Think Progress

White House silent on Goode, Prager.

By Nico Pitney on Dec 23rd, 2006 at 11:21 am

White House silent on Goode, Prager.

“White House officials said they were aware that some Democrats and Muslims were urging President Bush to admonish Representative Virgil H. Goode Jr., Republican of Virginia, and Dennis Prager, the conservative commentator, for suggesting that the first Muslim elected to the House had no place in Congress. ‘We’re aware of the situation,’ said Dana Perino, a spokeswoman for Mr. Bush, ‘but no judgments have been made.’”



52 Responses to “White House silent on Goode, Prager.”

  1. VerbalKint says:

    The deafening silence of Republicans about the Goode and Prager hate-fests is weird. I have no doubt that these incidents are causing more image problems for the GOP. They don’t seem to grasp the message from the elections that most Americans are sick of this hate-mongering crap. It appears that their number one priority is to maintain their core supporters of hatred-filled, pseudo-Christian, bedwetting bigots.


  2. Jay Randal says:

    Bush is a disgraceful president, so he must resign with Cheney!


  3. ForTruth says:

    I’d be silent on those freaks too.


  4. ForTruth says:

    They’ll figure out they have to come up with something. Like everything else. They resist at first.


  5. AngryOne says:

    Of course the White House is silent. After all, President Bush is just one of many Republicans skilled at playing the GOP’s Amazing Race Card.


  6. VerbalKint says:

    They’ll figure out they have to come up with something.

    Yeah, they will come up with something alright. Like more “proof” that Muslims are super-scary people. Expect a big terror warning, or some bogus arrests down at the local mosque in which the authorities select their victims based on having scary-sounding Arab names, dark beady eyes, and spotty facial hair. When that approach stops having the desired effect, they will move on to the next stage: attacking Iran.


  7. VerbalKint says:

    I was being a bit facetious about them attacking Iran. That won’t happen until serious talk of impeachment starts up in Congress. Then look out. Tactical nukes are a distinct possibility.


  8. freebird9 says:

    The White House needs to admonish these freaks. Oh I forgot, all those in the White House and this administration are FREAKS. Too bad.

    Both of these men have no business in government when they have no inkling of what the Constitution of the United States says. All men are created equal. Freedom of religion also means Freedom FROM religion.

    what these morons don’t get is that if someone was a practicing Satanist and the constituents of that district voted them in they have every right to use whatever book they want for their private swearing in ceremony, even the book of satan. Stupid idiots.

    The only thing I want my elected officials to care about and swear to uphold is the CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

    our Founding Fathers are turning in their graves. Spinning really, this is beyond stupid. Our own elected officials have no idea about what these documents say. NONE. FOR SHAME.


  9. Juan C says:

    Just put Snow in front of microphones…he will know what to say as always…


  10. paul says:

    I can’t condone Goode’s comments, but I think his comments bring to light an issue that we need to raise as a country. Assimilation. I am not a Christian. I respect Muslims. I will admit that my concern may be from ignorance or a lack of understanding on the subject, but here it is. If you look at places around the world that are predominately Muslim, there seems to be restrictions on many of the freedoms that we as Americans or Westerners take for granted as unalienable rights. I am also concerned about an impression, especially in Europe, that many Muslims that immigrate are unwilling to subscribe to the laws and rights of their new host countries. Opting instead to introduce societies within the new countries governed by Islamic law that may contradict the laws of the host country. I respect the rights of Muslims to practice Islam. I would not care if this country became 99% Muslim. But I like women to be able to show there faces. I want women to be able to vote. I want everybody to have the right to worship the way they want to. I want people to have the rights to speak freely when they disagree. I want people to live in relative freedom from the persecution of others whose religious ideas are different than there own. (yes, that includes from Christians). I believe that if Americans could feel more confident about Muslim immigrants willingness to assimilate, there would be widespread condemnation of remarks like Goode’s.


  11. Pete_Bogs says:

    no Republicants have an issue with this, eh? that’s very telling about the true nature of their party…


  12. Juan C says:

    Paul, I have to say that you have changed a lot or thats my impression. Yours was a very civilized post. If I ever threw some sh*t to you, I apologize.

