Peter King vs. the American public

Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.), chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, will begin holding hearings Thursday on "the extent of the radicalization of American Muslims." Ibrahim Hooper, spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, has characterized the hearings as "a witch hunt." Are they?

King also has said he believes the "self-radicalization" of American Muslims represents "a very small minority" of the overall community. What are the potential consequences of singling out one religious group?

As the congressional hearings on the alleged radicalization of Islam approach, one key question is how Rep. Peter King's justifications for holding the hearings stack up to what the American public thinks about Islam and the place of American Muslims in society. The recent PRRI/RNS Religion News Survey, to date the only barometer for public opinion on the hearings, gives us a window into the differences between King and the public. The poll, conducted by Public Religion Research Institute in partnership with Religion News Service, reveals that while a majority (56%) of the public may think the hearings are a good idea, they don't see eye-to-eye with Rep. King on his justifications for the hearings.

King sees the singular focus on Muslims as justified and has dismissed calls to broaden the hearings as "political correctness at its worst." But an overwhelming majority of the public say the hearings should be broadened to focus on religious extremism wherever it may be found rather than focusing on Muslims alone.

King:

In the face of mounting calls by Muslim and other religious groups to broaden the hearings, Mr. King responded, "I totally reject that. That, to me, is political correctness at its worst.... I'm not going to dilute the hearings by including other extremists."

The American public:

More than 7-in-10 (72%) Americans believe Congress should investigate religious extremism anywhere it exists and not just focus on the American Muslim community. Support for this broader approach is strong across political and religious affiliation groups, including 77% of Republicans, and 73% of white evangelicals.

King has asserted that there is "insufficient cooperation" with law enforcement on the part of the American Muslim community. But the public is divided.

King:

Asked about a recent report saying that 40% of cases involving terrorist plots were the result of tips from the Muslim-American community, King reasserted that he believes there has been "insufficient cooperation."

The American public:

While the PRRI/RNS poll did not ask directly about cooperation with law enforcement, the poll found that the public is divided on the question of whether American Muslims are doing enough to combat extremism. A plurality (46%) say American Muslims have not done enough to oppose extremism in their communities, but one-third disagree, and 1-in-5 say they are unsure.

As I wrote earlier at Washington Post On Faith, Americans are wrestling with two things in their thinking about the hearings: fear and fairness. King seems to be leading with fear. While the public shares some of these fears, the data reveals that they will also be bringing other values to their evaluations of the hearings: a strong commitment to fairness and an appreciation for the diversity of the American religious landscape.

You can read the full results of the PRRI/RNS Religion News Poll on the upcoming hearings, including analysis of a strong "Fox News effect" on this issue, here.

By Robert P. Jones  |  March 8, 2011; 9:33 AM ET Save & Share:  Send E-mail   Facebook   Twitter   Digg   Yahoo Buzz   Del.icio.us   StumbleUpon   Technorati  
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The problem is that radical Islamic leaders are not only intimidating mainstream Muslims, but they are exploiting our American freedoms of religion and association. If we object to their use of mosques to preach hate and violence, we become hypocrites; if we don’t, we become patsies. That’s not going on with any other religious group or extremist group, and that’s why King convened these hearings.

And for those who are invoking McCarthy - take a good look at the actual events - McCarthy called hearings to prosecute those he felt needed to be BLAMED and RUINED. He demanded that those called had to defend their own behavior. That is the polar opposite of what is happening here: The people being called to testify are sharing their victimization, not being held personally accountable.

Posted by: ustabee | March 11, 2011 9:47 AM
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For many years, I thought racial, religious and ethnic hatred was on the anne in this country. I am pleased to see tha anti-Semitism and racial hatred are alive and well. Thank you Washington Post and those who commented on ths story.

Posted by: sailhardy | March 11, 2011 6:15 AM
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Instead of any future hearings on the radicalization of Abrahamic religions:

There never was and never will be any angels i.e. no Gabriel, no Islam

There was and never will be any bodily resurrections i.e. No Easter, no Christianity

Abraham and Moses never existed.

Added details upon request.

And then there is this for the crybaby politicians and clerics:

Recognizing the flaws, follies and frauds in the foundations of Islam, Judaism and Christianity by the "bowers", kneelers" and "pew peasants" will converge these religions into some simple rules of life. No koran, bible, clerics, nuns, monks, imams, evangelicals, ayatollahs, rabbis, professors of religion or priests needed or desired.

