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Another Obama advisor under the bus: Shady Muslim outreach director steps down

By Michelle Malkin  •  August 5, 2008 11:25 PM

Well, that was quick. A little over a week ago, the Obama campaign proudly touted the appointment of a new Muslim outreach director. Now, he’s out following questions about his ties to a radical Muslim imam and the Muslim brotherhood. Doesn’t anyone do background checks for The One after all this time?

From a July 31 Obama campaign website blog post:

All -

Assalamu-Aleikum. My name is Mazen Asbahi and I’ve been blessed and privileged to be serving the Obama for America Campaign as the National Coordinator for Muslim American Affairs. I’m also coordinating Arab American matters. I’m treating the two roles separately as these are two separate constituencies, though of course there is some overlap.

In order to get Senator Obama elected, the Campaign needs all of you to continue your support and if possible to take it to another level. It’s a race for every vote in the key battleground states, such as Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Ohio. We need Muslim Americans to get excited about the Campaign, and there’s a lot to get excited about!

Sure, there have been mis-steps. And of course there are added sensitivities with our faith given the “smear” campaign trying to paint the Senator as too exotic and too un-American to be President.

If you have not plugged into the Campaign, please do. The Campaign makes it very easy to do. Visit your local Obama offices and register voters, raise money, get the word out, and pull in your friends and family to also participate.

Please feel free to contact me with ideas, critiques and suggestions for improvements on our outreach strategies. (Please keep in mind that I’ve just signed on :)).

Peace,

Mazen Asbahi

No peace from the WSJ, which reports tonight:

The Muslim-outreach coordinator to the presidential campaign of Barack Obama has resigned amid questions about his involvement in an Islamic investment fund and various Islamic groups.

Chicago lawyer Mazen Asbahi, who was appointed volunteer national coordinator for Muslim American affairs by the Obama campaign on July 26, stepped down Monday after an Internet newsletter wrote about his brief stint on the fund’s board, which also included a fundamentalist imam.

“Mr. Asbahi has informed the campaign that he no longer wishes to serve in his volunteer position, and we are in the process of searching for a new national Arab American and Muslim American outreach coordinator,” spokesman Ben LaBolt said in a statement.

A corporate lawyer at the firm of Schiff Hardin LLP, Mr. Asbahi tendered his resignation after he and the Obama campaign received emailed inquiries about his background from The Wall Street Journal. He did not respond to the email or a message left at his law office; the campaign released a letter in which Mr. Asbahi said he did not want to be a distraction.

The imam is Jamal Said. Background on his jihad-friendly mosque here.

And more details the Obama vetters neglected to vet:

The eight-year-old connection between Mr. Asbahi and Mr. Said was raised last week by the Global Muslim Brotherhood Daily Report, which is published by a Washington think tank and chronicles the activities of the Muslim Brotherhood, a world-wide fundamentalist group based in Egypt. Other Web sites, some pro-Republican and others critical of fundamentalist Islam, also have reported on the background of Mr. Asbahi. He is a frequent speaker before several groups in the U.S. that scholars have associated with the Muslim Brotherhood.

The Justice Department named Mr. Said an unindicted co-conspirator in the racketeering trial last year of several alleged Hamas fund-raisers, which ended in a mistrial. He has also been identified as a leading member of the group in news reports going back to 1993.

Mr. Said is the imam at the Bridgeview Mosque in Bridge-view, Ill., outside Chicago. He left the board of the Islamic fund in 2005, Securities and Exchange Commission filings state. A message left for Mr. Said at the mosque was not returned.

Allied Asset Advisors is a subsidiary of the North American Islamic Trust. The trust, which is supported financially by the government of Saudi Arabia, holds title to many mosques in the U.S. and promotes a conservative brand of Islam compatible with the ideology of the Muslim Brotherhood and also akin to the fundamentalist style predominant in Saudi Arabia. Allied executives did not respond to inquiries.

Countdown until CAIR screams Islamophobia and Obama minions scream racist?

3…2…1…

Posted in: Barack Obama, Islam

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Comments

  1. #1
    On August 5th, 2008 at 11:35 pm, BrianNY said:

    Oh well, I guess he wasn’t the one he was waiting for.

  2. #2
    On August 5th, 2008 at 11:36 pm, Fineous Reese said:

    standard “not the [insert noun] I knew before” excuse in 3…2…1…?

