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RedditSome pundits have intelligent things to say, even if now and then they let their emotions step all over their better judgment. Some pundits have little or nothing intelligent to say, and they bask in the spotlight that shines on provocateurs and rabble-rousers. Still other pundits are just loud-mouths, like Sean Hannity of Fox News.
But there is one pundit in class by himself. That would be Frank Gaffney, president of the Center for Security Policy, a right-wing thinktank, and columnist for the Moonie-owned Washington Times. Gaffney might very well be insane. Want evidence? His latest column in the Times, entitled: "The Jihadist Vote."
Gaffney starts with the premise that there is a well-coordinated effort by assorted evildoers -- from the Muslim Brotherhood, the Wahhabis, jihadists of all kinds -- to take over the United States. Their vehicle? You guessed it: Barack Obama. "The next three weeks afford the American people -- and the media, the courts, and the FEC -- an opportunity to get to the bottom of Barack Obama's ties to and affinity for jihadists," he writes.
Before I get into the specifics of Gaffney's deranged charges -- charges, I should add, which are consistent with Gaffney's long history of making extremist accusations -- let me say that it is also true that Gaffney can get away with this nonsense because of the climate of fear, hatred, and racism that has been created by John McCain and Sarah Palin's despicable campaign tactics. (Note, for instance, the proliferation of signs, buttons, and other paraphernalia in McCain campaign events reading: "Obama Bin Lyin'.")
But Gaffney ventures deep into woo-woo territory.
According to Gaffney, conspirators from the Muslim Brotherhood have provided the Obama campaign with up to $100 million in clandestine donations. He writes:
"A Federal Election Commission (FEC) employee has reportedly been warning for months about evidence that the Obama campaign has received as much as $200 million almost half of his total donations, in amounts less than $200. ..."Of the $200 million, between $30 million and $100 million are from the Mideast, Africa and other places Islamists are active. It is unclear whether - as seems likely - these funds come not only from Wahhabis, Muslim Brotherhood types and jihadists of other stripes but from non-U.S. citizens."
It gets better:
"There is evidence Mr. Obama was born in Kenya rather than, as he claims, Hawaii. There is also a registration document for a school in Indonesia where the would-be president studied for four years, on which he was identified not only as a Muslim but as an Indonesian."
And this:
"Its 'Arab-Americans for Obama' effort is recruiting Muslim Brotherhood elements to enhance turnout, the Obama campaign is trolling for voters in problematic places. Some are felons in prison systems long used by Islamists as centers for recruiting converts to their causes."
Are you scared yet? You'd better be, because these secretive Obama supporters -- many of whom live in "Washington's northern Virginia suburbs, the heart of what has been dubbed the 'Wahhabi corridor'" -- have plans for you, says Gaffney:
"The change his Islamist supporters have in mind is for global theocratic rule under Shariah, and the end of our constitutional, democratic government."
Uh oh.
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Robert Dreyfuss
A chronicle of America's adventures in foreign policy and national security.
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As the political winds shift...
look for maybe REDRIVER/RIOBRAVO, maybe even LVLIB or SJCHERMAK...
to become the Right-wing version of RESE and PLUNGER and start in with this kind of nuttiness if Obama wins.
Posted by Maskdelta at 10/14/2008 @ 09:06am
wow. thats some pretty crazy stuff...
Posted by dexter666 at 10/14/2008 @ 09:43am
How is any of this more deranged John McCain saying "[Palin] knows more about energy than probably anyone in the United States of America." (Got this off slate.com.) Now *that's* seriously deranged - unless, of course, McCain has hidden depths of sarcasm.
Posted by asian_observer at 10/14/2008 @ 09:49am
Obama also reportedly helped train the staff of a high-ranking ACORN leader Madeline Talbott, later arrested for heading up a disruptive confrontation between ACORN protesters and the Chicago City Council.
Posted by RedRiver_. at 10/14/2008 @ 09:58am
Right, uh-huh, sure, Obama is responsible for the conduct of every single person with whom he ever came in contact...Ayers, Talbott, the nutjob he sat next to on the subway...