Ditto for houses of "worthless worship" aka mosques, churches, basilicas, cathedrals, temples or synagogues.

Posted by: YEAL9 | March 10, 2011 11:51 PM
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Posted by: letitbe | March 10, 2011 6:46 PM
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Americans want information and results. Most of the comments, pro and con, are irrelevant since the hearings have yet to take place.

Let's wait and see whether the hearings are conducted with fairness and thoroughness and focus. If so no one has complaint. If not, the American public lab in short changed and those holding hearings will soon feel the ire of the American public that is demanding better service from their elected representatives.

Let's wait and watch… Rather than beating our gums and beating up on one another.

Posted by: LTCOLHOWARD | March 10, 2011 3:23 AM
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On December 7th of 1941 the Japanese attacked the US and killed 2,402 US citizens. As a result of the attack 110,000 law-abiding US citizens of Japanese descent were put in interment camps, a shameful episode in US history that ALWAYS gets brushed aside by most Americans I meet but not forgotten by the rest of the world or their descendants.

On September 11 of 2001 a handful of Muslim radicals attacked the Twin Towers and the Pentagon producing 2,996 deaths (about 500 more people than Pearl Harbor). Two years later the US invaded Iraq, a country that had nothing to do with the attacks (admitted by Cheney and every other person involved with it), under the false excuse of WMD's. That war triggered the deaths of 109,032 Iraqis (numbers are DIRECTLY from the Classified US Iraq War logs posted on Wikileaks) and it destroyed the US economy, confidence in American leadership and whatever little moral standing it had left.

Now, almost ten years after 9/11 and completely ignoring the fact almost all attempts at terrorists attacks by Muslim radicals since then have been dwarfed by American Muslims tipping off the FBI, REPUBLICAN Rep. Peter King - who was a fervent supporter of the IRA , one of the most violent terrorist organizations in Europe with a casualty count of 1,800 persons (1,100 soldiers, 630 civilians) - is now leading an investigation about the radicalization of American Muslims and triggering a wave of discontent and resentment among a community of people that are law abiding, tax-paying, happiness-seeking citizens of this nation, many born here.

The HUGE difference between 1942 and 2011 is that in the old days this sort of hateful, misguided and reactionary behavior was easily hidden from the world by the media. But today, the WHOLE WORLD is watching and, once again, what the rest of the world knows is being confirmed: That Republicans and their supporters are the MOST DANGEROUS, hypocritical, twisted, bizarre, illogical, insolent and forgetful people in the planet. In ten years they have shown to have not learned a thing.

Just like the anti-terrorists and weapons specialists who warned the prior Yokel In Charge in 2003 the war was a mistake and it would be America's financial doom, the Republicans are again ignoring the advice of experts simply to satisfy the hateful, ignorant and bigoted desires of their voter base, the Christian Taliban.

Bravo

Posted by: Mighty7 | March 10, 2011 2:48 AM
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ISLAM as I read it is a religion of JUSTICE.

This means, PUNISHMENT to CRIMINALS, false flaggers and Retaliation of murderers.

Love is there not to initiate hostilities.

But what about the religion of the ADULTERERs like NEWTON GINGRICH, RAPISTS like ROMAN POLANSKY, HITLERS, GENOCIDERS of Native Americans, Cheaters like BERNARD MADOFFS ???? !!!!

Posted by: BuildingSeven | March 9, 2011 11:25 PM
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Peter King's face betrays his true intentions. The UGLY face with deep frowns have developed from years of lying and trying to hide those. This the face that Bush had, till he had discrete BOTOX job.

His real intentions are to RUB SALT ON THE WOUNDS OF THE MUSLIMS who are victims and PROMOTE Radicalization. He is neither Christian nor a Jew but he worships the little one between his legs like his buddy NEWTON GINGRICH ADULTERER. He knows it and we all know it. This train of crime will lead to terrible consequences and increased radicalization which is his REAL INTENTION.

The zionists and anti-christ fascists like Peter King of HATE are testing the patience of the muslim community.