    On topic, I understand that the concern of citizens is the arrival of people with different beliefs and culture. Its like ghettos in Europe and in America. But ghettos are understandable, they protect themselves in a foreign land…but as long as they respect other people, I dont see why it is wrong to have different people as neighbors. If women are taught to cover their faces, and they want to do that, thats a shame cuz there are beautiful Middle Eastern woman faces, but thats their decision.

    My opinion is that we, everybody, have to get along. There is nothing better than the mixing of cultures: this enriches our own. Of course, everybody have to obey local laws, no matter what. If Muslims are breaking the law, they should be punished. But there are laws against drinking while driving, and there are lots of people doing just that, and probably not all of them are Muslims…


  13. angus thorsen says:

    But there are laws against drinking while driving, and there are lots of people doing just that, and probably not all of them are Muslims…

    Comment by Juan C

    Juan,

    But Americans don`t send their children to school to learn how to drink and drive as a way of life and religion.

    Muslims teach their children in their schools to hate the infidels.Fins and dandy.

    So why would a muslim who absolutelt hates infidels want to assimilate in that very country?


  14. paul says:

    Juan C. You never have to apologize to me. We have different ideas about alot of things (although, I bet we agree on more). I enjoy the exchange. I also believe that mixing the cultures is what stenghtens this world. It is the intolerant extremist of any religion or belief that make the lives of all us more difficult. We will probably continue to disagree on many things, but it’s okay to give me sh*t. I dish out more than my fair share.


  15. VerbalKint says:

    Paul,

    I live in an inner city neighborhood full of east African, Hmong, and Latino immigrants. A majority of my coworkers are foreigners, particularly Chinese and Indian. I can assure you that the degree of assimilation of foreign immigrants of all types in this country is amazing, and stands in stark contrast to most European countries, where immigrants are herded into large ghettos and left there to rot. European society can be very closed, and it really shows with respect to how immigrants are treated there. That is why France has had such persistent problems, including massive, prolonged riots. Similar problems are cropping up in the Scandinavian countries, and of course there have long been problems with Germany’s Turkish guest worker program. We don’t see that in this country precisely because most Americans are accepting of immigrants, and give them at least some chance to participate in the culture and economy. The vast majority of immigrants badly want to learn English, because it is their ticket to intergration and economic success. The exception is mostly confined to the elderly. The rate of “Americanization” of the children of immigrants in particular is astounding.

    I perceive very little interest among Muslim immigrants in establishing Sharia in this country. The ones who prefer that route stay in their home countries, where fanatics are welcome. Muslim immigrants in this country mostly want the same things you and I want: peace, economic and physcial security, freedom to practice their religious beliefs and raise their children how they see fit. In short, they come here to find the American dream. As for the core religious values that they want to preserve, these are no worse, and often better, than the core values of many rightwing pseudo-Christians who are polluting our country with intolerance.


  16. criticalthinker says:

    re#10 Paul

    I my lifetime it was LEGAL for those “Christians” with skin that reflects more light than it absorbs, to deny those “rights” you are talking about to those “Christians” with skin that absorbs more light than it reflects, and these people have been “assimilated” here for hundreds of years

    So what does this denial of “rights” have something to do with religion or being Muslim?

    No Paul the problem is not Muslins “assimilating”, it is that these HYPOCRITES are scared of anybody who does not look and act like them!


  17. VerbalKint says:

    Muslims teach their children in their schools to hate the infidels.
    Comment by angus thorsen — December 23, 2006 @ 12:37 pm

    Paul, this poster is a perfect example of the sort of ignorant hatred spewed by someone who I assume is American, and who I bet deems himself a good Christian. I fear the Angus Thorsens of the world more than I fear Muslim people.


  18. AkaDad says:

    A uniter, or someone who wanted to change the tone in Washington, would come out and condemn this bigotry.

    Silence is complicity…


  19. Republicans Are The Fear And Smear Party says:

    “…no judgments have been made.”

