Dems Tap Radical Islamists for Cash
by STEVEN EMERSON AND JOHN ROSSOMANDO
IPT News
November 1, 2012
http://www.investigativeproject.org/3792/dems-tap-radical-islamists-for-cash
The Investigative Project on Terrorism has learned that House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi headlined a Democratic Party fundraiser with leaders of Hamas and Muslim Brotherhood front groups in May of this year.
The invitation-only fundraiser was sponsored by Reps. Keith Ellison, D-Minn.; Andre Carson, D-Ind.; and Steve Israel, D-N.Y., chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, and took place on the evening of May 16, 2012, at the W Hotel in Washington D.C.
In attendance were about 20 members of a Syrian dissident group and 10 officials representing Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas front groups. Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) Executive Director Nihad Awad was perhaps the most prominent attendee and played a key role in organizing the event.
CAIR, an unindicted co-conspirator in the 2007-2008 Holy Land Foundation Hamas money-laundering trials, was described in FBI testimony as having been created by Hamas. In a 2007 federal court filing, prosecutors described CAIR as conspiring with other branches of the Muslim Brotherhood to support terrorists.
The FBI officially severed relations with CAIR in 2008 because of its ties to Hamas.
Awad has openly championed Hamas and defended suicide bombings as "legitimate resistance."
Also in attendance was Jamal Barzinji, a founding father of the Muslim Brotherhood in America and co-founder of the Muslim Students Association (MSA), an incubator for Islamic radicalism in North America. MSA was the forerunner of Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA), Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) and the International Institute of Islamic Thought (IIIT).
Barzinji was named in a federal affidavit as being closely associated with Palestinian Islamic Jihad and Hamas. His name appears in a global phone book of Muslim Brotherhood members recovered by Italian and Swiss authorities in Nov. 2001 from the home of Al-Taqwa Bank of Lugano founder Youssef Nada, one of the leaders of the international Muslim Brotherhood.
During the fundraiser, Pelosi sat at the same table with Awad and Barzinji.
Speaking to the attendees in her 10-minute address, she said the Democratic Party should become the natural home of Muslim-Americans, because Republicans fan the flames of "Islamophobia." She focused exclusively on Islamophobia, a term devised by radical Islamists and their apologists to silence critics, while avoiding any mention of terrorism carried out by Islamists in the United States.
Also speaking were Israel, Ellison, Carson, and Reps Alyson Schwartz, D-Pa., and Chris Murphy, D-Conn. Israel and Murphy were said to have been the most vehement among the members of Congress in attendance in terms of their incendiary accusations of Republican-incited Islamophobia. One observer said that it was striking that "there was not a scintilla of comments in defense of U.S. national security." However, they welcomed each of the Hamas and Muslim Brotherhood front groups represented at the event into the "Democratic community" without any mention of their well-documented terror links.
Following the speeches, a prominent attorney, Mazen Asbahi publicly rose to announce the creation of a new organization called the National Muslim Democratic Council (NMDC). Asbahi was Obama's 2008 Muslim outreach director but was forced to step down when his prior association with a radical Muslim cleric, Jamal Said, became public. Said was an unindicted co-conspirator in the Holy Land Foundation terrorism financing trial.
The NMDC seeks to "maximize American Muslim support for Democratic candidates and policies."
The IPT has obtained a memo detailing the creation and agenda of the National Muslim Democratic Council that is marked "CONFIDENTIAL; NOT FOR PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION" In the section marked "2012 election strategy" the group specifically spelled out detailed plans to support the Democrats and target Republicans in "key races where American Muslims can make a difference."
According to the document, these races included:
- Defeating Rep. Allen West, R-Fla., in his race against Patrick Murphy, D-Fla.;
- Supporting former Gov. Tim Kaine, D-Va., in his race against former Sen. George Allen, R-Va., in the race for Virginia's vacant Senate seat;
- Supporting Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., in her bid for re-election against former House Intelligence Committee Chairman Pete Hoekstra, R-Mich.;
- And, supporting Joyce Beatty, D-Ohio, in her bid to capture the state's 3rd congressional district.
