Muslim Congressman Breaks Down At Radicalization Hearing

Rep. King Refuses To Deviate, Says More Hearings Planned

March 10, 2011 11:15 PM

Rep. Keith Ellison, D-Minn., center, the only Muslin in Congress, becomes emotional as he testifies before the House Homeland Security Committee on the extent of the radicalization of American Muslims, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, March 10, 2011. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Reporting Marcia Kramer

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WASHINGTON (CBSNewYork/AP) — On Capitol Hill Thursday, Long Island Congressman Peter King began his inquiry into radicalization in the Islamic-American community.

Muslim Congressman Breaks Down At Radicalization Hearing

Congressman Peter King heading the hearing on Islamic radicalization in America (credit: CBS 2)

Rep. King’s hearings took an emotional turn when Congressman Keith Ellison, the first Muslim elected to Congress, tried to speak of the heroism and patriotism of Mohamad Salman Hamdani, a New York City EMT who died on 9/11 trying to save other Americans.

“After the tragedy, some people tried to smear his character solely because of his Islamic faith, but it was only when his remains were identified that these lies were exposed. Mohammad Salman Hamdani was a fellow American who gave his life for other Americans. His life should not be identified as just a member of an ethic group or just a member of a religion but as an American who gave everything for fellow Americans,” he said.

WCBS 880′s Michael Wallace with Rep. Peter King

Rep. Ellison argued he thought the hearings were wrong because they could end up scapegoating people because of their faith, but King defended the hearings, noting that al Qaeda has adopted homegrown terrorism as their strategy.

After a week of protests leading up to the hearing, King dismissed what he called unwarranted “rage and hysteria” and said Congress has a duty to press forward.

“We must be fully aware that homegrown radicalization is part of al Qaeda’s strategy to continue attacking the United States. Al Qaeda is actively targeting the American-Muslim community for recruitment,” King said.

“The president’s own national security adviser said al Qaeda is attempting to radicalize the Muslim-American community,” King said.

King marshaled a number of witnesses to help make his point, including Melvin Bledsoe, the father of Carlos Bledsoe who became a radical Muslim and was charged with killing an Army private at a Little Rock recruiting station.

Bledsoe said the efforts to radicalize American youth must be stopped.

“I would like to see something changed that no other family in this great country of ours has to go through what our family is facing today. God help us. God help us,” he said.

But Congressman Bill Pascrell, who represents a large Muslim community in Paterson, N.J., took King to task, reports CBS 2′s Marcia Kramer.

“Every time I’ve sat down with the FBI about my own district I was told many times that there is no hidden agenda in that you need not fear the recruiting,” Pascrell said.

WCBS 880′s Peter Haskell with Long Islander Talat Hamdani, who thinks the hearings are misguided

“The proposed hearing essentially casts doubt on an entire community,” said Naeem Baig of the Islamic Circle of North America.

Congressman Bennie Thompson of Mississippi, the top Democrat on the House Homeland Security Committee said the hearing could be used by terrorists to inspire a new generation of suicide bombers, and that Congress had a responsibility to make sure its words do not make problems worse.

“I cannot help but wonder how propaganda about this hearing’s focus on the American Muslim Community will be used by those who seek to inspire a new generation of suicide bombers,” Thompson said.

Several Democrats had written to King urging him to cancel the hearings or at least broaden the discussion beyond the Muslim community, but fellow Republicans were coming to his defense.

“This hearing is focused on an issue that we’ve got to be aware of. It is facing us and provides a threat to our people,” said Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA).

Attorney General Eric Holder warned against alienating a group he said was already helping fight homegrown terror.

“Tips that we have received, information that has been shared has been critical to our efforts to disrupting plots that otherwise might have occurred,” he said.

King insisted that Muslims shouldn’t feel threatened by the hearings and that if there was going to be any animosity, his opponents would be to blame. After the hearing, King said that he was planning others. The next one, he said, will deal with the radicalization of American Muslims in prisons.

On Thursday, at King’s request, the Capitol Police secured the congressional hearing room and surrounding areas, as well as his office.

Rarely does a congressional hearing attract as much advance controversy. Critics have likened them to the McCarthy-era hearings investigating communism.

(TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

JME

TIME TO DRIVE OUT THE MUSLIMS.
Honey Tulipsa

paladion

“We wish you to remember that muslims have been killing americans systemmatically and consistently all over the world since 1970″

‘systemmatically and consistently” . Huh?

