I confess I have successfully ignored most of the garbage Gov. Palin has spewed over the last several weeks. However, I was literally stricken by yesterday afternoon's newest target: Rashid Khalidi a professor of Middle Eastern Studies at Columbia University.
Oh yes, he's an American citizen.
He is now between the cross hairs of the GOP as they attempt to besmirch Senator Obama by reason of the Senator having dined with the professor when he worked at the University of Chicago (that great terrorist cabal).
So, here's this professor who has published extensive articles on Palestine and the Middle East. He has written profusely on the challenges the Palestinians face in securing their own security and Isreali-Palestinian relations. For no good reason, no evidence, no valid argument, Palin, Giuliani, et al. decide to pile up their hate spewing against him because: his views regarding the Middle East do not match the "lovefest" that Palin et al is trying to effectuate since she has become the GOP VP nominee.
Now, before anyone starts the hate parade here, my limited world view is that Isreal is our true friend and ally. There is no doubt that we owe them enormous loyalty.
That said, this is America. Is there not room for more than one opinion. Can we not entertain more than one opinion regarding an explosive situation which has festered for 60+ years.
Now Professor Khalidi, again let me repeat: he was born in New York (that is the US of A, Govenor Palin). He is just as much an American citizen as Mooselini is. (My new favorite phrase from another Kos poster).
We watch as the GOP chomps down hard on this "terrorist" claiming his writings on behalf of the complicated Palistinian situation somehow prove that Barack Obama is no friend of Isreal. The proof is the fact that they were occasional dinner compainions. There are no facts given, not one of the 50+ articles he has written are cited as evidence of his "terrorist" leanings, not one of his seven books is cited to support a single fact or statement to support the innuendo, lies and rampant Muslim scare tactics the GOP must use to continue it's own terrorism against American citizens. Naturally there is zero evidence linking Professor Khalidi and his scolarly work directly to a single policy statement, written or spoken by Barack Obama to support the GOP rantings.
My outrage is over the fact that then the news media, ABC's Good Morning America and Faux News, givesthese crazies a platform to hate. Naturally not one of the giant brain trusts at any of the major media organizations do even 10 seconds of research to determine the possible veracity of the GOP hate squad's lies. No follow up questions. No demand for sources. No demand for direct links between an American professor teaching Middle Eastern studies IN NEW YORK and worldwide terrorism networks.
Meanwhile this professor is now "branded" by this exchange. There was no traction on Bill Ayers so this is the new "face of terror". I just want one media person to demand hard evidence linking Professor Khalidi to terrorism and then linking Barack Obama to that terrorism. While Professor Khalidi is a Columbia University professor, what kind of consequence occurs when the GOP makes you the "face of evil". I have to believe there is some traction.
I wrote ABC News. They need to stop allowing politicians to destroy American citizens based on lies, innuendo and tainted evidence. Shame on you ABC News!