    This is the republicans’ game. They use a phrase like “no judgments” and hope that the people will believe that their party couldn’t possibly judge anyone, and so what Goode and Prager said couldn’t possibly be hateful or judgmental. It must have been something else.


  20. angus thorsen says:

    Paul, this poster is a perfect example of the sort of ignorant hatred spewed by someone who I assume is American, and who I bet deems himself a good Christian. I fear the Angus Thorsens of the world more than I fear Muslim people.

    I am simply stating that that is a fact.Why downgrade me?

    Why would someone who is taught to hate the infidels…Americans.

    Why would they want to even come here then?

    Serious question.I think it deserves a non hateful response.

    Verbalknit,you need not post again,I see your view.

    Again I will ask,

    Why would someone who is taught to hate the infidels…Americans.

    Why would they want to even come here then?Smack dab in the middle of the -infidels-??

    Any -intelligent- response welcomed.Ones like the angry one of

    verbal knit are discouraged and will not even be read.

    Thanks in advance.

    Try again verbalknit?


  21. Republicans Are The Fear And Smear Party says:

    angus thorsen…you are grouping all Muslims together when you say they all hate us. Do you see the ignorance there? We have people in this country who are taught to hate every day. The Republican party teaches hatred of non-Christians, liberals, blacks, and gays, just to name a few. Why would Republicans want to live here if they hate Americans so much?Should Republicans be be kicked out?


  22. angus thorsen says:

    Republicans Are The Fear And Smear Party ,

    So it is just the -radical muslim- who teaches their children as a matter of coursework in school to hate the infidels?

    Particularly Americans?And another question if you know the answer.

    Which Muslim countries are classified as -radical- on the political map?
    Iran would be one I am sure.Syria?I just want to get the facts straight for myself is all.

    In other words radical Muslims are like -radical- neo religions in this country then?

    Which countries -Islamic- mandate the teaching of hating the infidels?


  23. angus thorsen says:

    Repubs teaches hatred of non-Christians, liberals, blacks, and gays, just to name a few.

    But do Republicans warrant their deaths as a matter of schoolwork from a very young age?

    Of course I am not lumping all Muslims into one pot.I am just interested in the numbers is all.And also,how do we keep the radicals who were taught this from a young age,how do we keep them out.

    How can we possibly know who is who and how they were taught in school and which school they attended and in which country.

    That is all I am driving at.Sure there are wonderful Muslims.But how do you tell what the background is is what worries me.


  24. VerbalKint says:

    I am simply stating that that is a fact.Why downgrade me?
    Comment by angus thorsen — December 23, 2006 @ 1:22 pm

    Angus, your ignorance speaks for itself. What you state as “fact” is true of a tiny percentage of Muslims worldwide, and that really is a fact. So I am downgrading you for repeating an undocumented and outright false characterization of Muslims that screams xenophobia.

    If you want to see the sort of hatred spewed by so-called Christians in this country, I suggest reading yesterday’s thread on Media Matters most outrageous comments of 2006. Your thought leaders on talk radio and Fake News regularly spew things about nuking the entire Middle East. How come you aren’t condemning that sh*t coming right out of your own backyard? Surely you must be aware of it. Hypocrite.

    Angus, I wouldn’t count on getting any traction around here with your ignorance. This is a web site for thoughtful adults who have a basic working knowledge of the world outside of the trailer park zone you must live in.


  25. angus thorsen says:

    If you want to see the sort of hatred spewed by so-called Christians in this country, I suggest reading yesterday’s thread on Media Matters most outrageous comments of 2006. Your thought leaders on talk radio and Fake News regularly spew things about nuking the entire Middle East. How come you aren’t condemning that sh*t coming right out of your own backyard? Surely you must be aware of it. Hypocrite.

    Verbal knit,

    Why do you assume I am a republican?Just because I asked that question.


  26. VerbalKint says:

    And also,how do we keep the radicals who were taught this from a young age,how do we keep them out.
    Comment by angus thorsen — December 23, 2006 @ 1:41 pm

    You sound like a bedwetter, Angus.