The confidential NMDC document was signed by several known radical Islamists such as Asbahi, CAIR's Basim Elkarra; Jihad Saleh Williams of Islamic Relief USA; and Linda Sarsour of the Arab American Association of New York.
These individuals have a documented history of radical statements and associations. Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., went so far as to strip Elkarra of an award after she became aware of his affiliation with CAIR and its documented extremism. Saleh Williams' organization Islamic Relief USA, Is an offshoot of Islamic Relief Worldwide (IRW), found to be providing financial and other assistance to the terrorist group Hamas. Sarsour is an outspoken radical who has called for a "one state solution" in Palestine, believes that the underwear bomber was a CIA plant, and believes that NYPD informants "actually manufacture" cases against Muslims. "Stand up and say no. Stop spying and harassing and intimidating the Muslim community" she demands of the NYPD.
The DCCC fundraiser exemplifies the deep inroads that Islamist radicals, like those mentioned above, have made in the Democratic Party over the past few years to the exclusion of more moderate elements in the American Muslim community.
These inroads may already be creating internal tension within the Democratic Party. This was on full display during the 2012 Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C., after pro-Israel language from the party platform was omitted, including expressions of support for recognition of Jerusalem as the nation's undivided capital.
Awad told Al-Jazeera the change marked a new course for the Democratic Party and that it would likely not be the last dust-up on such issues.
"This is an indication that the Democratic Party's political platform with regard to the Middle East is developing," Awad said.
Senior Democratic Party establishment figures seem intent on engaging and accommodating these new and sometimes radical elements in their party as an up-and-coming new constituency and money source. Most mainstream Democrats, have yet to grasp the full extent of their party's infiltration.
Related Topics: STEVEN EMERSON AND JOHN ROSSOMANDO
Reader comments on this item
Party Goals
Dec 9, 2012 10:05
I can't understand why the two parties can't even agree on who our enemies are. Both have the same information. Both are supposed to be looking out for America's best interests. Both condem religious intolerance. Both know the history of the Jewish people's struggle to survive. Both can read news reports on the Islamist attacks against Christians across Africa and the Middle East.
Instead of dividing America they should be condemning any and all groups that threaten man-kind based on hatred, intolerance or ignorance. Yet, as we see with this article, the democrat party embraces the very group that stands for these atrocities by forming and supporting Hamas.
It should make us wonder. How are the democrats helping world peace by backing the Muslim Brotherhood in their march toward world domination?
extreme right at it again
Submitted by AV, Dec 4, 2012 21:15
The constitution is safe. Our bibles are safe . Uur country is not being taken over by Muslims, Hamas, or any other group. You need to stop spreading false rumors and lies!!!
The Democrats are as patriotic as any of you self righteous bafoons. They just have less agendas and the country knows it. If Pelosi were doing something against our laws she would indeed be prosecuted instantly by all you self righteous fools. But she's not and she wont be! You will all end up on the wrong side of God and history. For your sake and our country stop the BS!!
Flirting with the Enemy
Nov 14, 2012 11:33
Don't these politicians know that the Muslim Brotherhood and their like are at war with the West,and one of their rules of war is to lie to the enemy, the West, no matter what , just lie, lie and then lie again,until they get their way, which is winning the war against the West.
Steve Israel put this togeather
Submitted by Andy Perkins, Nov 3, 2012 01:02
Is anyone surprised that Steve Israel (D) NY was behind putting this event togeather? This man would sell out his mother for a $1 contribution from anyone.
High Treason
Submitted by Chk, Nov 2, 2012 17:26
While I'm not surprised by Pelosi's betrayal of her country, where are the impeachment proceedings?!? This qualifies as aiding and abetting the enemies of our country!
More Reader Comments
| Title | By | Date |
Party Goals |
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extreme right at it again |
AV |
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Flirting with the Enemy |
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Steve Israel put this togeather |
Andy Perkins |
|
High Treason |
Chk |
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Democrats Fishing for Handouts from Hamas |
Edward Cline |


