Obama Employed Farrakhan Followers, Still Has Ties to Radical Islam
Uncategorized February 29th, 2008Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) he would "reject" and "denounce" the support of Nation of Islam leader Minister Louis Farrakhan on Tuesday night when prodded by Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) during a debate. That's all fine and dandy, but it appears Obama has historically hired Farrakhan followers and is currently promoting a link on his campaign website that features "controversial" Islamic organizations.
According to a by political commentator Debbie Schlussel, "[A] former Obama insider says that Obama's sudden aversion to NOI and Farrakhan is belied by the fact that Obama employed and continues to employ several Farrakhan acolytes in high positions on his Illinois and U.S. Senate campaign and office staffs."
Schlussel reported on the Nation of Islam affiliations of Obama staffers well before the recent controversy arose over Farrakhan's unofficial endorsement of Obama. She was careful to note that the anonymous insider who provided her with information about Obama's Farrakhan-allied staffers "is not connected with the Clintons and is not a disgruntled employee," though I'm sure that will be contested by Obama supporters.
"I have verified that this person -- who agreed to talk on the condition of anonymity -- held a key position in the Obama campaign," Schlussel wrote. "The insider was so close to Senator Obama that they frequently personally discussed and exchanged direct e-mail messages on campaign and policy matters."
The anonymous insider told Schlussel that he "frequently objected to Mr. Obama's placement of Cynthia K. Miller, a member of the Nation of Islam, as the Treasurer of his U.S. Senate campaign." When Schlussel contacted Miller to inquire about her relationship with the Nation of Islam, she replied, "None of your business! Where are you going with this?"
Miller told Schlussel that the reason she resigned her position as Treasurer of Obama's U.S. Senate campaign was not due to her involvement in the Nation of Islam, and there's nothing Miller said or Schlussel reported to imply that Obama voiced his objections to her membership in the controversial organization.
The Penginator's note: There is no direct connection between Cynthia K. Miller and Obama appearing in Google search results, but an inquisitive searcher might find the woman in question by using a few distinct key words ... and you might notice something interesting in the search result. (If you're a journalist, email me at to learn more. There's a possible story here that might earn you top billing. Serious inquiries only, please.)
"The Obama insider says he also objected to Obama's involvement with , whom he says is also a member of the Nation of Islam," Schlussel wrote. "Mason is Obama's Director of Constituent Services in his U.S. Senate office and is also in charge of selecting Obama's Senate interns. She did not respond to repeated calls for comment."
Here's the red meat of Schussel's investigation:
"But it's not just that he employed these individuals in positions of power in his office, it's that when the former associate raised objections, he says Mr. Obama's position was that he saw nothing wrong with the Nation of Islam and didn't think it was a problem. If true--and the fact that Ms. Mason still holds her prominent Obama Senate staff position bears that out--Obama's condemnation of Farrakhan, this month, is phony.
"But the insider says there is more to it than that. Obama's Illinois State Senate district consisted of prime Nation of Islam territory, including Hyde Park, home to Farrakhan's mansion. It is not possible, Illinois politicos say, to win that district without the blessing of the NOI leader. NOI members, including consultant Shakir Muhammad, held important roles in the Obama state senate campaign."
to find plenty more examples of Obama surrounding himself with those who espouse the anti-Semitic sentiments of Farrakhan, as well as pictures of Obama partying with his wife, Michelle, and Palestinian Liberation Organization/Arafat Advisor at an Arab fundraiser.
In addition to Schlussel's insight, a Jan. 25, 2008 report by shows that a featured link on Obama's campaign website promotes events sponsored by "contoversial" Islamic groups.
"A of the 'Muslim Americans for Obama' page lists proposals to establish a Muslim American advisory group on U.S. foreign policy; provide prayer areas in public places such as malls, airports, universities and government buildings; institute a law to allow Muslim employees to take time from their work day for prayer; and institute a law against harassment of Muslim women in public areas ...
"But it is a link and a list of events on the Muslim Americans for Obama page that has prompted critics that consider themselves watchdogs of Islamist groups to take notice.
"The list of on the Muslim Americans for Obama page includes voter registration drives at conventions sponsored by the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), held last April and August in Rosemont, Ill., and the convention co-sponsored by the Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA) and the Muslim American Society (MAS)."
Note that the Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA) "is a Jamad Islamia group, which is on record as calling for jihad in the United States, to promote the notion of an Islamic world. ICNA also published something very recently saying that they are against suicide bombings, except when it comes to killing Israelis," according to Middle East anaylst .
Further, , "MAS (Muslim American Society) was incorporated in the state of Illinois, in June of 1993. According to a December 2007 federal court brief concerning convicted terrorist Sabri Benkahla, a former member of the infamous 'Virginia Jihad Network,' 'MAS was founded as the overt arm of the Muslim Brotherhood in America.' [] Amongst its founders was Mohamed Mahdi Akef, who is today the International Chairman of the Brotherhood."
M. Zhudi Jasser, chairman of the American Islamic Forum for Democracy, and a Muslim, told CNSNews.com, "Any candidate that engaged American Islamist organizations without any ideological litmus test about their stances regarding the transnational goals of Islamism, I think that is going to be a major liability." There's merit in Mr. Jasser's warning, Obama, and you'd be wise to consider it.