Heh I do believe the ppl of the Caribbean are educated. They know the meaning of ‘systemmatic and consistent’ killing.

I think you seriously need stop pretending who you are not, don’t scapegoat the Caribbean and you need to seriously get your facts straight because america has killed and is killing more than you want to admit.

As a matter of fact the christains are far more diabolically brutal than any other.
paladion

For what we could gather from a great distance (Caribbean), Rep. Peter King is not accusing anyone of wrong doing, he is just trying to clarified the air for the benefit of all of us.
We wish you to remember that Muslims have been killing Americans systematically and consistently all over the world since 1970. This is what you may call a declared war jihad style. All these started perhaps before you were born.
The most cynical aspect of such a tragedy is that the Muslim’s community in America, with just a few isolated and honorable exceptions, keeps quite and their mouths shuts, perhaps avoiding to disclosed any connection or inklings about the stealth jihad inside the EE.UU.
Rep. Peter King is right. We all should be encouraging his effort and tray to emulate his patriotism, specially in such a time when our democracy and freedom are both on trial.

John

That is just what makes that Paladion and Americans are out of reality. Whom is killing who? Since the creation of Israel after WWII the Muslims were the victims.
If Muslims all over the world express this as injustice they became terrorists
majid khan

Paladion is absolutely wrong. American Muslims are not killing Americans. He should get his news from reliable sources rather than based on hatred.
The American Muslim community is fighting three wars at the same time: First against the hate groups in America who are spreading Islam-phobia, Second FBI and law enforcement agencies are harassing American Muslims, and third policing radicals using name of Islam.
So stop spreading false things!

Honey Tulipsa

Those of you who think you have claim to the land you call america don’t belong there. When you talk about others going back to where they come from, what is the rightful owners of that land saying to you? Nobody hears them say to you go back where you come from because indeed ALL of you are impostors. If a person of muslim faith born in america donot belong there, you of the racist brood from the caucaus mountain born in america don’t belong there.
Manny Khushalani

Most of Muslims who are loyal to this country but the problem is for law inforcement is that, for example, they know who are KKK, Mafia, or drug dealers but as regarding terrorest activety have no group faces or particurlarly any organization. it is like some wolfs hiden dressesed like sheep.

Mike

Correct most Muslims are loyal citizens, further most Muslims are not Terrorists, but historically with in the last 20+ years most Terrorists are Muslims. This is why these hearings are necessary. Some Muslims are scared those who are trying to radicalize Muslims in their religion; the government has the responsibility to protect them and all citizens. There have been other groups of all kinds singled out in the hearings, Neo-Nazis, Nazi War criminals in the US, Youth Gangs, Skin Heads, Blacks Murdered in the south, KKK, and Mafia etc in order to bring about a plan to keep our country safe and bring the criminals to justice. Forthood shootings could have been averted if we put this pc nonsense to rest. This opposition to these hearings is that people have bought into the illness of “political correctness”.

ew-3

Did he cry on 9/11?

DeucePrez

We don’t know. He wasn’t in Congress at that time and, therefore was no in a position to be in the public eye.

However…..many of us, Muslim and non-Muslim alike, were stunned, shocked and angered that people, in the defaming of Islam, would commit such a heinous act!

KImmie

Why didn’t you protest then?

Why are you only protesting now, against the hearings?
Michael H.

Kimmie, Muslims around the world protested in solidarity with the victims of 9/11. Just because you ignored it doesn’t mean it didn’t happen.
Kimmie

Michael H -

I can tell you what they were doing in my brooklyn neighborhood- they were out in the streets dancing and singing and banging pots.

if a handful of people did protest-it was not loud enough to hear let alone make a difference.
Michael H.

Kimmie, I hear these claims over and over again yet nobody has ever provided a single video or picture of these so called “dances in the street”

JME

GREAT COMMENT.
Maddie

Thank you very much, ew-3.

Sincerely, this was my though exactly.

Why does the bravery of one muslim paramedic have to do with extremists?

Michael H.

That one Muslim paramedic was painted as one of the terrorist well before all the facts were out. He was Muslim so they flat out assumed he was one of the parties responsible. Guilty before proven innocent!

I guess you simply were not paying attention.
Maddie

Give me a break- Mike- I have the greatest respect for any and all paramedics-as well as all first responders for their selfless bravery..

But being a muslim paramedic doesn’t get you extra credit.

