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Karen Hughes Opposes Cordoba House, Neglects To Mention Her Relationship With Its Imam


Karen Hughes

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We'd been wondering when Bush administration officials were going to step forward to remind everyone who is worked in a tizzy over the proposed Islamic center near Ground Zero in New York City that the project's booster did international religious outreach for the United States.

The answer came -- sort of -- this weekend, when Karen Hughes penned a Washington Post op-ed saying that organizers should "move the mosque."

Hughes sounds many of the same notes we've heard frequently from opponents over the last few weeks. But what struck us is that Hughes failed to mention her own work with Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf as he was dispatched around the globe to discuss the Islamic faith in America on behalf of the Bush administration.

At the request of Bush's State Department, where Hughes worked on Muslim outreach in the midst of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Rauf attended the 2006 U.S.-Islamic World Forum in Doha, Qatar and in 2007 went to Morocco. Rauf has traveled side-by-side with Hughes, who held the position of Undersecretary of State for Public Diplomacy. He's currently on a trip abroad doing outreach for President Obama's administration.

As TPM has reported, Hughes set up listening tours that included Rauf.

Here's what Hughes said about Rauf in her op-ed:

That's why I believe it is so important that Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf and his congregation make what I fully understand would be a very difficult choice: to locate their mosque elsewhere. Putting the mosque at a different site would demonstrate the uncommon courtesy sometimes required for us to get along in our free and diverse society.

I recognize that I am asking the imam and his congregation to show a respect that has not always been accorded to them. But what a powerful example that decision would be. Many people worry that this debate threatens to deepen resentments and divisions in America; by choosing a different course, Rauf could provide a path toward the peaceful relationships that he and his fellow Muslims strive to achieve. And this gesture of goodwill could lead us to a more thoughtful conversation to address some of the ugliness this controversy has engendered.

Her former boss George W. Bush has indicated he will be staying mum.

Last week, Hughes declined to be interviewed through a spokeswoman. We're also still waiting to hear from Colin Powell, James Glassman and Condoleezza Rice.

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August 23, 2010 10:10 AM   

"Peaceful relationships"? Translation: Move your non-mosque from its non-Ground Zero location so the angry mob can be appeased. Sorry, Karen, but this has now reached the "Hell, no" stage. If Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf and his congregation agree to move at the point of a bayonet, pointed at them by the likes of Sarah Palin, Newt Gingrich, and Rick Lazio, we - all Americans - will have lost something that may prove to be irreplaceable.

Stand strong. This is America.

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August 23, 2010 10:11 AM   

Uhh.. Thanks, Karen, for nothing.

This poor Imam paints a target on his back for you, and on behalf of the Bush WH, and this is what you do to him.

Typical.

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August 23, 2010 10:34 AM    in reply to Wellstone6

Karen's a coward and so is her (ex) boss.

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August 23, 2010 10:14 AM   

I thought a hallmark of the Bushies was "rewarding loyalty." I guess not.

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August 23, 2010 10:31 AM   

I equate Hughes' position to asking African Americans in the sixties to be satisfied with the middle of the bus, in order to reduce the amount of anguish that they were imposing upon the misguided bigots by seeking to sit at the front of the bus.

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August 23, 2010 10:33 AM   

Yes, because clearly this is a not a manufatured wedge issue used for political gain. They should move the community center/mosque to Connecticut. Or Tennessee. or California. Right, Karen? Cuz the issue is the location, not religious freedom. If they move it somewhere, the hatriots will lose the intolerance and stop picketting.

Oh wait...

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August 23, 2010 10:37 AM   

Why would we expect depth, clarity or intellectual honesty from Hughes? She's never distinguished herself as the brightest bulb on the tree and she's a party hack. Back when the party was trying to promote tolerance for moderate Muslims, she toed the party line. Now that the party has adopted racism as a central plank, she is toeing that line, too. Her comments on any issue are as irrelevant as she is.

