CNN Host "Mystified" By McCain Camp Silencing Muslim Organizer

CNN host Rick Sanchez said he was "mystified" by a last minute decision by the McCain campaign to pull a Muslim grassroots organizer from appearing on his show.

The aide, Daniel Zubairi, had been scheduled to appear on Sanchez's mid-day program after he was caught on video talking down an anti-Muslim protester outside a McCain rally in Woodbridge, Virginia. But, even after telling the network that an interview was "good to go," the McCain shop pulled Zubairi at the last minute, leaving Sanchez in limbo on live TV.

"Wouldn't you think they would have wanted him to come on?" the CNN host would later tell the Huffington Post. "What the guy did was courageous. I called him heroic. I'm mystified why they wouldn't embrace him for his actions. Maybe they didn't like the story, but I'll tell you. I thought it was presented it in a very transparent way, if anything I kind of gushed philosophically about how impressive and real his reaction was to the protester's hateful message. It seemed to show some of the best of McCain supporters, didn't it?"

The American News Project captured Zubairi this past weekend intervening when a racist McCain supporter got into a heated exchange with rally attendees over the anti-Muslim literature and message that he was promoting. We don't "endorse that behavior" said Zubairi. The tiff ended with the man walking away from the rally with his pamphlets and bumper stickers in hand.

Noting how the incident went against the prevailing narrative of McCain crowds festering with hateful, occasionally racist speech, Sanchez booked Zubairi for his show. But minutes before the interview was to take place, the McCain campaign wouldn't let him go on air.

"I had instructed our guys before the show to find this guy, vet him and get him to talk," said Sanchez. " I was briefed by one of our producers and told we were good to go. Then just as I went to introduce him, it all changed. I may know more tomorrow. I guess that's a long way of saying I don't know why."

Comments

[BreezyinVA]

http://www.choosedan.com/ He is a Maryland resident, grassrooting for mcpains. Getting him tv time could boost his career. Republicans are me firsters. He loses.

[jobecky20]

How does anyone know that this entire incident with the anti-Muslim protester wasn't staged for publicity? For PR purposes to counter all the other negative things that have happened at these rallies. Maybe that's why they can't risk having this guy go on the air with CNN. Maybe then it would be uncovered....

[che1111]

the final moments were a walk with tail between legs moment if I ever saw one - now the question is how could anyone support McCain?

[Bariis]

I'd say to the tiny percentage of pro-McCain Muslims out there: think twice before voting Republican. Take a moment to reflect on what went down the last 8 years with this party. Just think about it for a sec and ask yourself if you really want to go through another 4 years of hell!

[R.W. Sanders - Huffpost Blogger]

his not appearing is a real tragedy as it presented one of the few times i could have cheered for anyone currently associated with mccain.

[NoSandwiches]

Obviously he is paid by the McCain camp
Otherwise, how could they ask him not to go on?

Some people will do anything for money.

[maryland123]

He is not paid at all but since he has a leadership role he has to go through them to do anything like this. They had not seen the video and told him no

[TLV]

The long and short of it is that the McCain camp had not had time to hand this guy his talking points yet. He cannot simply go out there on national television as a MUSLIM when so many GOPers are anti-Muslim!

Once he has learned just exactly what he has to say and how to say it, they will allow him to participate in what THEY like to think of as "free speech."

[RenoSage]

In the McCain preachments Muslim = Terrorist = Obama. Fear, fear, fear. McCain will save you.

[FatherWolf]

This is why they wouldn't let him be interviewed. The brand is anti-Muslim. Letting a Muslim supporter have a public forum would definitely hurt th McCane campaign's standing with their base.

[mzmodel]

I wonder how this Muslim Republican Campaign worker is feeling now about the Party he is rooting for.

A small chance to clear the line that the Republican Party does see that a good sum of their supporters are racist and that the party [McCain/Palin] - does NOT support hose reasons as a part of their campaign. Draw a line and say "I would be suited better for the presidential position not because he is black and I'm white but because my policies - what I can bring is better"

Not even a statement issued by them. If you have supporters who you can clearly see as being ignorant, racist and VERY ILL INFORMED about the world they live in- who best to inform them that their actions and words are wrong; than the people they support a 100%?

They not only make their state, country look sad but your precious Republican party.

[chrisNewYork]

First, i'm a huge Obama supporter, and a gay Democrat. But i gotta say that was a moving little moment. It shows you that underneath all the yuk and intolerance the Repubs have spewed there are a few rational, reasonable people on the Republican side.

I'm exhausted from the endless campaign, tired from nervous energy around what i think is the most important election in my lifetime, and i'm ready for my man Obama to win. I feel like we're in the homestretch.

I also realize that way more Americans see American Muslims only as potential terrorists than as average Americans who want to live their lives like everyone else without compromising their faith. But there are people on both sides who are not demagogues and and intolerant ignorant hacks. In a wierd way, that video warmed my heart. And contrary to one poster above.. i do believe that was just a spontaneous occurance, not a stage managed moment.

[haval2]

Rick...don't be mystified...take a good look at your beloved republican party...they are dogs and thugs and no more want equality and embrace diversity than Putin. They have hit all time lows...look at the Republicans from your own backyard...Miami...they are thugs too and going down with the whole party this time. Wondering where your guest is...check the source ...that's mc cain for you,,,joe the plumber be damned!

[atciii]

maybe tyhe McCain camp actually agreed with the "anti-muslim" people and not this guy who works for them. They want the hate filled info to stay out there, they dont want an actual muslim who is supporting him to dampen all the work they have done smearing Obama as a Muslim.

[Mysticalsister]

X-actly!

[DwH]

Muslim republicans? Sounds a little like the Log Cabin Gay republican self-hatred squad.

Look, the idea that the republican party is a 'big tent' has been proven a lie since Bush took office, or more likely since Reagan. They will say anything to get in power and stay there.

[jimme]

May be now the McC supporters will question exactly why they support him.

[Archivist1000]

I had a sad moment for Hillary the other day when she said (paraphrasing) that nobody should 'assume' anything .... a lesson she learned the hard way, to be sure!

Hillary understands that while a candidate can be the frontrunner for a long time, at the end of the day, all that really counts, is the VOTE .... it would be a shame if Obama supporters took victory for granted, and stayed home on November 4.

GO VOTE EARLY if you can .... but VOTE ! Take NOTHING for granted, it aint over 'till it's OVER ....

GO VOTE EARLY if you can ... you or someone you love might get sick on Nov 3 or 4 and you might be unable to go!

GO VOTE EARLY if you can .... there may be problems at the precincts .... don't be caught out !


GO VOTE EARLY if you can ... Obama has been working his butt off for 2 yrs, just for this one DAY .... don't let him down, when he needs YOU

GO VOTE EARLY if you can .... elections are won one vote at a time, and the result lasts 4 yrs!