I continue to work the phones here in the TPMmuckraker D.C. bureau, anxious to find a Republican who’s willing to address the substance of Rep. Virgil Goode’s now-infamous Fear-of-a-Muslim-America letter.
But I wanted to take a moment to note two cases in which Republicans have spoken about the letter while declining to directly address Goode’s anti-Muslim-immigration policy suggestions.
First, Sen. John Warner (R-VA) released a statement yesterday in which he offered that he respects the right of all members of Congress to freely “exercise the religion of their choice, including those of the Islamic faith utilizing the Quran.” No mention of Goode’s proposed immigration restrictions on Muslims.
Second, Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA) dodged a question on Goode’s letter put to him by Wolf Blitzer on yesterday’s Situation Room.
“Virgil Goode wrote this: ‘If American citizens don’t wake up and adopt the Virgil Goode position on immigration, there will likely be many more Muslims elected to office and demanding the use of the Koran in his personal private ceremony.’ He wants to be sworn in on the Koran. What’s your reaction to this exchange involving Goode and Keith Ellison?”
Hunter responded jokingly, “First, Wolf, I think I’d like to exchange 15 Democrat members of Congress, not just the gentleman that Mr. Goode is referring to.” Eventually he told his natty CNN host, “if it’s an official ceremony, when we all get sworn in, actually nobody, unless it’s an independent, individual member who gets sworn in an a special election, we all simply raise our right hands, and we are sworn in by the speaker.” Let’s note that Hunter, who represents a southern California district, isn’t usually so shy about talking tough on immigration.
Thanks to Readers CC and DR for the tips.