    Don’t worry, wuss, the bloodly murderous Muslims don’t care about your trailer park down there in redneck land.


  27. angus thorsen says:

    Republicans Are The Fear And Smear Party,

    Sorry for the interruption.I will await your anwsers.I would really like to know the answers about questions 22 and 23.

    What -small % of the world`s muslim population- as verbalknit puts it,what percentage is it?

    And what countries?Verbalknit?Care to quote some factual numbers and countries before labeling?


  28. Tom says:

    C’mon, GDumbya. Speak up.

    “You’re either for them or against them.” Isn’t that what you always say?


  29. angus thorsen says:

    verbalknit,

    you don`t know the answer do you?

    to #s 22 and 23 of my posts.

    So here we go resorting to the old standby trailer trash remarks.

    Nice.Original.


  30. VerbalKint says:

    Why do you assume I am a republican?

    Where did I say that?

    But do Republicans warrant their deaths as a matter of schoolwork from a very young age?

    Yeah, I’m sure there are home schoolers doing that around our country.

    You seem obsessed with this school idea. It sounds like you feed on a steady diet of WorldNetDaily. There are indeed such schools in the Muslim world, but most Muslims don’t go to these schools. No doubt that sort of subtlety is completely lost on you, however.


  31. Tom says:

    Look at the bright side of things, VerbalKint.

    At least we don’t have to worry about where angus went to school or what he was taught. He’s still as clueless as the day he was born and one taco short of a combination plate.


  32. VerbalKint says:

    He’s still as clueless as the day he was born and one taco short of a combination plate.
    Comment by Tom — December 23, 2006 @ 1:54 pm

    And he is so busy hiding under the bed I doubt he is much a threat.


  33. gremlin says:

    I call for the immediate discharge of all Muslim, non-Anglo, non-Christian American soldiers from our military. They obviously are conspiring with the terrorists to kill us!

    Seriously, why should these brave AMERICAN soldiers risk life and limb for a country who hates them and their ancestry? They deserve better treatment and respect.

    Our soldiers are Americans, doing the bidding of the Christians’ favorite past time–war…..in the name of Jesus???

    ONWARD CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS…..good luck in your delusional Jihad against the Constitution!

    Keith Ellison is an AMERICAN Representative. I don’t take my cat to the Baptist Veternarian!


  34. USA says:

    These 60 year olds are causing a lot of problems in our world!


  35. Muhammad Akbar says:

    I’m a Canadian Muslim originally from Pakistan. While growing up there I remember a Catholic Christen was the Chief Justice of our supreme court. I also remember, watching on TV, a group of Christian law makers swearing in on bible. I still believe that America is a great nation and we Pakistani Muslims can learn zillions of things from your experience. However, I would suggest, the Americans can also learn a few lessons on religious tolerance from Pakistani Muslims.


  36. Uncle_Ho says:

    Republicans ignore the fact that there is no religious requirement to hold office. GOP = KKK.


  37. angus thorsen says:

    thank you for the response Spudge_Boy.

    you have widened my view.I need to study more I
    guess.

    I will google jesus camp and maybe I can find this documentary.

    You see verbal knit? A calm rational answer would have sufficed.

    Just for my own benefit and by the way,I am not a Republican.


  38. angus thorsen says:

    There are indeed such schools in the Muslim world, but most Muslims don’t go to these schools. No doubt that sort of subtlety is completely lost on you, however.

    Comment by VerbalKint — December 23, 2006 @ 1:51 pm

    I thought the Iranians MANDATED this with ahlimajanibad or whoever his name is,along with the ayatollah of Iran.

    Every kid in that country is taught this I assume?

    Am I wrong?


  39. angus thorsen says:

    I can`t help but to believe this man.Can anyone turn me around to your way of thinking?

    I doubt it.