Posted by Balrog at 10/14/2008 @ 11:00am
Gaffney, Jesuit Georgetown grad, Reagan Pentagon mandarin, Perle protegé, AIPAC asset, Moonie mouthpiece, Mellon Scaife beneficiary ...
... where's the surprise?
Another well-paid pusher of the big lie.
Posted by sloper at 10/14/2008 @ 11:01am
redriver-What you're saying is that anyone who trains someone is responsible for that persons actions?Was that,really,supposed to make sense coming from the party of personal responsibility?
Posted by i'm nobody at 10/14/2008 @ 11:09am
redrver-Do you have anything relevant to the topic to post or is silly nonsense all that you have?
Posted by i'm nobody at 10/14/2008 @ 11:36am
In the pop star Madonna's concerts she has a giant video screen where images of Barack Obama are juxtaposed with images of Ghandi, and then images of John McCain are juxtaposed with images of Adolf Hitler. I don't remember hearing any liberals say this was way out line. Did McCain commit genocide and murder millions? Is comparing John McCain to Adolf Hitler okay with the Obama supporters??
There have been posts on the Daily Kos accusing McCain of lying about the torture he received while a prisoner in Vietnam and even some posts calling him a traitor. There are anti-semitic posts on both the Daily Kos, MoveOn.org, and Huffington Post sites that are never removed or responded to by the owners of these sites. When Joe Lieberman ran for senator there was vile anti-semitic rhetoric on these sites and there have been postings accusing the Jews for the current economic crisis.
Before getting upset about all the Obama smears perhaps the left needs to stop smearing McCain and put a stop to the rabid anti-Israel and anti-semitic postings on their websites. For some reason it's wrong to smear Obama but okay to smear everyone else the left does not agree with.
Lies and tearing down people is wrong, no matter what color, religion, or political party. The politics of personal destruction are being practiced by both sides and BOTH need to stop.
Posted by deksoft at 10/14/2008 @ 11:53am
"Posted by Maskdelta at 10/14/2008 @ 09:06am | ignore this person | warn this person"
I think Ponti will be very hurt that you left him out.
Posted by brunowe at 10/14/2008 @ 11:59am
deksoft-The stuff you mentioned is wrong,but I have seen people on the left condemn such things and confront those who post anti Semitic idiocy,etc,but,as can be seen on here and other sites,it is quite rare for people on the right to condemn such things.Just look on the boards here about McCain/Palin rallies.In fact,you are the first to call for halt to it and I applaud you for it.
Posted by i'm nobody at 10/14/2008 @ 12:13pm
gupdog-The AIP and groups they are connected to are anti America and vote for McCain/Palin.Sorry to bring reality into the discussion.
Posted by i'm nobody at 10/14/2008 @ 12:15pm
Posted by GupDog at 10/14/2008 @ 12:11pm
I think "ignorant dumb-ass" covers this
Posted by deksoft at 10/14/2008 @ 11:53am
While not defending Madonna's actions, I think the point was the right has become the "torch and pitchfork" crowd and the left the voice of calm and reason.
http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/10/10/1529529.aspx
Posted by leftofcenter at 10/14/2008 @ 12:16pm
Posted by brunowe at 10/14/2008 @ 11:59am
True...and of course I left out GupDog.
But thanks to RIO/RED for proving my point!
heheh
Posted by Maskdelta at 10/14/2008 @ 12:23pm
BTW, RIO/RED....
"ACORN" is a dead issue.
McCain attended an ACORN event in 2006.
Posted by Maskdelta at 10/14/2008 @ 12:24pm
madonna's cheesy....
Posted by frosty zoom at 10/14/2008 @ 12:34pm
It would be difficult for politicians to reach national status without some skeletons in their closets. Ambition will top character where money and power are concentrated. Selfishness and greed both personal and group are humanity's Achilles heel. A totally moral individual would have a hard time persisting in today's U.S. Congress, especially since politics is organized crime and Congress is disorganized crime.
Posted by Cookie at 10/14/2008 @ 12:49pm
Ease up, Guppie. Those chimps had just returned from a Madonna concert. What exactly were you expecting?