Posted by: BuildingSeven | March 9, 2011 11:21 PM
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What we really need is a new 911 investigation and cut the salaries of the FBI, good for nothing ADULTEROUS Law makers like Newt Gingrich and soon to follow Peter King, and the BANKSTERS who have been given HUNDREDS of BILLIONS of BAILOUTS.

Confiscate the ANTI-FEDERATION unFEDERAL Reserve and pay muslims for their persecution for ten years in the same way we paid to the Japanese. YET BUSH CRIME FAMILY which is the most THUGGISH PIRATES were the biggest BASHERS of the JAPANESE during the 90s, and his son ten step ahead of the MALICIOUS father in the evil - Like a GADDAFI of America.

The train of robbery has to hit something hard before it will be jolted. Maybe it will when the oil runs out of the earth has another catastrophe from global warming.

These CRIMINALS in the Law making bodies and the executive have stolen the time of the nation to find genuine fixes to the problems. These adulterers have no loyalty and fidelity to their wives and kids; It is IDIOTIC to expect their fidelity to the American nation !!!

Posted by: BuildingSeven | March 9, 2011 10:29 PM
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if there is any SINGULAR CAUSE of Radicalization among muslims, it is the malicious 911 FALSE FLAG OPERATION - followed by its REINFORCER , the ANTHRAX false-flag which should be blamed on the FASCISTS like BUSH+CHENEY+NEOCONS (mostly Ashkenazi Khazars) as well as the ATROCIOUS COWARDICE and TERRIBLE INCOMPETENCE of the FBI which paid 5.3 million penalties to Steven Hatfull and should really pay at the same scale to the muslim community because the pervasive lie was a terrible persecution on the whole muslim community at the hands of white and jew thugs in the society in all walks of life !!! The stingy government paid with difficulty to the 911 families and fire-fighters recently to shut them up because they were not dying from cancers and lung diseases quickly enough. However, the muslims have suffered most. Then there was the genocide in Iraq based on lies by jews like Judith Miller - to steal their oil.

if there is any SINGULAR CAUSE of Radicalization among muslims, it is the malicious 911 FALSE FLAG OPERATION - followed by its REINFORCER , the ANTHRAX false-flag which should be blamed on the FASCISTS like BUSH+CHENEY+NEOCONS (mostly Ashkenazi Khazars) as well as the ATROCIOUS COWARDICE and TERRIBLE INCOMPETENCE of the FBI which paid 5.3 million penalties to Steven Hatfull and should really pay at the same scale to the muslim community because the pervasive lie was a terrible persecution on the whole muslim community at the hands of white and jew thugs in the society in all walks of life !!! The stingy government paid with difficulty to the 911 families and fire-fighters recently to shut them up because they were not dying from cancers and lung diseases quickly enough. However, the muslims have suffered most. Then there was the genocide in Iraq based on lies by jews like Judith Miller - to steal their oil.

if there is any SINGULAR CAUSE of Radicalization among muslims, it is the malicious 911 FALSE FLAG OPERATION - followed by its REINFORCER , the ANTHRAX false-flag which should be blamed on the FASCISTS like BUSH+CHENEY+NEOCONS (mostly Ashkenazi Khazars) as well as the ATROCIOUS COWARDICE and TERRIBLE INCOMPETENCE of the FBI which paid 5.3 million penalties to Steven Hatfull and should really pay at the same scale to the muslim community because the pervasive lie was a terrible persecution on the whole muslim community at the hands of white and jew thugs in the society in all walks of life !!! The stingy government paid with difficulty to the 911 families and fire-fighters recently to shut them up because they were not dying from cancers and lung diseases quickly enough. However, the muslims have suffered most. Then there was the genocide in Iraq based on lies by jews like Judith Miller - to steal their oil.

Posted by: BuildingSeven | March 9, 2011 10:22 PM
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If you ask the average American if they are totally sick of "political correctness" you would get a overwhelming Yes.

Posted by: justamaz | March 9, 2011 9:56 PM
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In this Sally Quinn vanity section, shills are invited to promote her left-wing moral and cultural relativist agenda.

The name of this bogus poll betrays the agenda here: to validate Robert P. Jones's lie that Americans do not favor the kind of enquiry King is making. As a matter of fact, 75% of Americans do NOT approve of Islam morally or culturally, based not on ethnicity or race, which Jones and his ilk would disingenuously claim, but on the barbarous behavior of Muslim society worldwide, throughout history and in our lives. Murder, oppression and corruption are the hallmarks of Muslim societies, and Jones and Quinn know this.

