# King hearings under way. **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [March 10, 2011, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/king-hearings-under-way/574187 "2011-03-10T16:03:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2011, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/king-hearings-under-way/574187/1 "2011-03-10T16:03:47Z")
Peter King’s Muslim bashing hearings are underway. Not much to say yet except that Keith Ellison was amazing. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2011, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/king-hearings-under-way/574187/2 "2011-03-10T16:06:18Z")
Links and filling in the story a bit would be nice, don’tcha think? ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2011, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/king-hearings-under-way/574187/3 "2011-03-10T16:11:11Z")
What’s the debate? ---
**Author:** ![fumster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9c0ed/32.png) [@fumster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fumster)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2011, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/king-hearings-under-way/574187/4 "2011-03-10T16:13:00Z")
The King has no clothes. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2011, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/king-hearings-under-way/574187/5 "2011-03-10T16:32:42Z")
I’m talking about the Congressional hearings that are going on live right now which are ostensibly intended to investigate the threat of “homegrown” Islamic terrorism, but which are really stacked just to present a series of cherry-picked Muslim bashing witnesses, exclude testimony and witnesses contrary to King’s pre-ordained conclusions and essentially try to create a fiction that American Muslims are traitors covering up terrorist plots and to terrify Whitey into thinking that Middle America is on the brink of destruction from a Mussulman threat that only the Republicans can save us from. Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN), the first and only Muslim ever elected to the US Congress, gave a moving opening statement during which he broke down while telling the story of a Muslim man who died trying to rescue victims on 9/11, but who was still subsequently demonized as probably having been in on the plot (I hope I have the gist of that right. There’s probably video somewhere). In any case, it was a very effective statement by Ellison, after which Peter King declared that no one else would be allowed to give opening statements. I put it in GD because it’s a highly political topic which people are bound to argue about, but it doesn’t really have anything to do with any elections. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2011, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/king-hearings-under-way/574187/6 "2011-03-10T16:40:01Z")
Well, I hope they’ll be addressing the imminent threat of Sharia Law being imposed on the US by our allegedly Christian president. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2011, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/king-hearings-under-way/574187/7 "2011-03-10T16:46:31Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > I’m talking about the Congressional hearings that are going on live right now which are ostensibly intended to investigate the threat of “homegrown” Islamic terrorism, but which are really stacked just to present a series of cherry-picked Muslim bashing witnesses, exclude testimony and witnesses contrary to King’s pre-ordained conclusions and essentially try to create a fiction that American Muslims are traitors covering up terrorist plots and to terrify Whitey into thinking that Middle America is on the brink of destruction from a Mussulman threat that only the Republicans can save us from. You forgot about the need to keep the Feds too busy to track any further support from King to his old Irish Republican Army buds. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2011, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/king-hearings-under-way/574187/8 "2011-03-10T17:03:22Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > I’m talking about the Congressional hearings that are going on live right now which are ostensibly intended to investigate the threat of “homegrown” Islamic terrorism, but which are really stacked just to present a series of cherry-picked Muslim bashing witnesses, exclude testimony and witnesses contrary to King’s pre-ordained conclusions and essentially try to create a fiction that American Muslims are traitors covering up terrorist plots and to terrify Whitey into thinking that Middle America is on the brink of destruction from a Mussulman threat that only the Republicans can save us from. > > … > > I put it in GD because it’s a highly political topic which people are bound to argue about, but it doesn’t really have anything to do with any elections. It sounds like a pointless excercise in bigotry. I suppose the debate could be whether there is any justification for these hearings. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2011, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/king-hearings-under-way/574187/9 "2011-03-10T17:06:12Z")
I kind of assumed it would get there. I’m sure somebody will defend them. ---
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2011, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/king-hearings-under-way/574187/10 "2011-03-10T17:13:05Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN), the first and only Muslim ever elected to the US Congress… Nitpick, there’s also Andre Carson from Indiana’s seventh district. In 2008 he became the second Muslim elected to the U.S. Congress. ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2011, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/king-hearings-under-way/574187/11 "2011-03-10T17:14:00Z")
> [@joebuck20](#): > > Nitpick, there’s also Andre Carson from Indiana’s seventh district. In 2008 he became the second Muslim elected to the U.S. Congress. Kings right!, they are taking over! ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2011, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/king-hearings-under-way/574187/12 "2011-03-10T17:22:59Z")
> [@joebuck20](#): > > Nitpick, there’s also Andre Carson from Indiana’s seventh district. In 2008 he became the second Muslim elected to the U.S. Congress. Thank you. I did not know that. I stand corrected. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2011, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/king-hearings-under-way/574187/13 "2011-03-10T17:38:03Z")
