The Ties That Bind Us...Bedier and Ellison

Source: StarTribune.com


WASHINGTON - Alarmed by the furor surrounding Muslim Fifth Congressional District candidate Keith Ellison, a national Islamic group(CAIR) is targeting Minnesota with an "anti-terror TV ad" blitz disavowing ties between Islam and terrorism.

The campaign, "Not in the Name of Islam," will begin airing today on cable networks statewide and during Monday night's Vikings game.

This campaign has been shown in other states in the past, but now will target Minnesota exclusively. Should CAIR be allowed to openly support a candidate and maintain its tax-free status?


To be tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, an organization must be organized and operated exclusively for purposes set forth in section 501(c)(3), and none of its earnings may inure to any private shareholder or individual. In addition, it may not attempt to influence legislation as a substantial part of its activities and it may not participate in any campaign activity for or against political candidates.

The new Minnesota ad is meant to distance Islam from terrorism, but it has added fuel to the fire over Ellison's ties to some Muslim figures, including Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan.

The 30-second spot is sponsored by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), a Washington-based group with strong ties to Minnesota.

The group's leader, Nihad Awad, says Ellison's predicted election to the U.S. Congress from the heavily DFL district centered on Minneapolis has electrified Muslims around the world, some of whom have asked him, "Is it true?"

But Awad, a former Minnesotan, has himself been the subject of an acrimonious nationwide debate over his alleged support for terrorist groups in the Middle East -- which he denies. Both of Ellison's opponents in the race, Republican Alan Fine and Independence Party candidate Tammy Lee, accuse CAIR of secret ties to Hamas, and question Ellison's support from the organization. The United States considers Hamas a terrorist organization.

Ellison's opponent Independent Party candidate Tammy Lee doesn't think much of CAIR

"CAIR is to Muslims as the Ku Klux Klan is to Christians," Fine said Tuesday. "I don't think that we can say that CAIR truly represents Muslims in America."

The ad campaign, which is intended to counter what the group says is anti-Muslim stereotyping, also is being coordinated by a CAIR official in Florida, Ahmed Bedier.

Why is a representative of CAIR from Florida coordinating the ad campaign in a Minnesota congressional race?

"The focus is not on the election," Bedier said, "but to send the message that American Muslims do not condone terrorism."

Bedier dismissed any allegations of the group's terrorist ties, including ones made in lawsuits brought by families of 9/11 victims. "After 9/11, there were families that sued every Muslim under the sun," he said.

He also said that CAIR's critics are indirectly taking aim at Muslims: "We are to the American Muslim community what the NAACP is to blacks in America. If you attack us, you are attacking the Muslim community and the religion of Islam in this country."

Is Mr. Bedier actually stating that criticism of CAIR is an attack on all Muslims?
Criticizing CAIR...an organization that has supported terrorism is the same as attacking the religion of Islam?
Mr. Bedier seems to think so.