13. That's Basim Elkarra on the left...

I sent a letter to Senator Boxer. I'm incredibly disappointed in her.