A Junket For The Imam

Obama’s pandering to Muslims, refusing to comment on a proposed Mosque to be built two blocks from ground zero in New York and now sending the Imam of that Mosque on a Mideast junket at taxpayer’s money is what they would call real ‘chutzpah’ in Manhattan.

But then again he just sent his wife on a fling in Spain with his youngest daughter to vacation with, 66 secret service agents, staff and friends flying on Air Force two at $11,000 an hour, while the economy continues to falter and unemployment is well in excess of 10%, so what’s a mere junket for the Iman Feisal Abdul Rauf, who by his own statements supports Hamas, a Middle East terrorist group and believes the US brought 9/11 upon itself.

The State Department said through its spokesperson P. J. Crowley that the department is sponsoring the Imam’s visit to Qatar, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, where he will discuss Muslim life in the US and promote religious tolerance.

“His work on tolerance and religious diversity is well-known and he brings a moderate perspective to foreign audiences on what it’s like to be practicing Muslim in the United States,” Crowley said.

It is an interesting juxtaposition from the State Department’s position when they consider Hamas a terrorist organization and the Imam supports their cause?

The trip comes in the midst of a heated battle in New York over the controversial plans for a mosque just two blocks from the twin towers that were brought down by an Islamic Jihad group on 9/11 taking some 3,000 lives including the attack on the Pentagon and the plane that was brought down by hero’s crashing it in Pennsylvania before it reached its destination of Washington DC.

Oh, Crowley said Rauf will not be allowed to raise funds for the proposed Mosque in New York.

The move brought fire form Reps. Ilean Ros-Lehtinen of Florida and Peter King of New York who called the trip ‘unacceptable’ in a joint statement.

Both pointed out that Rauf had suggested in at least one interview that the US was to blame for the 2001 attacks and that taxpayer money should not be used to fund the tour.

The two Congressman said, “The State Department’s selection of Feisal Abdul Rauf to represent the American people through this program further calls into question the administration’s policy and funding priorities.”

The mosque has drawn vocal opposition from relatives of 9/11, local and national GOP leaders and the Anti-Defamation League, a Jewish civil rights group.

The mosque would be part of a 13 story, $100 million Islamic center that would feature a 500-seat auditorium, a swimming pool and a gym.  It’s a project of the Cordoba Initiative, an advocacy group that promotes improved relations between Islam and the West.

Yes, Obama is all about Alinsky chutzpah.  I guess Harvard didn’t have a course in common sense.