Citing 1 courageous muslim paramedic in the face of all of the filmed celebrations throughout the boroughs-not to mention the many newstands & vendors which were nowhere to be seen on that day.

Extremists are what we are talking about.
Michael H.

“filmed celebrations”

where? link me to these so called films.

honeytulipsa

Speak of the devil correcting sin.
Bon

What waste of time at the expense of tax payer. What is the purpose of these ? and if it turn out to be true, then what can be done..nothing. These are American citizen that they are trying to harass, and constitution is there to protect all Americans. These Peter King guy is just of of those millions of jews who always want to attack Muslims. Its in the Jews Gene!! and We Christian American should not entertain it at all. Who know, they will go after us as well, it is a matter of time and interest for the jews.

Woodie

Hey you Muslim go back home if you do not like American…we do not want you here.

We know you are Muslim because of your spelling and grammer..

these instead of this, citizen should be plural, put the before constitution,These Peter King should be This, of of should be one of, always want should be always wants, Its should be It’s, Jews Gene should be Jews genes, Christian American should be Christian Americans, Who know should be Who knows.

See you have not learned the language, but hey maybe you are not Muslim..could be an illegal Mexican….whatever, just go back to your country of origin.

Texasman.

Theeb

Hahahaaaay

“We know you are Muslim because of your spelling and grammer..”

Oh gosh, you couldn’t get any more stupid, couldn’t you?

Go brush your teeth little boy and tug yourself to bed, then you can save everyone from your extreme stupidity and ignorance.
Lee Nichols

Sorry, feller, you prove the need of words like “errata.” Count your errors.
time to dethrone King

@Woodie: People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.

The word is grammar, not grammer. And Jews’ genes needs an apostrophe. I’ll be kind and not point out all your punctuation errors.

And BTW, I’d rather have a Muslim with language problems than a bigot who can (almost) spell as my friend and neighbor.

William S

Actually imbecile, Peter King is Catholic, but if he was Jewish what on earth would that have to do with anything?? We lost 3,000 of our brothers and sisters whose only crime was that they showed up at work to live our way of life. Our attackers were part of our society, complete with licenses and credit cards. This wasn’t like Pearl Harbor our military base was attacked by another country’s warplanes. Mr. King’s point is that we need to watch from within our society, because that is what seems to be Al Quaeda’s latest plan to harm us. Don’t you get it?? Do you even care to get it?? Let me know when you find out what the heck happened at Pearl Harbor. I’m Italian and could remember when there were Congressional Hearings on the mob…. I wasn’t insulted by that…. I’m not in the mob…. This is Mr. King’s point, not that all Muslims are terrorists, but most terrorists are Muslim. That’s not being a bigot, that’s being truthful!!

Woodie

Sorry, everyone! I’m just your typical head-in-the-sand moron without any coherent thought process. Please ignore my prior hate-filled sheenile rantings.
Marie

God Bless you William S.

Feel exactly the same way.

As Italiam American I also did not feel insulted when they had hearings on the mob- because I am not in the mob….

Chris Ar

What a pathetic jerk Ellison is. God bless Peter King. He’s doing his job, asking uncomfortable questions, and putting America’s enemies on the defensive.

seckarou

who are you to tell some people don’t belong to America?
Have you forgotten that this land doesn’t even belong to the people that are trying to exclude others because of their faith.
Your ancestors came to this land with Indian blood in their hand.
If the Muslims don’t belong to America,then who belongs here?
Definitely not you bunch of ignorant..

Daystar

“The wicked man flees though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion. “-Proverbs 28:1

Peter King is a patriot! If there is no wrongdoing within the muslim community, they have nothing to fear…but if there is it needs to be exposed for thieir sake and the rest of our fellow Americans.

Liz

Am I supposed to feel sorry for this man for getting emotional?

This tearful episode is being reported like it’s supposed to make a difference about what the hearings are about- and make us feel ashamed for putting him through this…

Please, if you have nothing to hide then what’s the problem.

As an Italian American I welcome all & any investigation into the MOB as I am just as offended by their despicable acts.
I don’t see what all the protesting is for- all of a sudden they are crying victim?

willem

more examples of “free” america… wiki leaks must be stopped.. press freedom? guns every where i want to be free from guns! freedom of thought.. yeah but don’t belive in any other god than dollar…
Josh

Just as Israel created Hamas by funding their sheik, the US created Al Qaida by funding the Taliban. Not that that matters, right?!?!? We held hearings on the Mafia 40 years ago and that got us where?!?!? Way to go GOP!!! Way to spend our tax $$$ wisely!!!