    Abu Ayman, a senior leader of Islamic Jihad in the northern West Bank town of Jenin, as he gloated about details in the report from the Iraq Study Group. Islamic Jihad is the group which has been responsible for suicide bombings within Israel over the past two years. More from Abu Ayman:
    \”The report proves that this is the era of Islam and of jihad…\”(With the Iraq Study Group report), the Americans came to the conclusion that Islam is the new giant of the world and it would be clever to reduce hostilities with this giant. In the Koran the principle of the rotation is clear and according to this principle the end of the Americans and of all non-believers is getting closer.\”
    And this from Abu Abdullah, leader of Hamas\’s military wing:
    \”It is not just a simple victory. It is a great one. The big superpower of the world is defeated by a small group of mujahedeen (fighters)….

    \”It is no doubt that Allah and his angels were fighting with them (insurgents) against the Americans. It is a sign to all those who keep saying that America, Israel and the West in general cannot be defeated on the ground so let us negotiate with them.\”
    According to Abu Abdullah, after the United States withdraws from Iraq,
    \”America must understand that with anti-American governments in Latin America and with Islam growing and reinforcing, including in the US itself, the next step would be a total defeat on their (American) land, not a relative one like they are facing in Iraq.\”
    Bluff and bluster? Before 9/11, we thought that Osama bin Laden\’s threats were bluff and bluster.



  40. Bluedog49 says:

    Angus, in answer to one of your earlier questions, most of the “hate America” teaching is done in Saudi Arabia, under the Wahabi sect of Sunni Muslems and in Pakistan. There is far less of it in Iran and Syria than you would think. Strange, isn’t it, that this would be the case in what the administration calls our allies. Remember, bin Laden is a Saudi and a Wahabist Sunni. And, bin Laden’s threats were taken seriously by Clinton. He tried to take him out with cruise missles and directed the CIA to kill or capture him.


  41. angus thorsen says:

    okay bluedog thanks very much.

    Yes it is very starnge indeed.I wonder if Bush -sold- the United States and it`s inhabitants to the saudis without us knowing it.

    Stranger things have happened.

    Thanks again for your input.I am off to investigate further into this.

    Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.


  42. Mike says:

    When a grievous act is committed and you have one person or group remain silent, what is meant by this, or what safe assumptions/conclusions can be made of the silent ones?

    It is clear, some or many in the republican party wish to send a message by such a silence, that to them, the war on terror is equivalent with a war against Islam. Otherwise they would step forward and defend Mr.Goode, citing the diferent types of Muslims.


  43. chimpeach says:

    #13 Angus Thorsen

    But Americans don`t send their children to school to learn how to drink and drive as a way of life and religion.

    Muslims teach their children in their schools to hate the infidels.Fins and dandy.

    So why would a muslim who absolutelt hates infidels want to assimilate in that very country?

    First of all, devout Muslims don’t drink, so they won’t be drinking and driving, or teaching their children to do it, either. Second, it’s no more correct to say “Muslims teach their children in their schools to hate the infidels” than it is to say “Christians teach their kids to worship George W. Bush.” You can’t hang an entire religion on the basis of what a group of their extremists is doing.

    Muslims should be allowed as much freedom to practice and observe their religion as anyone else is. They should not be allowed to impose it on others, nor should anyone else. It’s wrong for a pharmacist to refuse to fill a prescription for a woman because he thinks it’s against his Christian faith. It would be just as wrong for a Muslim under the same circumstances.


  44. JPark says:

    Angus, until you come back and say “Damn, I was wrong (or even mistaken or misled)” you are a troll, in my book.


  45. Steve Klein says:

    I am an American Jew and I am very concerned about Mr. Keith Ellison’s connections with Muslim extremists who support terrorist groups like Hamas and Hezbollah. Hamas and Hezbollah murder Jews. Prior to Sept. 11, 2001, Hezbollah murdered more Americans than any other terrorist group. Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) has openly supported these Muslim terrorists and has called for Sharia law to be imposed here in the U.S. Ellison reportedly raised thousand of dollars through this Muslim terrorist-supporting group and he belonged to Louis Farrakhan’s anti-Semitic Nation of Islam. As a Jew, I do not agree that all immigration should be stopped because we are a nation of immigrants. That having been said, not write about Ellison’s ties to racist, anti-Semitic groups?


