Having had the opportunity to work as a intern in the office of Speaker of the House J. Dennis Hastert during the summer of 2005, I was fortunate to witness government in action from behind the scenes and my experiences will forever be among the most rewarding of my life.
Speaker Hastert is without question one of the greatest Congressional leaders we have ever had and the professionalism of his staff has created in me a greater sense of responsibility for the way in which I present myself to everybody I meet. I can't help but wish that all Republicans were cast in the mold of Speaker Hastert and his staff, but as I watch the news tonight I am amazed by the backward, ignorant, bigoted comments made by redneck Congressman Virgil Goode (R-VA) and I wish that Speaker Hastert didn't have to be leaving his office in the Capitol during such a low point in the history of the Republican Party.
My specific problems with Congressman Goode's comments involve the despicable way in which he tries to tie the use of the Koran in a Congressional swearing in ceremony to the current threats posed by illegal immigrants. The absolutely absurd notion that the illegal immigrants somehow had anything to do with the election of Mr. Ellison, the newly elected Congressman from Minnesota who happens to be the first Muslim ever elected to the House, shocks and amazes me. The fact is, almost every single illegal immigrant in this country is probably a Catholic.
Another comment made by the Congressman that I found abhorrent was his recollection of an encounter with a constituent who, upon entering his DC office and viewing the Ten Commandments on the wall, asked why he had nothing from the Koran. According to the Congressman, he is a Christian and only supports Christian symbols of God's will for humanity (though he said it in his own slightly dumbed-down way).
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Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Larry
I agree with most of your sentiments. I don't think I would heap such praise on Rep. Hastert. I realize that, having worked with him, you necessarily have some bias there.
But my comment is that at one time or another, nearly ALL republican politicians have tried to tie some Christian principle to some underhanded attack on the other party. The hillbilly from Virginia is only doing what so many other republicans have done, especially in the last 12 years.
2 - BJ
I agree with Larry - Republicans didn't always have ties to the Christian fundamentalists and others on the extreme right wing. My parents were Eisenhower Republicans and were quite dismayed with the contemporary drift of their party. George Bush Sr. was OK by them, but not George the 2nd.
3 - Al Noor Isa
For those of you that are so upset and incensed by Mr Goode's statements.
Please consider this: Name one Muslim country where a christian is elected and is allowed to swear on the bible.
Saudi Arabia does not allow you to carry a bible or have a church.
Islamists want priviliges in christian countries but will not extend the same to christians in their countries. Christians are treated like second class citizens. Their rights are revoked, they are detained, they are treated differently in the courts of law.
This is their favorite quote when they are at a disadvantage "chapter from the Quran entitled Hujjrat (49th chapter,verse 13) which states ' O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other (not that ye may despise (each other).Verily the most honored of you in the sight of God is (he who is) the most righteous of you... '"
To learn more of the hidden face of Islam go here
To read where Allah instructs that infidels "non muslims" be killed!
You will realize that the Muslims are the biggest Xenophobes.
The constitution never took into account that a religion with treason and treacherous beliefs could someday destroy the constitution, the institutions and the very people it set out to defend.
Because the same Allah who is merciful and compassionate and created the human race from a pair also says kill those who do not believe that Muhammed is prophet.
I have seen in my time and read of destruction and death brought about muslims in the past centuries and I cannot but ask this question "If Allah is all powerful and it his wish that the whole world be converted to Islam, then why does he simply not just say "All infidels cease to exist" why all this death, this destruction, this misery, this suffering in homes on both sides of the fence?
Maybe the Muslims need to ask these questions and coexist peacefully around the world with people of different faiths. Mr Goode is only reacting to the times to what he sees going on in Europe.
The bombings in London, The riots in Paris, in Holland. Islam is a cult it is not a religion, there is no expression of freedom, they riot when an imam tells them to, they kill and bomb people when their Imams tell them this is OK in the eyes of Allah.
Someday if an Imam says that the constitution of The United States is in contradiction to the Quran and Allah, these very good muslims will agreewith him and in a heart beat will turn against the constitution and all they have believed. Historical Islam is different from contemporary Islam, the history of the Moor empires of Spain,and others were written by Islamic scholars who wrote to make Islam seem like a paradise. I have lived in Northern nigeria and seen the hypocrisy and corruption by learned muslims and christians alike,but the savagery of muslims towards christians is without parallel.
