Ellison Challenges Bachmann: Put Up or Shut Up

A few weeks back, the sensation-seeking Representative Michele
Bachmann did her best imitation of the late Senator Joseph McCarthy. She and
four of her Congressional colleagues released letters they had collectively sent
to the Inspectors General of the Departments of State, Justice, Defense, and
Homeland Security, and the Office of the Directorate of National Intelligence
calling on them to investigate whether "influence operations conducted by
individuals and organizations associated with the Muslim Brotherhood" have "had
an impact on the federal government's national security policies."

Warning of "determined efforts by the Muslim Brotherhood to
penetrate and subvert the American government as part of its 'civilizational
jihad'" the representatives wanted the Inspectors General to identify the
Muslims who were influencing U.S. policy.

In making these charges, Bachmann and her cohorts were relying on
the work of a Washington-based group the Center for Security Policy - a
notorious player in the anti-Muslim industry that has been working for several
years to smear Muslim American groups. The head of the Center served as one of
Bachmann's advisers during her ill-fated run for the presidency and the only
source cited in the Congressional letters was the Center's "training program"
"The Muslim Brotherhood in America: The Enemy Within."

The evidence the Congressmen present to back up their ominous
warnings is, at best, slight—in some cases, creating a "straw man" out of a
single reed of straw. For example, Representative Gohmert points accusingly to
the fact that "this administration continues to bow down before groups
associated with the goal of 'destroying Western civilization from within'" - by
which he means that the Administration apologized to Muslims in the
Qur'an-burning incident in Afghanistan. This, he suggests, must be due to the
administration's "continued meetings" with Muslim groups, which has blinded them
to the threat these Muslims pose to our "ability to protect ourselves."

In other instances the evidence reads more like a "six degrees of
separation game." Using this trick, Bachmann and the Center point accusing
fingers at some Muslims who serve in the administration. Among those who were
singled out by name is Huma Abedin, Deputy Chief of Staff to Secretary of State
Hilary Clinton.

In the case of Abedin, the game goes from absurd, to downright
bizarre. Her father and mother are Muslim and her father taught at a Muslim
university in Saudi Arabia, and so they must be...(fill in the blank). In one
article inspired by the Center's work that appeared in the Washington Times, a
right-wing newspaper, questions are asked as to whether Abedin "had been groomed
to access movers and shakers to advance the cause of Islam in America." The
article goes on to question whether Abedin's marriage to a Jewish Member of
Congress was but a clever ruse designed to further this "Islamist agenda." The
evidence? Since Abedin is a Muslim why else would her family have approved of
her marrying a non-Muslim? And, after all, she works for Clinton and Obama, who
share, the article says, the "socialist agenda, which includes domination of the
U.S. by a Muslim-ruled world!"

What is so intriguing about conspiracy-minded loonies is how their
rhetorical charges and the gravity of the threat they see continues to grow each
time they speak. Not to disappoint, Bachmann's paranoia gives evidence of this
trait. In a recent interview in which she discussed her effort, she explained,
"it appears that there has been deep penetration in the halls of our United
States government by the Muslim Brotherhood...it appears that there are
individuals associated with the Muslim Brotherhood who have very sensitive
positions in our Department of Justice, Department of Homeland Security...I am
calling [for an investigation] to see who these people are and what access they
have to our information."

As outrageous as all this behavior may be, the letters and the
charges generated very little media attention, but that doesn't mean that they
can be dismissed, for two main reasons: the five, though all a bit loony, hold
positions of influence on key Congressional committees; and despite the fact
that the source of the "evidence" cited in the Congressional letters is the
pernicious Muslim-bashing Center for Security Policy,"witch hunts" if let
unchecked can ruin lives and damage reputations.

Let's look first at the five Members of Congress who signed the
letters: Representatives Bachmann, Tom Rooney, and Lynn Westmoreland all sit on
the Select Committee on Intelligence, while Representatives Trent Franks and
Louis Gohmert are members of the Judiciary Committee. With the exception of
Bachmann, all hold leadership positions, either within their respective
committees or in the House Republican caucus.

As an example of the potential this group might have to influence
policy, this week the powerful Chairman of the House Select Committee on
Intelligence, Mike Rogers speaking on a radio program hosted by the head of the
Center called Bachman's campaign to "root out" Muslims "very important" noting
that she is "taking the lead" on this issue.

As was the case during the McCarthy era, "witch-hunts" have victims
and not only in jobs lost and careers ruined. Equally troubling is the distress
that campaigns of this sort can bring to those not named, but who live in fear
that their religion or their ethnicity will be the reason that they will be held
in suspicion, denied a position, or held back from advancement. And as I know
from bitter personal experience, it can result in entire communities being
shunned by officials who fear being attacked for associating with a group that
has been smeared as "dangerous." Because there is a scarcity of courageous
leaders in Washington, all too often the "witch hunts" will fester, taking a
terrible toll before being challenged and defeated.

It is for this reason that I am so thankful that the wise voters of
Minnesota's 5th Congressional District sent Keith Ellison to Congress. He is
smart, picking his fights carefully. He is principled and courageous, venturing
forth on matters that others tend to shy away from. And his wise counsel and
thoughtful approach to issues has earned him the respect of his colleagues.

Ellison demonstrated his leadership this week when he directly
challenged the sensation-seeking Islamophobe, Representative Michele Bachmann.
In a stern letter to Bachmann and company, Ellison asks that she provide his
"office with a full accounting of the sources you used to make the serious
allegations against the individuals and organizations in your letters. If there
is not credible, substantial evidence for your allegations, I sincerely hope you
will publicly clear their names."

Washington Watch