  46. JTitor says:

    All of us need to focus and not get sidestepped by the Lynn Cheney’s, Mark Foley’s, and the Dennis Prager’s of this world. This periphery stuff is just a shell game to keep you occupied while the real nasty stuff is being perpetrated right in front of our eyes.
    Executive Order Numbers and Meaning:

    10900 – Allows the government to take control over all modes of transportation, highways, and seaports.
    10995 – Allows the government to seize and control the communication media.
    10997 – Allows the government to take over all electrical power, gas, petroleum, fuels, and minerals.
    10998 – Allows the government to take over all food resources and farms.
    11000 – Allows the government to mobilize civilians into work brigades under government supervision.
    11001 – Allows the government to take over all health, education, and welfare functions.
    11002 – Designates the Postmaster General to operate national registration of all persons.
    11003 – Allows the government to take over all airports and aircraft, including commercial aircraft.
    11004 – Allows the Housing and Finance Authority to relocate communities, build new housing with public funds, and designate areas to be abandoned, and establish new locations for populations.
    11005 – Allows the government to take over railroads, inland waterways, and public storage facilities.
    11051 – Specifies the responsibility of the Office of Emergency Planning and gives authorization to put all Executive Orders into effect in times of increased international tensions and economic or financial crisis.
    11310 – Grants authority to the Department of Justice to enforce the plans set out in Executive Orders, to institute industrial support, to establish judicial and legislative liaison, to control all aliens, to operate penal and correctional institutions, and to advise and assist the President.
    11049 – Assigns emergency preparedness function to federal departments and agencies, consolidating 21 operative Executive Orders issued over a fifteen-year period.
    11921 – Allows the Federal Emergency Preparedness Agency to develop plans to establish control over the mechanisms of production and distribution, of energy sources, wages, salaries, credit and flow of money in the U.S.A. financial institution in any undefined national emergency. It also provides that when the President declares a state of emergency, Congress cannot review the action for six months.


  47. Annatag says:

    Hey, wait a sec, fellas! Do you all know that America is a 400 year-old nation? taht makes us every bit as venerable and distinctive a nation as Sunni Saudi Arabia, Shiitie Iran, Catholic Italy, Orthodox Greece is Orthodox, Shinto Japan and Buddhist Nepal. If the Dalai Lama were to denounce the mas transplantation of Confucian (or Communist!) Han Chinese into his Buddhist homeland, none of you would denounce him as a bigot. So why this venom against Goode and Prager? They have every reason to complain. Last time I checked (as a schoolboy), our 400-year old nation was and had always been Judeo-Christian.So whence this spread of Isalam, from 100,000 in 1960 to 6 million todaqy? It was not due to any mass conversions on the part of we Americans. It was entirely “social engineering” foisted on us from above. It was all the result of indiscriminate immigration foisted on us by our betters, from above. Just what was wrong with our ethnic/religious/cultural make-up in 1960, anyway? Look, I like “diversity” on the PLANETARY level, and in the UN General Assembly, and in the food court of any suburban shopping mall. But nations, individual nations, I like them distinct and not “diverse” – and so does every one of you. Just ask your local travel agent!


  48. JTitor says:

    47. Comments by Steve Klein are very real regarding Congressman Keith Ellison’s connections with Muslim extremists. His statements regarding Minister Farrakhan, that “He is not a racist” and “He is also not an anti-Semite”, are very troubling.


  49. JPark says:

    #50 And Virgil Goode’s comments are not troubling, right?


  50. Sandy says:

    To repeat what many others have pointed out, our legislators should be swearing on the US Constitution, not a Bible or Q’uran or Torah or any other religious document. Seems like swearing on that Ol’ Bible does not prevent lying, corruption or sexual escapades. Swearing on a “holy” book has no more credibility than environmental studies published by the White House.

    Our elected and appointed then approved officials are there to support the US Constitution, related Amendments and body of legislation that provides for rights and protections for our citizens. They are not promising to a “higher power” to be good. That promise seems to wax and wane as the wind blows.


  51. Olga says:

    Olga

    I just wanted to write to say that you have a great site and a wonderful resource for all to share.



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