The attacks on christians by muslims, burning churches and destroying lives is unprecedented in countries in which they are majority. Mankind is against genocide in any form. Islam revels in genocide. Christians do not plant bombs on trains, and kill innocent civilians muslims do in the the name of Allah. They say God is Great and then they say Bis Mil Illahi which means in the name of God this is supposed to make good in the eyes of God their heinous acts, because they have performed it in his name. There is a judgement day reserved for these evil people.
Oh yeah and all the good muslims in the western world give money as charity to the imams who send it to train terrorists int he koranic schools the world over. Christian charities are not for christians alone. Islamic charities are for muslims. Look at all the hotspots and you will see muslims fighting the people. Kashmir they kill innocent Hindu people, they kill people going to work on trains in Mumbai, in Spain, in Russia, in France, In Lebanon, In Israel,In Sudan.
The evidence is out there, they need ot convert to christianity and learn the true meaning of the love of God and the love of their neighbour.
Muslims are not good neighbours.
4 - Brian
Larry and BJ, I agree with both your sentiments regarding the propensity of Republican politicians to pander to the extreme elements of the party. I too would much prefer George Sr. to W, and I think that because of the results of the recent elections we are going to witness a shift in the priorities of the party back towards the center as we enter the 2008 campaign. I personally think that Rudi Giuliani represents the best opportunity for the more moderate-minded elements of the GOP to recapture control from the Christian Coalition. We are hurting for a more intellectually nuanced approach to matters of domestic policy, as opposed to the moralistic right/wrong approach of W.
I really appreciate both of your comments, this is my first posting on Blog Critics and it is exciting to start receiving feedback.
5 - Brian
Al Noor Isa, I understand completely how your experience in Islamic countries has created within you such an impassioned perspective on Muslim culture, but I can't help but take issue with a few things you have said...
First, Congressman Goode wasn't talking about the Muslims living in other countries, he was talking about Muslims in America. As far as I know, there have been numerous fatwah's issued against the "great enemy"- the United States, and there aren't too many American Muslims jumping to answer Allah's call. I agree with you that the situation in Europe is much more tenuous, and I think we may be witnessing the death of Europe as it has traditionally existed, but I do not foresee a similar fate for the US for several reasons; primarily the second amendment, which I think more or less guarantees a swift conclusion to any possible uprising against the government by any radical religious movement, whether Muslim, Christian or otherwise.
Secondly, I do not believe it serves our interests in anyway for members of Congress to speak disparagingly of any culture, regardless of how backward they may think said culture's traditions may be. I think that such rhetoric from such a prominent person in the American government only gives the radical, hate-spewing Imams more ammunition to use as they incite their followers to commit acts of violence.
Third, I think that the most Xenophobic culture is found in China, rather than the Middle East, for reasons I don't wish to elaborate upon here. However, I do agree with much of what you have said about the oppressive nature of some Middle Eastern governments, and I also am discomforted by much of what is espoused by radical Islamic clerics. However, I have many Muslim friends and I find them to have a very thoughtful and reasoned view of Allah's teachings, choosing for themselves (as all fortunate citizens of America are entitled to do) to reject the extremely calls for "death to the infidels".
I agree whole-heartedly that in some parts of the world Muslim governments exercise wicked policies of persecution against Christians and Jews. I also think that in places such as the Palestinian territories Muslims suffer under similar persecution. It is for this reason that I support our current presence in the region, as I think it will ultimately prove to be the most effective means of distinguishing our nation, as one based on freedom in the name of the people, from that which is governed through oppression in the name of Islam.
Thank you for taking the time to comment, I look forward to receiving your response to what I have said in return. Also, I will spend some time looking through the links you have included, I enjoy very much new sources of information.
6 - SHARK
BE: "...Having had the opportunity to work as a intern in the office of Speaker of the House J. Dennis Hastert..."
We'll try not to hold that against you. heh.
BE: "...I can't help but wish that all Republicans were cast in the mold of Speaker Hastert and his staff..."
...except for the part where they would prefer to maintain power at all costs, even when it involves protecting some alcoholic pederast who chases young boys. Right?
Good.
Oh, heck, let's not relive the past, eh?
Let's move on to a brighter, less redneck, right-wing christoid, hypocritical, bible-thumpin', race-baiting, xenophobic, "war on terror-exploiting" future. I'm all for it.
And if you wanna wrest your GOP from the arms of the right-wing Christoid Opportunistic Hypocricital Assholes who are currently running it, (including G.W. Bush) -- then I wish you the best of luck.
PS: Tell John "I Used to Talk Straight, But Now I'm an Paranoid, Opportunistic Dickhead" McCain to quit pandering to the Satanic GOP Crowd mentioned above, will ya?
