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| Pipes nomination appears torpedoed |
| 2003-07-23 |
| Washington, DC -- Today after a contentious executive session of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee on the nomination of Daniel Pipes to the board of the U.S. Institute for Peace, the Committee lost a working quorum. Based on an AAI initiative, organizations present agreed that they would send a joint letter to the White House asking that the President withdraw this nominee from consideration. During the Committee’s discussion of the Pipes nomination, it became clear that many of the Senators had questions and concerns regarding whether or not Pipes should serve on the Board of the United States Institute of Peace. The ranking Democratic member, Senator Edward Kennedy, noted his dismay regarding Pipes offensive and alarmist quotes about "brown-skinned" immigrants. Senator Christopher Dodd (D-CT) agreed with Senator Kennedy and stated he was opposed to the Pipes nomination. Those quotes were falsified. Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) recalled poignant stories from his childhood of his immigrant mother. He described her as a devout woman who took pride in her heritage but was fully American. Senator Harkin indicated that he saw no contradiction in one’s being proud of their ethnicity or faith and being American. He added that Cedar Rapids is home to the oldest American mosque and that the community flourishes as an example of religious diversity and co-existence. Senator Harkin went on to express his reservations about Pipes questioning the "enfranchisement" rights and "affluence" of Muslims and called Pipes a "lightning rod". And rampant Islamists take pride in their heritage of jihad, and exterminating all things kaffir. Senator John Warner (R-VA) added that given what he had heard, he had many more questions regarding the nominee and thought that it deserved closer investigation. At one point, Senator Kennedy could be seen leaning over to Committee Chairman Judd Gregg (R-NH) and whispering in his ear before leaving the room. It was at that point that the Committee lost its working quorum. Previously the Committee had approved other nominees without debate and by unanimous consent. "Hey, Judd! You guys lose! If you want a consolation drink, meet me and Walid in the bar around the corner." Following the Committee session, community leaders in attendance from AAI, the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) and the Muslim American Society (MAS) among others agreed to send a joint-letter requesting that President Bush withdraw Pipes’ nomination. "The Senate should have never been put in the difficult position of considering such a controversial candidate. The Administration should withdraw Daniel Pipes nomination. He is clearly unfit to serve on the board of the U.S. Institute of Peace," said AAI Managing Director Jean AbiNader. "Instead, they should nominate one of our puppets, who will continue the fine tradition of lying and spinning and painting our crimes with a rose-tinted brush." |
| Posted by:growler |
| #6 Nah... Kennedy was just recalling the waitress-sandwich assault at La Brasserie he and Dodd pulled... now that was a riot! |
| Posted by: DANEgerus 2003-7-23 11:54:04 PM |
| #5 This is really unfortunate and a victory for the cause of radical Islam. I used to live in MA and I cringe every time I hear gass-bag Ted Kennedy make one of his idiot remarks. Why don't they just nominate James Zogby or some other puppet spokesman of these Muslim propaganda groups if they're not serious about understanding the threats against us? |
| Posted by: Dan 2003-7-23 6:59:37 PM |
| #4 Not Jew-like, Michael, that's Jesse-like |
| Posted by: Frank G 2003-7-23 6:18:16 PM |
| #3 True story re Jean AbiNader: There was a Kuwaiti businessmen's group doing a tour of the US a few months after liberation. It came to attend a luncheon at the Chicago Council of Foreign Relations. At the last moment a delegation of Moroccan businessmen visiting Chicago (unconnected to Kuwaitis) was invited to attend the luncheon, as well. Panic!! Few if any of the Moroccans understood English well enough to benefit from the various speeches and hobnobbing to be done post-luncheon. A Moroccan-American called me and asked to help out in interpreting. No problem. Free lunch and fun. AbiNader spoke, as a rep of his own business consultancy. His Arabic was/is basically nil. As an icebreaker, he told a joke (in English) about 14th St. in DC, or if not that particular street, then another. I don't know DC well, but this section of town was the "redlight district", or as he put it, "a-hiee a-chaa-al-hamra" It doesn't really translate that way in Arabic. (Not to be prudish, but I didn't/don't know the proper term in Arabic for the part of town where the girls hang out) The only Arabic he spoke the whole speech. The joke bombed, thank goodness. Great use of Arabic, Jean!!! Just to let you know, I told the Moroccans at my table you said something stupid that decent people don't repeat. These were rich, hard-working Moroccans and good guys on top of it. SO, Jean, you were clearly unfit to speak at that luncheon. Your dislike of Pipes is commensurate to your love of money and how you can position your "Institute" i.e. business venture to get consultancies. You sound almost Jew-like. BTW, folks, Pipes is Jewish. |
| Posted by: Michael 2003-7-23 4:24:26 PM |
| #2 Since when do NGO's tell the President who he can nominate? Tell these dinks to go jump off a bridge, Dubya. If the comittee wants to nuke him, they can damn well put it on record. |
| Posted by: mojo 2003-7-23 4:09:15 PM |
| #1 Idiot me, I forgot the link. |
| Posted by: growler 2003-7-23 3:04:19 PM |