  3. #3
    On August 5th, 2008 at 11:37 pm, ajmontana said:

    Obama’s glow dimmed way back when Hillary was smokin him in every state after people realized the guy is all mouth and no brains. Plus the company he keeps. Speaking of which, where are all those people “who made me who I am”?????

  4. #4
    On August 5th, 2008 at 11:38 pm, meatpieandtatters said:

    Hmmm…narrow mindedness wins again.

  5. #5
    On August 5th, 2008 at 11:45 pm, almeehan said:

    Islamic chickens coming home to roost.

  6. #6
    On August 5th, 2008 at 11:51 pm, cactusjoe said:

    Obama is a bright fellow, but he is way out of his league. If he runs the country like he runs his staff…well, heaven help us all.

  7. #7
    On August 5th, 2008 at 11:53 pm, thefoundingfathers said:

    I guess he wasn’t helping Michelle O’s children either.

    To all you Obama supporters keep drinking the Kool-Aid.

  8. #8
    On August 5th, 2008 at 11:57 pm, BlameAmericaLast said:

    Surely you didn’t expect the MSM to do any digging, did you?

  9. #9
    On August 6th, 2008 at 12:08 am, alaskangrizzly said:

    I bet Hillary is having a lot of drinks to get over that she lost the nomination this guy. Looks like Uuuhbama is going to need yet another bigger bus with some bigger wheels and tires.

  10. #10
    On August 6th, 2008 at 12:12 am, DesertLover said:

    All these Muslims keep thinking Obama is the 12th Imam … The One … The Mahdi … Ahmadinejad is even building him a special highway …

    BHO should go on stage in Vegas with this illusionist act …move over Copperfield …

  11. #11
    On August 6th, 2008 at 12:14 am, swmbo said:

    Hey alaskangrizzly, I still haven’t seen Hillary’s feet sticking out from under the house yet.

    Kinda like Fatal Attraction, she might still come shooting up out of the water and kill us.

  12. #12
    On August 6th, 2008 at 12:21 am, d1carter said:

    Can you imagine what his Presidential appointments would be like?

  13. #13
    On August 6th, 2008 at 12:31 am, atheling said:

    On August 5th, 2008 at 11:51 pm, cactusjoe said:

    Obama is a bright fellow, but he is way out of his league. If he runs the country like he runs his staff…well, heaven help us all.

    Uhhh, ummm, uhhhh…

  14. #14
    On August 6th, 2008 at 12:48 am, atheling said:

    Is there a Muslim in politics who does not have shady connections???

  15. #15
    On August 6th, 2008 at 1:00 am, simcoe said:

    Anyone wonder why he needs a “Muslim outreach coordinator”?

    The only thing I could imagine he’d be good for is to guide Obie in the repeal of the U.S. constitution and the transition to an Islamic nation after the election.

  16. #16
    On August 6th, 2008 at 1:18 am, KCK said:

    Oh, I thought Obama was a Muslim….

    Others said it first; scratch the surface and find an illicit connection with just about any Muslim (in politics).

  17. #17
    On August 6th, 2008 at 4:27 am, AlohaGuy said:

    we are in the process of searching for a new national Arab American and Muslim American outreach coordinator

    That MIT grad who tried to shoot the Army Captain ought to be ought of custody by next week…

  18. #18
    On August 6th, 2008 at 4:38 am, bit_boy said:

    Well, do not these Obama Saudi Arabia connection explain why he is against drilling for American oil. Not drilling will keep the Saudi’s rolling in 700 billion American green backs per annum and might this also be an undisclosed source of Obies 340 million dollar campaign revenues. No, no way.

  19. #19
    On August 6th, 2008 at 6:44 am, Bruce said:

    Mazen Asbahi confirms that Barry Dunham/Barry Soetoro/Barack Hussein Obama is Muslim:

    And of course there are added sensitivities with **our** faith

  20. #20
    On August 6th, 2008 at 6:47 am, zorro said:

    Obama vetters = Keystone Cops.

  21. #21
    On August 6th, 2008 at 6:47 am, Dr. Lead Based Paint said:

    Better watch it #19: Michelle honors Obama’s “don’t mention my real name” demand.

    #14, ALL American politicians have shady connections… not just the muslims

  22. #22
    On August 6th, 2008 at 8:34 am, Rob said:

    Obama had Jamal Said…

    McAmnesty has Juan Hernandez…

  23. #23
    On August 6th, 2008 at 8:34 am, 30 pcs of silver said:

    Muslim connections abound… what to make of this?