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August 23, 2010 11:57 AM    in reply to mmanion

Co-sign. Hughes is a tool. *snicker*

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August 23, 2010 10:39 AM   

These conservative fanatics and Bushies are not interested in "a more thoughtful conversation to address some of the ugliness this controversy has engendered." They use those words to mask their animus of the Muslim community. On this one, these moderate, decent American Muslims should not budge. Don't give in to hate.

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August 23, 2010 10:39 AM   

I don't necessarily disagree with her opinion, which is valid enough and not utterly hysterical (like the minions who claim 51 Park is "the first step in nationwide shariah law for all of us!"), but she should at least stand up for him, and defend him against the Sean Hannitys of the world who claim he is an extremist.

If conservatives are so opposed to 51 Park, and yet insist they are not opposed to freedom of religion, then they should step up and find another location and help Imam Rauf build it there. Of course then they would be guilty of "aiding the enemy" according to the paranoid masses, so that will never happen.

My prediction, the project does indeed get moved to a new location, and it gets protested there too.

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August 23, 2010 12:42 PM    in reply to jimson

Yo are absolutely correct. Fox News shit-for-brains have been calling on Park51 to be moved away from Ground Zero for reasons that it would become the toe-hold of Sharia law in the US to a terrorist training facility.

If they really believed that, would their demand that it simply be moved to another location truly be a wise thing? Let's see, building a terrorist training facility next to Ground Zero = a very bad thing. Moving it to the upper west side... uhhh yeah, we're okay with that.

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August 23, 2010 1:28 PM    in reply to jimson

See Bigbee's comment. Helping Rauf build somewhere else would be similar to escorting African-Americans to the back of the bus, politely pointing out to them that they'll still get where they want to go and everything will be so much more peaceful if they just don't try to sit next to white folk.

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August 23, 2010 10:41 AM   

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August 23, 2010 10:47 AM   

Karen has always served as an inspiration for the narrow-minded and ignorant, and those who love to Hate for Jesus.

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August 23, 2010 11:00 AM   

So, if they just move Park51, then nobody will ever protest a mosque or Islamic cultural center ever again?

Bull. Sh*t.

Ms. Hughes is not giving an honest opinion. She is sucking up to the hate-wing of the GOP.

By the way, what are the borders of the "No Mosque" zone - where's the "Green Line", as it were? Is it more than 4 blocks? In which case, there's at least one other facility which has to move. What's the criteria for deciding it's far enough? How many people have to agree that it's far enough, and what if Newt continues to rant against building any Mosque anywhere?

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August 23, 2010 1:36 PM    in reply to Cautious Man

And then there's this: Since Lazio et al claim that Rauf is really connected to terrorists, and that this center will be a "terrorist command center" (Dick Morris' words), at what location is it OK, to build a terrorist command center in NYC? Must that eventual use be disclosed in the zoning application?

Sheesh.....

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August 23, 2010 11:03 AM   

I recognize that I am asking the imam and his congregation to show a respect that has not always been accorded to them.

And if they show that "respect", I'm sure they'd be lauded by the very same voices that are now oh-so-respectfully asking them to relocate. Just like they are being asked oh-so-respectfully to relocate in other 9/11-related places like FUCKING TENNESSEE AND KENTUCKY.

Tell me Karen, how many blocks down the street would be enough for you and your pitchfork-wielding ilk? 2? 3? 4? Seriously, tell us what it would take to be "respectful".

Hateful git.

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August 23, 2010 11:10 AM   

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August 23, 2010 2:18 PM    in reply to lkmm1452

It would be nice if TPM would make an effort to block and scrub blatently commercial posts like this, which have nothing to do with the subject of the article.

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August 23, 2010 11:37 AM   

This woman is one of the most devious, unprincipled, duplicitous, self-serving, opportunistic asshats on the television box - and she speaks with a practiced sincerity that is wholly evil.

But it's the clattering of her dentures that really gets under my skin.

