Author Lashes Out At Romney's Explanation Of Anti-Muslim Rant

The author of a much-discussed op-ed in the Christian Science Monitor -- which charged that former Gov. Mitt Romney said he would likely not appoint a Muslim-American to his presidential cabinet - says Romney's explanation for the comment is a flat out lie.

Mansoor Ijaz, a prominent Islamic businessman, told the Huffington Post that Romney's comments were made in reference to possible cabinet appointments and not, as the former governor has since claimed, in the context of combating Islamic extremism.

"This guy is lying now to the American people," said Ijaz. "He probably never imagined someone would come out and write a piece the way I did. And I think he made a serious mistake in judgment in trying to disown what he said."

In an oped on Tuesday titled "A Muslim Belongs in the White House," Ijaz wrote of a private campaign event he attended in which Romney claimed he could not see how appointing a Muslim to his cabinet could be "justified" considering the group's demographics in America.

Pressed to explain his statement later in the day, Romney said it had been taken out of context.

"His question was did I need to have a Muslim in my Cabinet to be able to confront radical Jihad and would it be important to have a Muslim in my Cabinet," said Romney. "And I said, 'No, I don't think that you have to have a Muslim in the Cabinet to be able to take on radical Jihad anymore than during the Second World War we needed to have a Japanese-American to understand the threat that was coming from Japan or something of that nature.' I just rejected that argument..."

Reached by phone, Ijaz scoffed at such an interpretation of what transpired.

"I can tell you," he said, "that Romney's push back, meaning his statement about the Japanese is all bullshit. He never talked about the Japanese at that point. Everything he said today is simply trying to reconfigure this item, which is he doesn't feel there is a need to put people of Islamic faith into his cabinet."

Moreover, he added, this is not the first time the Massachusetts Republican has made off-the-cuff remarks that Muslims have found insensitive. Indeed, as reported by Talking Points Memo, Romney rejected the idea of appointing a Muslim to a high-ranking White House position at an earlier and, again, private campaign stop.

Irma Aguirre, the former finance director for the Nevada Republican Party, told the Huffington Post about her experience at a Romney fundraiser roughly two months ago:

"I was curious to listen to Romney, I was very impressed by him and I'm kind of undecided about whom to support. Well, at one point, they opened questions to the audience and a gentleman who was with me... raised his hand and posed a question. 'Being that Muslims do not really trust America's leaders, do you think it would be prudent, or would you consider having a Muslim in your cabinet as an adviser to lend credibility to the administration? His response was 'probably not' or 'most likely not.'"

According to Aguirre, Romney pivoted from the question into a discussion on the dangers jihadism posed to America.

"I was shocked and disgusted," she recounted. I felt like "he was assuming that all Muslims were jihadists. And later, I just kind of looked at a friend of mine who is a huge Mitt Romney supporter, she asked me, 'Isn't he great?' and I said, 'absolutely not.'"

Romney's campaign did not respond by time of publication.

Comments

[dwillisno1]

HMM The candidate most likely to be discriminated against on the basis of religion reveals his own bigotry. Sounds like Maccaca has a twin brother Mustafa.

[Nic]

Rather than ask if he would appoint a Muslim, ask him WHY he wouldn't. Then you'll really see how he can flip-flop.

[jungpatawan]

Mitt Romney is running for the job where you swear to "preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."

That includes Article VI, which, in relvant part, states: "...no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States."

Mitt's willingness to jettison that clause makes him unfit for office.

JP

[speakingtruth2power]

If I was President, I would seek out people like Cenk Uygur and make sure I had some respected moderate Muslims in my administration. Not right wing apologists or OBL's guys but smart centrists who have studied the whole issue.

What about 'know your enemy' does this Mittwit not understand? DISQUALIFIED!!!

[jsrl317]

Whaddya expect? He's a Mormon.

Just like the rest of the religious bigots and others who calls themselves followers of this and that. They are all a bigoted lot when they actually believe what they preach in all those churches, mosques and synagogues.