    Obama supporting Odinga’s wholesale slaughter of Christians in Kenya. You don’t say.

  24. #24
    On August 6th, 2008 at 8:44 am, Marc said:

    No mention in the MSM of Obama’s ties to Rashid Khalidi. Mr. Khalidi is a radical antiIsrael professor, first in Chicago and now at Columbia University’s antiIsrael School of Mideast Studies. He believes that even the creation of the State of Israel was an immoral act. He would reverse that if he could. Why not ask Barack about the buddy buddy relationship?

  25. #25
    On August 6th, 2008 at 8:48 am, 30 pcs of silver said:

    “I will stand with the Muslims should the political winds shift in an ugly direction.”

  26. #26
    On August 6th, 2008 at 8:56 am, blogagog said:

    “Assalamu-Aleikum.”

    He totally misspelled salami lickem.

  27. #27
    On August 6th, 2008 at 9:01 am, On-my-soap-box said:

    The only difference I see this election between Dems and Repubs is:

    Repubs are forced to vote for McCain (hero) to keep out Obummer.

    Dems just vote Dem no matter who is running.

    How else can you explain Kennedy (traitor), Jon Cary (traitor), William Jefferson (who I am betting will be re-elected), Murtha (traitor), Reed, Pillosee……….

  28. #28
    On August 6th, 2008 at 9:02 am, tc2011 said:

    This is what happens when you don’t vet your vetter.

  29. #29
    On August 6th, 2008 at 9:18 am, tre said:

    30 Pieces of Silver,

    Lemme see here, he has a Muslim background. He claims to be a Christian, yet his Preacher doesn’t seem to sound like Jesus Christ. He supports cut, run, and surrender in Iraq. He’ll meet with our enemies in Iran, but says he’ll invade our allies (albiet, not very strong allies) in Pakistan.

    So, no, I’m not at all surprised he supports a despot Muslim who slaughters Christians.

  30. #30
    On August 6th, 2008 at 9:20 am, Ron said:

    Questionable associates? What questionable associates? Who can keep track of all the left-leaning, bomb-throwing, hate-spewing, divisive people BO — the Great Unifier — has attracted to himself? This is beginning to look like the plot for a bad novel, semi-comic, if it weren’t so tragic.

  31. #31
    On August 6th, 2008 at 9:25 am, ArizonaNeanderthal said:

    On August 6th, 2008 at 8:48 am, 30 pcs of silver said:

    “I will stand with the Muslims should the political winds shift in an ugly direction.”

    And let us hope that those winds do blow in that direction and soon. Force the One, the Anointed, His MessiahShip to publicly choose. But perhaps if the mohammedans did pull a big terrorist act right now the Leftwing media would blame Big Oil, John McCain and the Jews. If the One, the Anointed, His MessiahShip does become the Caliph of Baghdad and Washington, D.C. the wind will have shifted, the dhimmi will have chosen.
    Does this mean John McCain can have an advisor to Christian Americans?
    Oh well
    Valley Forge
    Trenton
    Saratoga
    Kings Mountain
    the Cow Pens
    I doubt Barack Hussein Obama honors those terrible and glorious days but celebrates the fall of Jerusalem and Constantinople.

    His Messiahship be mocked
    Allie OOP OOP be praised

  32. #32
    On August 6th, 2008 at 10:04 am, JT said:

    A week. A friggin week. Obama can’t be trusted to make one good decision.

    I wouldn’t hire him to run my freight elevator let alone POTUS.

  33. #33
    On August 6th, 2008 at 10:18 am, tarpon said:

    Was Obama’s Berlin speech the equivalent of Dukakis in the tank?

  34. #34
    On August 6th, 2008 at 10:30 am, sambo said:

    Ron said:
    Questionable associates? What questionable associates? Who can keep track of all the left-leaning, bomb-throwing, hate-spewing, divisive people BO — the Great Unifier — has attracted to himself? This is beginning to look like the plot for a bad novel, semi-comic, if it weren’t so tragic.

    Who did you think ‘the Great Unifier’ was planning to unify?

  35. #35
    On August 6th, 2008 at 10:59 am, ArizonaNeanderthal said:

    sambo said:
    Who did you think ‘the Great Unifier’ was planning to unify?