But they are committed to propagating the Big Lie that Islam is the religion of peace, instead of a vile fascist movement masquerading as a religion. Why do they do this? Pure narcissism -- the narcissism of those who use the facile virtue of tolerance to cloak intellectual dishonesty and moral sloth and cast themselves as virtuous.

King's only mistake is using the qualifier "radical". Civilization's problem with Islam is not radical Islam but Islam itself. Saying that American Muslims are different from, say, Pakistanis, is like saying American Nazis are different from German Nazis. To the extent that a Muslim is civilized, he is not an authentic Muslim. It's that simple. And no amount of prevaricating by the likes of Jones will change this FACT.

Posted by: lbjack | March 9, 2011 9:19 PM
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Rep. King doesn't want to broaden the hearings because then he would have to invite all the radical righties to show up! It would be embarrassing for the Republican party, the PARTY OF FEAR, if half their executive wing had to be subpoenaed to testify!

Isn't it a little too convenient that now homosexuality is no longer the hot button that it was--and a great fund-raising tool!--for the Republican party, they have found a new and terrifying cause that will raise money for them!! Islamophobia is fear-mongering by the righties. Shame on them.

If we took all of Mr. King's quotes and substituted "IRA" for "Muslim", the rhetoric would be frighteningly similar. And, Mr. King knows all about supporting the terrorist IRA, doesn't he? Of course, they were HIS freedom fighters!!

Republicans in Congress should get down to taking care of the peoples' business, not the party's business. They have been back in D.C. for two months and all they have done is try to roll back environmental protection laws, financial and consumer protection laws, abortion laws, health care laws, etc., back to 20th century, if not further. They are in their "Ayn Rand" delusion and have so far not given any of us hope that they will be shaken out of this mindlessness by the economic havoc that still persists among us.

Shame on the Republicans for not doing the job they were elected to--that is coming up with solutions to the economic crises and putting the people before party.

Shame on you, Mr. King. Don't you have anything better to do while getting paid with taxpayer money?!?

Posted by: repar | March 9, 2011 9:00 PM
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"Offensive comments"? This article is offensive. King represents a large portion of the American population, which is concerned about the lack of self policing done by the Muslim community. For some reason there are an inordinate number of American Muslims which find our beautiful nation worth opposing and actually kill our people. Do we see Jewish, Christian, or Protestant fanatics murdering our folks in these numbers? Obviously, No.
King has a good idea.

Posted by: box211 | March 9, 2011 8:57 PM
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OK, let's investigate religious extremism by all faiths...
Oh, 99.99% of acts of violence against the U.S. in the past decade are by extreme Muslims?
Well, look away, facts shouldn't impinge on our PC parade here.
After all, what an opportunity to accuse a Republican of xenophobia!
Never mind reality!
This "On Faith" is the refuge of Cx haters and elitists.
And I bet you won't publish any comment that you THINK is un-pc against Muslims..
Good luck with your anti-free thought, anti-free speech tendencies.

Posted by: johnL1 | March 9, 2011 8:47 PM
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Nearly 10 years have passed since the events on September 11 and this evidently is the first time that a question has been raised at the federal level as to what is triggering the radicalization of Muslims. From the moment of the attacks on the World Trade Center towers I said that this is an issue that needs to be addressed first and foremost by the Muslim community. Unfortunately, the Muslim community has abdicated any responsibility for addressing this issue, perhaps hoping that the problem will go away or at least hoping that they will be spared the consequences. Political correctness has silenced the voices of those who would at least ask the necessary questions. I encourage the Muslim community to step forward and help to solve the problem of terror and radicalization not only in the US but throughout the world.

Respectfully submitted.

Posted by: jr1200cl | March 9, 2011 8:47 PM
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I wonder what the civilian victim's families of IRA bombs think of King as he goes after terrorism? If you support 1 terrorist you've lost all credibility, and you Mr. McCarthy-King have lost ALL credibilty!

Posted by: crossroadsnow | March 9, 2011 8:37 PM
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The fascist Tea Party is destroying this country that I love.

I WANT MY COUNTRY BACK!

Posted by: thomasmc1957 | March 9, 2011 8:22 PM
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