All the rest of it? What the hell. She's a Bush acolyte. It's to be expected.

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August 23, 2010 11:42 AM   

The Washington Post has become the de facto grazing ground for ex-Bush White House staffers on which they dump their manure. If it weren't for the WaPo, none of these people would have a soap box from which to air their nonsense.

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August 23, 2010 12:32 PM   

Here is what I wish. For every prominent figure who says "I believe they have the right to build, but out of sensitivity, should find a new location", I want the reporter to follow up with this question:

As you know Ms Palin, Manhattan real estate is very expensive. Would you be willing to contribute say, $50,000, $100,000 or more and further help organize fund raising efforts to help the group purchase a new property away from Ground Zero that is suitable to your concerns?

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August 23, 2010 12:44 PM   

Stupid Cunt.

Yeah, that's right. Nothing clever. I'm done with clever. She can stick her partisan bigotted nonsense up her hoohoo.

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August 23, 2010 1:05 PM   

She was SO successful winning Muslim hearts and minds when she did her big-foot tour of the Middle East claiming to listen but telling everyone how great the U.S. was.
Digby had a good post on this yesterday. Reading through the transcript of her speech, the most common word is I.

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August 23, 2010 1:08 PM   

I've always believed Karen Hughes to be a traiblazer, an innovative speaker, one who has the slippery toung of a snake, one who made an art form out of pathological lying, and taught children that when you knowingly tell an untruth to achieve your agenda, you don't knowingly lie, you SPIN. Spin is a word we heard over and over again during the Bush years; now, as a testament to competent leadership, it's a word I haven't heard used by pundits or others since Obama took office.
Let's not let her be allowed to spin her stance and that of the GOP and other Right Wingers into something benign. Her stand and theirs, and George Bush's (buy his silent acquiescence) is nothing more than DEMAGOGUERY! They have no ethical brakes on utilizing the most horid emotional issues, FEAR and HATE to achieve their own ends. KAREN HUGHES IS AN INVETERATE LIAR, not any different than KARL ROVE. Her only qualification for political work is her lack of integrity.

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August 23, 2010 2:24 PM    in reply to Whenwillthisnightmareend

If she was Mormon, I think they'd call it "Lying for Jesus", or if she were a Scientologist, "Fair Game"; in any event, this is not acceptable in mainstream Christianity.

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August 23, 2010 1:13 PM   

Her piece apparently has blown up the comments function on WaPo's website, after 1,600-plus comments. Every time I try to get into the comments there, my screen freezes.

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August 23, 2010 1:36 PM   

Karen, Karen, Karen. Sometimes it's best just to say nothing.

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August 23, 2010 1:38 PM   

American Conservatism = Christian fascism

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August 23, 2010 1:58 PM   

"I am asking the imam and his congregation to show a respect that has not always been accorded to them".

Why should they?
They have been vilified by mindless, idiots who do not respect the Constitution they claim to love.

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August 23, 2010 2:16 PM   

And another thing . . .

(Jeez, refuting the disinformation that fuels this whole ginned-up "controversy" is almost a full-time job.)

Just who exactly are "the 9/11 families"? You know, those loved ones of the victims whose sensitivities are supposed to be so universally traumatized by this Muslim version of a YMCA? Is it just the spouses? Or does it also include the children and parents? How about grandchildren and grandparents? Siblings? Brothers- and sisters-in-law? Nephews and nieces? Uncles and aunts? Cousins? Mothers- and fathers-in-law? Other assorted in-laws? "Step" relatives (step-fathers, step-sisters, etc.) of some or all variety? "Half" relatives?

And they ALL have the same attitude about this Muslim Community Center? Every last one of them? They ALL think it's a "stab in the back"? They ALL think it dishonors the "hallowed ground" of lower Manhattan? They ALL think it's like "spitting on the graves" of their loved ones? And how exactly do the Newt Gingriches and the Rick Lazios and the Peter Kings know this? Have they taken some sort of poll? Have all of the "families" been canvassed?