Well, I’m not worried. The Tennessee legislature is considering a bill to [outlaw Sharia law](http://www.tennessean.com/article/D4/20110302/NEWS01/103020324/Groups-Bill-makes-illegal-Muslim), so we’ll be perfectly safe here. ---
**Author:** ![Zephyurs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/dfb087/32.png) [@Zephyurs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zephyurs)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2011, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/king-hearings-under-way/574187/14 "2011-03-10T17:46:11Z")
> [@Steve\_MB](#): > > You forgot about the need to keep the Feds too busy to track any further support from King to his old Irish Republican Army buds. Umm, you’re forgetting the second prong to “all brown people are terrorists,” which is that only brown people can be terrorists, stupid. ---
**Author:** ![Beadalin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Beadalin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beadalin)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2011, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/king-hearings-under-way/574187/15 "2011-03-10T18:12:59Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN), the first and only Muslim ever elected to the US Congress, gave a moving opening statement during which he broke down while telling the story of a Muslim man who died trying to rescue victims on 9/11, but who was still subsequently demonized as probably having been in on the plot (I hope I have the gist of that right. There’s probably video somewhere). Here’s a good article about it, with video: [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42005790/ns/politics](http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42005790/ns/politics) I’m so glad I got to vote for him! > [@](#): > > “Mohammed Salman Hamdani was a fellow American who gave his life for other Americans,” Ellison said, his voice trembling. “His life should not be defined as a member of an ethnic group or a member of a religion, but as an American who gave everything for his fellow citizens.” > > “This committee’s approach to violent extremism is contrary to American values and threatens our security,” Ellison said. The congressman tried to hide his tears behind his papers and quickly left the room after his remarks. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2011, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/king-hearings-under-way/574187/16 "2011-03-10T18:21:44Z")
Isn’t this King the same guy that unapologetically supported the IRA? [http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/09/us/politics/09king.html?\_r=1](http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/09/us/politics/09king.html?_r=1) > [@](#): > > For Representative Peter T. King, as he seizes the national spotlight this week with a hearing on the radicalization of American Muslims, it is the most awkward of résumé entries. Long before he became an outspoken voice in Congress about the threat from terrorism, he was a fervent supporter of a terrorist group, the Irish Republican Army. How soon they forget. > **[PLO - IRA - One Struggle | PPPA](https://www.palestineposterproject.org/posters/plo-ira-one-struggle)** ---
**Author:** ![villa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/bc79bd/32.png) [@villa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/villa)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2011, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/king-hearings-under-way/574187/17 "2011-03-10T18:32:05Z")
Yes - and Peter King sees no problem at all with it because the IRA was small and localized, whereas Al Qaeda is attacking the US. Thanks, asshole. Nice to know my family and friends are of no value. Good to see your impression of the ‘Special Relationship.’ ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2011, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/king-hearings-under-way/574187/18 "2011-03-10T19:19:35Z")
> [@Malthus](#): > > Isn’t this King the same guy that unapologetically supported the IRA? > > [http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/09/us/politics/09king.html?\_r=1](http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/09/us/politics/09king.html?_r=1) > How soon they forget. > > [http://www.palestineposterproject.org/poster/plo-ira-one-struggle](http://www.palestineposterproject.org/poster/plo-ira-one-struggle) On a side note, King is supposed to be an arch-conservative and yet he supported an organization (the IRA) that was, if not Marxist in political orientation, certainly very left wing. You almost have to admire someone who’s managed to live with this cognitive dissonance for so long. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2011, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/king-hearings-under-way/574187/19 "2011-03-10T19:37:15Z")
> [@NDP](#): > > On a side note, King is supposed to be an arch-conservative and yet he supported an organization (the IRA) that was, if not Marxist in political orientation, certainly very left wing. You almost have to admire someone who’s managed to live with this cognitive dissonance for so long. Their political agenda isn’t relevant. King’s of Irish descent and his district is in central Long Island, so there are probably a lot of Irish-American families there and few to no Muslims. The Irish are OK, the Muslims aren’t. The end. That’s an amazing story from Ellison and I hadn’t heard it before. I was going to compare it to “Have you no decency, sir?” but that would be a bit overblown, and King would have asked if decency was some kind of radical Islamic doctrine. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2011, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/king-hearings-under-way/574187/20 "2011-03-10T19:47:06Z")
> [@Malthus](#): > > Isn’t this King the same guy that unapologetically supported the IRA? Indeed it is. The same IRA that happily blew up pubs and massacred innocent civilians with machine guns. The same IRA supported by Ghaddafi. Also known for running drugs. That IRA. See, if you’re supporting white people who blow up and shoot innocent civilians, that’s okay. The problem with Muslim terrorists isn’t that they have the nerve to blow up and shoot innocent civilians without being white. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/king-hearings-under-way/574187.md?page=2)