Imagine a press conference singing the praises of Planned Parenthood in front of Kermit Gosnell’s workplace. Would the speaker look, maybe, a little disingenuous? Or like he was willfully blind to real criticisms and concerns?
That’s similar to what happened with Jeh Johnson at his recent press conference — he picked an audience that doesn’t quite square with his intended message.
Jeh Johnson — Secretary of Homeland Security — made a formal address in Sterling Virginia, to the All Dulles Area Muslim Society. There, Mr Johnson took to the present administration’s favorite pass-time — wagging its finger at the American Public — with the following official statement:
“My message today is this: In responding to this new environment, we must not vilify American Muslims. We must not throw a net of suspicion over American Muslims and an entire religion. We must not force American Muslims to run and hide, and retreat to the shadows. This would be counter to our homeland security efforts, and it is un-American.”
It seems strange that the Homeland Security Director — who has just seen a mass murderer come to San Bernardino after passing security checks — tell us that his chief concern is how people feel about Muslims.
But the story gets stranger. Because this Homeland Security official made his speech in a most unfortunate context.
For one thing, he chose the ADAMS Center. This Center has been described as a “controversial Muslim center that was reportedly raided by federal agents as part of an investigation into a terror organization.”
And the plot thickens. The photo op used emotionally manipulative images like Muslim children from Boy Scouts, and Girl Scouts in hijabs, but there was someone else present.
Johnson made his grandiose announcement that the purpose of this event was to underscore in front of as many cameras as possible that the “overwhelming, overwhelming majority of Muslims want to live in peace. And those who think otherwise do not understand Islam.” But (whoops) he shared a stage with one Imam Mohamed Magid.
The reason this is problematic, is that of all the Imams this DHS official could have chosen to have a public photo op with — many presumably peaceful, as he says — Jeh Johnson chose Magid.
Magid just happens to be president of the Islamic Society of North America, an organization which has — in court — acknowledged historical ties to, and support of Hamas.
But hey, look! Boy Scouts!