Morons.

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August 23, 2010 2:57 PM   

I am very disappointed to have to once again gaze upon this awful person's porcine countenance.

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August 23, 2010 3:10 PM   

Another stupid bumpkin from the Bush administration.

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August 23, 2010 3:18 PM   

...Ok,no mosque in Manhattan....But you have to move all those friggin Southern Baptist churches the hell out of Massachusetts..

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August 23, 2010 3:19 PM   

Like all bottom feeders, Ms. Hughes goes for the rotting flesh without a second thought.

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August 23, 2010 3:42 PM   

....The hijackers were all from Saudi Arabia (and Kuwait?) so is the oil...So...Buying/using petroleum products not sucked out of "American wells" aids the governments that aid the terorists...Hmm..Let's all be American and wear our flag pins while not using petroleum! WoW!...Every time any of these tea party/Astro turf/republicans speak aloud in public,the terrorists win...THANKS GEORGE!!!!!!!

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August 23, 2010 3:56 PM   

Pour nous le ciel est bleu.Pour les xenophobes il est rouge.

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August 23, 2010 4:24 PM   

Another Republican from Texas we could do without! Now, go back to sleep Ms.Hughes!

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August 23, 2010 4:33 PM   

The mere appearance of that woman's picture makes me want to wretch. She has always epitomized what I call the 'professional liars' class. As a resident of Austin, I have actually found myself in the same diningroom as this vile woman. (If I'd only had the guts, I would have done what a friend of mine did when he saw Karl Rove in the Dallas airport: He went up to within speaking distance of him and said, loudly, "Oh look. It's that liar Karl Rove!" and then made his way back into the crowd.

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August 23, 2010 5:56 PM    in reply to pbabe

I was on the same flight with Karl Rove from Austin to Dallas in 2009. I wanted to approach him but a uniformed representative from the airline sat with him the majority of the flight so as to prevent anyone from approaching him.

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August 23, 2010 6:01 PM    in reply to BrightLightsBigCity

Clearly Karl needed help to find his way to the little liar's room during the flight.

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August 23, 2010 4:47 PM   

American Conservatism=Christian Fascism


Hall marks of Fascism
*** Nationalism and super-patriotism with a sense of historic mission. “We need to take our country back…” a popular line among the Christian fascist.
*** Aggressive militarism even to the extent of glorifying war as good for the national or individual spirit. “Christian fascist undying support for 2 useless wars that has cost the lives and mental health of a generation of Americans.”
*** Use of violence or threats of violence to impose views on others (fascism and Nazism both employed street violence and state violence at different moments in their development). “Second amendment remedies should sound familiar.”
*** Authoritarian reliance on a leader or elite not constitutionally responsible to an electorate. Tea-baggers and corporations
*** Cult of personality around a charismatic leader. “Palin, Beck, Limbaugh, Laura, etc”
*** Reaction against the values of Modernism, usually with emotional attacks against both liberalism and communism. “Texas school board attempts to change history and do away with evolution.”
*** Exhortations for the homogeneous masses of common folk (Volkish in German, Populist in the U.S.) to join voluntarily in a heroic mission_often metaphysical and romanticized in character. “When the Tea-party needs to hold a Unity rally to deflect from its racism, something is wrong.”
*** Dehumanization and scapegoating of the enemy_seeing the enemy as an inferior or subhuman force, perhaps involved in a conspiracy that justifies eradicating them. “Muslims are the enemy du jour.”
*** The self image of being a superior form of social organization beyond socialism, capitalism and democracy. “Taking American exceptionalism to the point it glorifies stupidity”.
*** Elements of national socialist ideological roots, for example, ostensible support for the industrial working class or farmers; but ultimately, the forging of an alliance with an elite sector of society. “Think demonizing wall street and big corporations for bailouts yet were the main supporters for it.
*** Abandonment of any consistent ideology in a drive for state power. “See the above and news.”

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