Anywhoo, welcome to the Blogcritic fray.
I'm SHARK, aka "baptism of fire."
XXOO
S
7 - SHARK
[Shark muses to himself: ...hmmm, a very young, rational, idealistic, Republican who wishes to retrieve his party from the partisan, right-wing nutbags and alleged Christians --and return It back to the good ol' moderate, intellectually-inspired Middle. Shark ponders that thought, then imagines a bit of advice for Brian E: AHAHAHA! Prepare to have your Dreams crushed at the highest level!]
BTW: Some introductions are in order:
Mr. Edwards, meet John Bambineck.
Mr. Edwards, say hello to "Arch Conservative"a.
I'll leave you three alone for a moment.
~and have a nice day!
S
8 - Jet in Columbus
It's a good think I have a habit of reading the whole article, or I would've dismissed you after the first paragraph.
Having worked for McDonalds in my youth, I prefer them over others. Having drank Coke as a youth I prefer it over Pepsi. So you working for Hastert I can understand your reasons for idolizing him. I absolutely don't agree with you, but I understand them.
My parents were also Eisenhower/Goldwater republicans, as I was (I even defended Nixon up to the very end) but I left when the far right bought and paid for the GOP.
Goode now represents in the public mind the image of the Republican Party's dark side.
The deserve it.
9 - SHARK
Jet: "...Goode now represents in the public mind the image of the Republican Party's dark side."
Oh pulllleeze! That's just a load of Macaca!
10 - SHARK
BE, re. your headline:
I'm sure the Republican Leaders are mourning the loss of that Muslim vote.
[PS: see you at the next Democrat convention, Brian! Skip the prayer breakfast and meet the rest of us for some sex, drugs, and rock and roll.]
11 - Bliffle
Maybe we should have an Intolerance Competition with Saudi Arabia, and other such places. Maybe the IOC could make it an Olympic event.
12 - Brian
Shark, Thank you for your warm welcome, I had hoped the back and forth would be more lively than my previous experiences. Regarding your invitation to the Democratic Convention, don't forget, I said I was looking for some intellectual nuance, not intellectual numbness.
13 - Bliffle
Well, I've never heard anyone express admiration for Denny Hastert, who looks like a party hack, to me. I mean, this is the guy who studiously ignored a pedophile sex scandal developing under his nose.
14 - Zedd
Al Noor Isa
Are you suggesting that we should revenge what other countries do to Muslims by treating our Muslims badly?
Do you realize that Christians enslaved Africans, raped them, sold them like cattle, lynched them, tortured and tormented them for hundreds of years in this country?
I am not sure what your rant was about, other than that non democratic countries are non democratic. Saudi is also not fair to women and other groups…..
Look whatever stand a nation takes, it generally makes those who don’t take that stand, badly. Whether its religion, or ideology… remember the Nazis in Germany or the Soviets or the American slave owners (our founding fathers)
15 - Brian
Bliffle, I admit my bias, having worked for Hastert I am obvious going to be biased. I also concede that the Speaker handled the Foley situation poorly, but I do not think he was informed at all about what exactly was going on. If I may tell you a brief story about the first time I met the Speaker, I think it may shed some light on how he viewed his responsibility and how little respect even the members of his own party had for his authority.
The day my fellow interns and I met with the Speaker in the Lincoln Room right off of his personal office, Hastert opened up our discussion to questions and made it clear that we could ask anything we wanted. One of the first questions that was asked was, "How did your experiences as a high school teacher and wrestling coach help prepare you for your responsibilities as Speaker of the House?" His answer shocked many of us, because he was so candidly taking a jab at his colleagues when he pointedly remarked that the only difference between trying to control a bunch of high schoolers and the US Congress was that the members of Congress were slightly older and less mature. In fact, Hastert told us a story to make his point about an incident that had arisen just minutes before he came in to talk with us that afternoon.
The incident involved Congressman Duke Cunningham, who had just come to the Speaker to inform him of an incident that he should expect to read about in the papers in the coming days and weeks. The Speaker did not give us too many details, but he made it clear that he had asked the Congressman to be honest about his involvement in the allegedly scandalous real estate transaction, which he guaranteed the Speaker to be totally innocent. The Speaker told us that he was inclined to believe that Congressman, whom has since been convicted on several charges and will likely spend the rest of his life in prison, so in retrospect it was a mistake to take him at his word.