    The We We have waiting for? He who wishes he could be rid of his mother’s white blood -Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance -
    Mr. Grievance, His Messiahship, Louis Farrakahn’s prodigy ‘the Great Unifier’?
    The congragant of Jeremiah Wright, friend of Michael Phlger and the Weatherunderground Unifier? The friend of the PLO Unifier?

    I was thinking communism with mohammedism but I don’t want to appear judgemental. May the ProfitMargin be with you.

    His Messiahship be mocked
    Allie OOP OOP be praised

  36. #36
    On August 6th, 2008 at 11:13 am, shooter said:

    Countdown until CAIR screams Islamophobia and Obama minions scream racist?

    Could that have been the plan all along?

  37. #37
    On August 6th, 2008 at 11:23 am, Ilovemycountry said:

    Yep that Obama guy is all bad - she gets my vote:

    http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/64ad536a6d

  38. #38
    On August 6th, 2008 at 1:30 pm, henryinga said:

    Are the people who pick Hussein Obamas’volunteer staff the same ones who approved all of the bad home loans? What worries me is I think he’s aware of their ties and and still approves of them, because he knows millions and millions of Sheeple will vote for him, no matter what.

  39. #39
    On August 6th, 2008 at 1:31 pm, sfrvn said:

    In order to get Senator Obama elected, the Campaign needs all of you to continue your support and if possible to take it to another level. It’s a race for every vote in the key battleground states, such as Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Ohio.

    Now I get it - Omama’s 57 states include Ohio and Ohio.

  40. #40
    On August 6th, 2008 at 2:25 pm, oldcollegeguy1980 said:

    move along nothing to see here.

    nothing at all

    quit looking

    you racist pigs and ..and. .uh uh,,,

    oh yeah just move along…

  41. #41
    On August 6th, 2008 at 2:47 pm, tgusa said:

    Take a good look at the people that this guy surrounds himself with a multiracial group of haters he really does reach across all racial lines but the problem is who he joins hands with. Now consider that his message appears to be, you’re all a bunch of racists, but vote for me nevertheless.

  42. #42
    On August 6th, 2008 at 7:52 pm, starlightwoman said:

    I think people are finally beginning to wake up and smell the coffee, I mean how many more groups can he insult and still expect to become POTUS

  43. #43
    On August 6th, 2008 at 8:33 pm, Micheleeroo said:

    ..in 3,2,1 (altogether now): “THAT’S NOT THE ASBAHI I KNEW!”

  44. #44
    On August 8th, 2008 at 9:19 am, Dimsdale said:

    Sure, there have been mis-steps. And of course there are added sensitivities with our faith given the “smear” campaign trying to paint the Senator as too exotic and too un-American to be President.

    Exotic. Another word for woefully inexperienced.

    A corporate lawyer at the firm of Schiff Hardin LLP, Mr. Asbahi tendered his resignation after he and the Obama campaign received emailed inquiries about his background from The Wall Street Journal. He did not respond to the email or a message left at his law office; the campaign released a letter in which Mr. Asbahi said he did not want to be a distraction.

    It is pretty hard to be a distraction unless there is something there sufficient to cause a distraction. Obviously, the WSJ was onto something, and they tossed him before it got out to minimize the damage.

    Well, there is one thing we can definitely say about the messiah: he has a particularly poor sense of character, or, more likely, these are the kind of people he prefers to associate with, and is comforted by the fact that the liberal MSM will never question his associations.

    The Obama list of bad-for-the-U.S. associations just keeps growing: racists, anarchists, socialists, pacifists, now Islamofascists.

    When do the dopers on the left come out of their swoon and see the (real) light?

  45. #45
    On August 11th, 2008 at 3:12 pm, Molotov said:

    Well gee, I wonder why he was hired, maybe because Obama IS A MUSLIM. Heathen will BURN! Burn in HELL!

    If he was a christian, would he let a muslim run his campaign? NO! He’d shoot on sight. That’s what good christians do– “If your very own brother, or your son or daughter, or the wife you love, or your closest friend secretly entices you, saying, “Let us go and worship other gods” (gods that neither you nor your fathers have known, gods of the peoples around you, whether near or far, from one end of the land to the other), do not yield to him or listen to him. Show him no pity. Do not spare him or shield him. You must certainly put him to death. Your hand must be the first in putting him to death, and then the hands of all the people. Stone him to death, because he tried to turn you away from the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.” Deuteronomy 13:6-10

    Pretty clear, huh? NO MUSLIMS IN AMERICA.

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