Posted by MyParadigm at 10/14/2008 @ 12:51pm
gupdog-There are better ways to get attention than to post moronic stupidity on here.I'm sorry that you did not get enough attention as a child,but you can get help so that you can learn to get attention in more positive ways.
Posted by i'm nobody at 10/14/2008 @ 12:56pm
When are we going to take a stance against aggressive Neo-con destruction of truth and facts for the purpose of an American coup using fear and lies to suppress citizens.
Take back your communities, cities and then your State from this insanity of the ultra conservative evil.
Don't be apathetic, Good luck fellow Americans
Posted by WildWest at 10/14/2008 @ 1:09pm
If any of you are skilled at making presentable additions to Wikipedia, Frank Gaffney's article doesn't seem to give any indication of how hostile, incendiary, libelous, some of his writings are.... if ya catch my drift.
Posted by dniete97 at 10/14/2008 @ 1:22pm
this is why no decent self respecting individual would ever consider putting themselves or their family thru the media meat grinder.----Posted by GupDog at 10/14/2008 @ 12:55pm
Wow, pretty harsh....calling GEORGE W. BUSH, JOHN MCCAIN, and ....RONALD REAGAN...."indecent" and "lacking self-respect"!!!!!
Posted by Maskdelta at 10/14/2008 @ 1:39pm
Deksoft what is the answer then? Yes the bigotry and slanderous prejudice on both sides is abhorrent. For my part it takes a concerted effort of will to raise my voice against those on the Left who are engaged in these tactics. Why? Because I remember what happened to Liberal Progressives when we tried to take the high road. Look what happened to Kerry or Max Cleland. I still remember right up to the end thinking " this can't be happening."Besides try to have an intellectual conversation and you are branded elitist. So what is the answer? It just seems like this time the Left was ready. The kooks on the Left are just as bad as the Kooks on the Right they just have more of them. At least this time we are not getting our butts kicked. This does not bode well for the future of intelligent discussion. We'll worry about that tomorrow. Today I will look forward to the prospect that on Nov. 5 I will actually see some of the people I voted for win thier election.
Posted by bascaville at 10/14/2008 @ 2:58pm
PLEASE REALISE that GupDog always post on sites that he sees favourable to Obama. He will always be negative and his talking points are from the esteemed Corsi. I would argure that he is one and the same person living in Indonesia spreading what ever comes to his mind.
Posted by hassia at 10/14/2008 @ 4:05pm
I have long hoped that when a jerk is called a jerk because of his actions and words he might understand he is being called a jerk BECAUSE HE IS ONE and not because he is tall or short, fat or skinny, blond or bald, or white or brown or black.
Today we see so much "political correctness" what's being said is 'pap'.
Posted by tucanofulano at 10/14/2008 @ 4:27pm
Frank Gaffney has been a raging nut for years in the Pentagon. Tactical nukes, ballistic missile defense, Israel, you name it, if it is dollars for the defense industry he supports it. He found some traction in Ronnie's presidency and more with his alter ego Richard Perle in Georgie's administration. Reasonable men have been blowing him off for years.
Posted by regis18 at 10/14/2008 @ 4:35pm
I wonder what Gaffney thinks of this:
"William Timmons, the Washington lobbyist who John McCain has named to head his presidential transition team, aided an influence effort on behalf of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein to ease international sanctions against his regime.
The two lobbyists who Timmons worked closely with over a five year period on the lobbying campaign later either pleaded guilty to or were convicted of federal criminal charges that they had acted as unregistered agents of Saddam Hussein's government.
During the same period beginning in 1992, Timmons worked closely with the two lobbyists, Samir Vincent and Tongsun Park, on a previously unreported prospective deal with the Iraqis in which they hoped to be awarded a contract to purchase and resell Iraqi oil. Timmons, Vincent, and Park stood to share at least $45 million if the business deal went through.
Timmons' activities occurred in the years following the first Gulf War, when Washington considered Iraq to be a rogue enemy state and a sponsor of terrorism."