Bottom line is, it is not Hastert's responsibility to micromanage a bunch of adults who sometimes act like a bunch of children; it is his job to make sure they carry themselves in a way befitting a Congressman and to take them at their word when they assure him that they acted properly. As far as I know Foley did not commit any crime, but it may later emerge that he has. The only people responsible for Foley's immature behavior are Foley and his staff, who were clearly aware of his inappropriate actions. Believe me, the Speaker would have dealt with him had he known what was really going on.
16 - Zedd
I enjoyed your post. I think that we as humans tend to have a more positive perspective on those that we get to know, up close and personal. Your admiration for Hastert is understandable.
I am not so sure though that Goode is a reflection of the new Republican. I think we forget that the Republican party is a party of Strom Thurmand and David Duke. People within the party have tolerated bigots for generations.
17 - Brian
Zedd, I agree with you, there are have absolutely been bigots in the party for generations, but the Democrats have plenty of racists within their mist as well-- Senator Byrd was the Grand Wizard of the KKK, least we forget.
18 - Zedd
Brian,
I suppose what I was refering to were sitting, well known racist, in the halls of government.
Senator Byrd was a member of they KKK when he was 23 for a year and a half. His dad had been a klansman and the clan had paraded down the streets of his small town as a boy. Don't forget, this is the time after the movie "A Birth of a Nation". Many whites thought the klan represented christian values.
He was NEVER a grand wizzard. He was actually a grand cyclops (ha ha ha... its all ridiculous off course). He was a young man who was told he had great promise by a Klan leader and he felt good. You probably remembered how you got sold and dogmatic about things at that age. I was a "radical" myself during my collage years a slightly beyond. I loved sloganeering. You probably were a Young Republican and you believed that conservatism was the answer, dressed in khakis, etc.
He vehimently denounces racism and speaks about it often. He has no problem even today, apologising for his partisipation.
He is not a racist. Even though he has that creepy Southern racist smirk :o) Like boss Hogg... (I don't know if you are old enough)
19 - Brian
Zedd, I appreciate the clarification on Senator Byrd's history. Since I myself am just 23, I can understand how someone can get caught up in something without fully understanding the consequences of what they were participating in. I would hardly compare membership in the KKK to joining the College Republicans (of which I was of course the chairman), but your point is well taken. I have never really bought into the hardcore conservatism that some of my less well-informed peers have latched onto, but I am a big fan of Republican foreign and fiscal policies. I credit my rational approach to social policy on having been raised in Chicago, which forces you to take a more moderate view on issues that conservative Bible-beaters only want to view through the lens of moral superiority and right/wrong.
This is my first article on Blog Critics and I really appreciate the friendly and thought provoking comments. This is exactly the type of forum I was looking for. I hope you enjoy reading my future postings and I encourage you to check out my blog. Happy Holidays!
20 - Zedd
Brian
You are amazing and I look forward to seeing you in politics, holding high office some day.
In your zeal, don't forget that you understand the other's perspective more when you see them as yourself.
What is the Republican foriegn policy overall?
You scare me. You are too rational and less reactionary. You base your ideas on real evidence and you really want to learn. I think you will be switchng sides in the future. I vote both tickets but I find that Republicans tend to be more sentimental and develope their opinions based on how close one comes to the image of America they have. Democrats (not the hippies) tend to be the thinkers in our land. They want cause and effect. They are not so emotional about who we are or even who we should be.
I like the Dems on foreign policy.. I've never gotten a grasp on what the GOPs foreign policy is. I used to like the GOPs fiscal policy (now its just rhetoric). I pick and choose on the social policy; the Dems can get pretty wacky and condescending but the GOP can get pretty paranoid and mean. Beyond everything I've come to know that there are no real experts most of the time. You mainly encounter people who simply sound as if they KNOW. This is true even in the work place.
21 - dana
I don't think the issue is about swearing on the Koran, the issue is multiculturalism and the conflicts it creates. Islamic gender apartheid is not good for my grandaughters. Theodore Daylrymple says, “Where two pieties " feminism and multi-culturalism " come into conflict, the only way of preserving both is an indecent silence.” We go around brandishing our tolerance like a holy spear without regard for the effects it will have on our grandchildren. The more Islamic immigration occurs then the more Islamic political power and the thus the more our culture bends to Islamic norms which are not good for women and our grandaughters.. The old process of assimilation has been rendered impotent by the very idea of multiculturalism.
Islam is intolerant and proud of being intolerant whereas we in the West have a culture of suicidal tolerance. We might feel good and self-congratulatory now, 'how open-minded we are' but our grandaughters will live under an oppressive anti-feminist agenda if Islam gains any measure of political power.