Two of the hardest people to hire, ever: Orthodox Muslims, Orthodox Jews. Few even show up in the job market sector I am in. In my entire 30 year career I have met 1 Orthodox Jew, 1 over the past 30 years! I have met, let me count them, zero Orthodox Muslims. I met tons of Mormons though. Nice people. Very honest. Even in their bigotry which is to be admired. At least you know where you stand. :)

-J

[RogerHWerner]

It would've been interesting if someone had asked Romney if he'd consider appointing someone Jewish to his Cabinet. Jews are a rather small minority in this country. I don't have the demographics but I wouldn't be surprised if as a group Jews compared with Muslims in terms of total numbers and no one thinks about appointing someone Jewish to high office. Why do we see such angst when it comes to appointing other minorities, especially when Blacks and Latinos far outnumber Jews. Here's my take: Jews are considered racially white and they are a rather influential group compared to virtually any other ethnic/rac­ial/religi­ous minority; thus, they are an easier "sell" to the majority white population. That said, it isn't an easy sell: America's first Jewish high office candidate was Joe Lieberman a mere seven years ago. When Romney or anyone else claims that Muslims shouldn't have a claim on a Cabinet seat because they are such a small minority, his argument rings hollow because if it was politically expedient to appoint a Muslim it would happen. Asa nation, we discriminate with equal opportunity and demographics matter not a whit.

A person's professional qualifications and life experiences should determine whether they are appointed to high office. Of course, we all know that qualifications are only one qualifying attribute and it is often not the most important one--who can forget Clarence Thomas. My point is that if a qualified Muslim of suitable political pedigree is available there is no reason why s/he shouldn't be considered for a Cabinet post. Perhaps John Ridley and I can finally agree on something: A Republican will appoint a Muslim and I seriously doubt a Democrat would either for fear of antagonizing white bread America.

[snruB]

Anyone else see that vid of Romney and the guy with MS asking about medical marijuana? That's far more lulzy than this

[RedRooster]

Let's watch that flip-flopping bigot get his ass kicked to the curb in Iowa, and then we'll be done with him once and for all.

Go Huckleberry!

[Saganslegacy]

And here we are in our religious fever. Religion makes it's way back into the top governmental positions as it is considered a discriminator when only competence should be the judge.

Evangelical fundamentalism prepared the way. It's an irony that the religious folks claiming religion to play a role in politics exclude religion from politics, of course 'the other one's' religion.

We are accepting without major dissent the violation of religious neutrality that the constitution laid out.

That's the wrong road, people.

[soxypirate]

Folks, bashing Romney for his Mormonism makes you no better than the right-wing nut-jobs who are scared to elect him--their most "conservative" candidate--as president.

If he's a racist and a bigot then call him a racist and a bigot...bu­t leave religion out of it.

[tyruler]

Romney the flipflopping, say anything to appease the Israel-first crowd is just carpetbagging to the most fascist amongst the radical AIPAC lobbies.

Its kind of awfully pathetic that here's a man who earlier this year went all the way to Herzliya, Israel to preach America's servitude to Israel and how it will carry out Israel's goal of attacking Iran if he comes president.

Such pandering to the most visceral group explains why Flipflopping Romney doesn't even deserve to smell the steps of the White House.

And as the former Romney supporter said in the article assuming all Muslims are radicals, (like saying all Mormons are anti-black racists) "He's dangerous and disgusting!"

[mimsnpips]

Mittenhead doesn't know how to spin very well. And it came back to bite him in the posterior.

[Schlomo83]

mitt romney is a silver-spo­on-in-the-­mouth a$$hole, as are his 'sons,' who are proudly and dangerously serving their country by trying to get their godamned moronic father elected.

How sad for this country that even ten people would vote for this greasy-haired fraud. His toughest assignment in life: his Mormon 'mission' to France. What a pussy.

[smokeystover39]

Lipwhipping each other without any research is counter productive. Ya gotta find out what Romney's religious under pinnings are - just as "WE" should have researched the goose stepping mentality of Bu$h before both elections. So-o-o take the time to read the chapter re Mormans in "The Kingdom of the Cults" by Dr. Walter R. Martin. It's in your library or get it from Amazon. Make an informed decision.

[Ramirez]

I think the leading Democrats should seize this opportunity and immediately pledge to place at least one Muslim in a high-level cabinet position. And it should be a position involving national security, not some HHW or Labor nonsense.

This would show the Muslim world we are ready to admit our mistakes, apologize, and sincerely reach out to Islam.