Posted by Balrog at 10/14/2008 @ 6:41pm
Posted by Cookie at 10/14/2008 @ 12:49pm
I think that's why Jimmy Carter had a hard time. I'm not saying he was totally moral but he might have been the closest. Squeaky clean don't cut it in Washington, D.C.
Posted by k330k at 10/14/2008 @ 8:49pm
Posted by Balrog at 10/14/2008 @ 6:41pm
Makes one wonder what secrets died with saddam.
Posted by Malcontent at 10/14/2008 @ 9:49pm
I'm confused, is Obama going to introduce Shariah law and make the women wear burkhas in the name of jihad? Or is he going to legalize LSD and dismantle the military in the name of the weathermen? Seems to me that Farrakhan and Ayers don't have much in common. Anyway, it doesn't make that much difference to me, just as long as they take away your guns. (Please, Obama, please take away their guns!)
Posted by takemyveepplease at 10/14/2008 @ 11:24pm
As I have often said, if the mythic jack booted thugs come to take your guns awa(and historically they will likely be right wing nationalists, not lefty gun control freaks)they won't go for the Liberals who, if they own guns like I do, are low profile about it. Nope, they will go for the NRA membership list. I mean why not? They could break down doors for weeks before they found a Liberal stash. Why work that hard? They know the wingers have guns and Wayne LaPierre has their e-mails, addresses and phone numbers.
Makes me glad I was never much of a joiner.
Posted by Pogge at 10/14/2008 @ 11:58pm
RedRiver, you are spewing nonsense.
Obama has a stellar history of being involvved with community organization, he never said he never did work with ACORN, he was establishing the fact that ACORN was not running his campaign, that his campaign was not responsible in any way for certain ACORN employees' unlawful and immoral behavior.
What you basically said was that from 1993-2003, Obama started building a network within ACORN to ensure that he wins the presidential election in 1998. There is no evidence of a mass conspiracy such as the one you are basically saying happened with ACORN or any other organization that aims to register people who are traditionally underrepresented.
Politics is about reality, not innuendo, grow the eff up.
Posted by freeminded at 10/15/2008 @ 05:43am
As for the future of political discourse in this country, let's keep in mind that what motivates voters to vote isn't just reason, nor will what influences voters the most ever be reason.
There are those who are swayed more by reasoned arguments than others. Our beliefs are often shaped around our emotions, so emotionally charged political ads and accusations will always be prevalent in politics no matter where you are in the world. If the Right is gonna blast the Left with this tactic the Left should respond in like manner.
Any party that doesn't try to sway voters by appealing to voters' emotion will not win as many elections as it should based on how people THINK about the issues. People have been agreeing with Democrats on many issues for a long ass time and still often hesitate to vote for Democrats because Republicans have made us out to be psycho liberal commie gay loving moral degenerates. For Democrats to not use similar tactics against Republicans is stupid, it's not taking the low road necessarily as long as you don't lie I think. It's pointless to deny the reality of human nature and cognition; emotion plays a role, us Democrats should always keep that in mind and use it to our advantage when we wage campaigns.
Posted by freeminded at 10/15/2008 @ 05:53am
RedRiver, you are spewing nonsense.---------Posted by freeminded at 10/15/2008 @ 05:43am
You must be new.
heheh
Posted by Maskdelta at 10/15/2008 @ 09:19am
Posted by lvliberty1 at 10/15/2008 @ 12:23pm | ignore this person | warn this person
Any indication that Obama or Biden have said those things? Any campaign ads with "I'm Barack Obama and I approve this ad" on any of that stuff?
Posted by brunowe at 10/15/2008 @ 9:27pm
Does lvliberty (AKA Loony Larry) have a sister?!?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPiuii0Rp8o
Posted by Lillian at 10/18/2008 @ 1:50pm
The McCain-Palin mob
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjxzmaXAg9E
Posted by Lillian at 10/18/2008 @ 2:01pm
Let's take a quick look at the McCain-Palin 'base' shall we...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHrExRHZnm0
Posted by Lillian at 10/18/2008 @ 2:05pm