Jeshely

Goog point … Those mafia hearings put a bad cast on the Italian American community every where in the country.

Joseph Didonato

What a disgrace Peter King is, he is just grandstanding to most of the low lifes in his district!!!
Paul N

Peter King is an embarrassment to the congress. This is nothing more than a red-meat circus for the tea party crowd. This is the same man that praised IRA terrorists back in the 80′s. This is why Republicans should never control congress..

Chris Ar

The Tea Party really has no real interest in this subject. Stop using the term as a generic reference to conservatives. The Tea Party is a faction, not the entire movement.
Elliott

the IRA never attacked NY or the United States. They were also thoroughly inviestigaged and banned by the US State Dept . Peter King’s praise concerned both sides during the long awaited Good Friday agreements.

Lonnie

where are these protesters when there is a terrorist act of violence? Where is the peaceful imam from the world trade center mosque to speak out against terrorism by radicals now?

Why does Mr. King need more security if everyone is so peaceful?

Michael H.

The imam from the “world trade center mosque” has been speaking out against radicalism for a DECADE now.

SareLocHms

For those of You who would believe everthing that the European Jews tell
America; Especially Peter King. May I request that You go back in history;
a good start who be reading the book entitled: “The Forced War”. Author:
David L. Hoggan.” The powers that be” Have did a great job on keeping this
book out of libraries, etc. The very same People who control Americas
News media,
Time magazine etc, Always remember a simply fact.
Those Who control the Past,Controls the Future!!!
Rob

This is who Republicans are and this is what they do. If you’re not like them (that is, white), they go after you in one form or another. It’s happened to Blacks in the form of lower payments to their communities, Latinos on immigration, and now Muslims. Shame on them all, especially Pete King. He is not a hero or protector. He is simply a bully with subpoena powers. Nothing more and nothing less.

Chris Ar

Sure is fearmongering in here.

Take a chill pill, Rob.
Charlie

You’re a moron Rob, a plain old moron!!!! Move past the race card, come up with a viable argument!, as the whole race card crap gets boring!!!!!! Just because the man is willing to expose the sham that is islam, he is mocked and labeled a bigot, yet the koran says that through assimilation it will control the world…..you did not get to that part yet eh?!

Charlie is a Fool

Charlie, you never picked up a copy of the Quran in your life. You’re a fool for speaking on something you have no idea of what you say.

Phil Simon

Radical extremist need radical actions to stop them. They say death to the infidels I say death to them!
Kingbusters

If Holder won’t release Peter King’s FBI file, from the days when he was a fervent Provisional I.R.A. supporter who was tailed by the Feds, a DOJ patriot should turn it over to Wikileaks. King is not against all Muslims–after all, Khadafy’s people provided the Provos with weapons and explosives training so they could make good use of the equipment that they bought with funds raised by King. Nor does King lack compassion–after all, he vigorously fought to allow an illegal alien Provisional I.R.A. gunman to remain in the U.S. Perhaps British law enforcement prevailed upon the Prince not to invite Obama to the Royal Wedding, lest he include King in a bipartisan delegation–after all, they deemed him a threat to Queen Elizabeth and former Prime Minister Thatcher.
nick

After all your king is the devil …..Hitler was a white man.
Willy Goldfarbenstein

This half breed piece of trash should focus on the semites who are the real culprits in this world.

Chris Ar

Save it for the cross burning, Adolf.

Pi$$ed Off Long Islander

Go Peter!!! You are the KING!!!!!!! It’s good to see someone always willing to stand up….
jerseyjoey

I say Banish liberal censured CBS to LIbya. Typical Media . KING is a HERO
jerseyjoey

Better yet, Let them drink thier Oil and eat sand, You see we feed those people with our American Wheat, Cut off the food supply to them and while we are at it send them Exxon and BP’s Idiot CEO’s as food. Remember 911 our true enemy is Islam. REP King is a Great American HERO, God Bless Him.
jimbo

Politics creates terrorism and counter-terrorism, such as Al-Qaeda and Homeland Security respectively. Without one the other cannot exist. Homegrown, yup, Remember Timothy McViegh? he was not a Muslim! Soon it will be Jews or Catholics to blame to keep the big wheels turning.

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Muslim Congressman Breaks Down At Radicalization Hearing

Rep. King Refuses To Deviate, Says More Hearings Planned

March 10, 2011 11:15 PM

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