22 - Zedd
Dana
Are you saying that we shouldn't let Muslims into our country?
Do you realize that Muslims make up 12% of our population; many more than Jewish people?
Do you know that most of those Muslims are American born, like the Representative? His family has been in the country since 1747, longer than most other American's families perhaps even yours.
Muslims will become more egalitarian; as we include them into our general society.
As for religious groups influencing our culture, I think that the influence of the fundamentalists on the Republican Party is something that we should be concerned about right now.
23 - Brian
Zedd, I am flattered by your comments, truly the best Christmas present I could have asked for, and I also appreciate your comments in response to dana's post.
I personally feel that one of the tragic flaws of our governments current policies in the struggle against Islamic extremism is our lack of public displays of cultural understanding. For example, I think that President Bush should regularly attend prayer services at Mosques on Friday as a symbol to the Muslim world that he is not on a holy crusade against Islam. I think his words are often distorted by radical clerics to insinuate just that; similar to the way in which they distort the words found in the Koran to fuel extremism. Too often American politicians want to emphasize their Christian heritage and I think this leaves many Muslims to feel as if they have become marginalized in the eyes of their elected officials. I fear nothing from Muslims that have political aspirations in our country; in fact, if Muslims do actually make up 12% of our nations population (a fact which I was unaware of) then I think it is an absolute travesty that they have been left without any representation in Congress until now. As I said above in the original article, I hope that Congressman Ellison's success is a driving force behind a rise of a more egalitarian Muslim identity (to steal a phrase used by Zedd) and the whole point of my article was to point out that the ignorant slander espoused by Congressman Goode does absolutely nothing to further that cause.
Zedd, to answer your question about Republican foreign policy, I must concede that the intellectual basis for our involvement in Iraq has been deeply eroded, primarily because of the lack of eloquence in the President's defenses of his policies. First of all, the war is the fault of nobody other than Saddam, and by trying to insinuate that Bush conspired and lied to lead us into Iraq only fosters ignorance and simple-minded understanding of the threat which Saddam wanted us to believe we were facing. The democrats have never offered a viable alternative to Bush's policies, in fact all they have ever done is point fingers, which I have no respect for at all.
The true wisdom I see in the policy to invade Iraq and attempt to transform its political culture into one of tolerance and democracy is that for generations we have stood ignorantly by as Israel has caused us more problems that any of our supposed "allies" have ever caused us. If we can successfully establish in Iraq an Islamic government which is truly a constructive partner in the long stalled Middle East peace process, we will no longer have to be so forgiving of repressive Israeli policies and much of the justification for the extremist ideology taught in the madrases will crumble along with al-Qaeda. I wish that we would have the guts to come out and say that we hold Iraq as our most valued friend in the region, as I think that would go a long way to motivating the Iraqi people to root out the forces of evil and terrorism from within their mists, but I do not see a president like George Bush having the courage to abandon Israel in such an overt manner. Bottom line is, the Israeli's care very little about us or our interests, and the sooner we realize that the better. I have much more faith in a Republican coming to that realization than a Democrat.
Dana, I do not think that you have any reason to fear Sharia Law supplanting the constitution as the basis of the rights we enjoy as American's. I have serious questions about the future of Europe, but the will of our founding fathers will never succumb to an Islamic political revolution that transpires through the electoral process.
Thank you both, again, for your thoughtful comments. I look forward to many spirited debates as I have the opportunity to post more articles. Merry Christmas!
24 - Mohjho
Hi Brian
Good to see some new Republican blood that thinks instead of follows. You might want to look into that...("but I am a big fan of Republican foreign and fiscal policies") thing. Seems Republican priorities have been a little askew lately. Just a casual observation.
Historically, Islam has proliferated in two ways, by conquest,(old school), and as a reaction to social injustice,(new school). My friends from Brazil notes that Islam is making headway in that country due to the economic inequities and corruption of that country and others in South America. Seems to me, the best way to combat radical Islam is to address the cause, not the symptom.
The black Muslim movement in this country got a head start in the 60s as a reaction to racial inequities. By verbally attacking Muslims, the Republicans are simply adding to their cause and promoting others to consider the alternative to Christianity. By not condemning Goode's comments, the message that is being heard from the Republicans is one of simple prejudice. Seems like a failed domestic policy in the making.
25 - Zedd
Mohjho
You make some great points. Attacking an islamist country is certainly not the way to win Muslims over. Even though we are convinced of our superior way of life, our life is best because it is the only one we know.
We have radicalized yet another generation of young Muslims.