TPMMuckraker
GOP Lawmakers Dawdle While Muslim 'Intern Spies' May Be Conspiring Further
Justin Elliott | October 19, 2009, 12:34PM
Rep. John Shadegg (R-AZ), Rep. Paul Broun, (R-GA), Rep. Sue Myrick (R-NC), and Rep. Trent Franks (R-AZ)
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Four Republican lawmakers have not submitted a request to the House sergeant at arms to investigate a threat that one of the four described as a terrorist-linked group possibly "running influence operations or planting spies in key national security-related offices."
A spokesperson for the sergeant at arms told TPMmuckraker this morning that the office was aware of the charge by GOP members at a press conference Wednesday that the Council on American-Islamic Relations planted Muslim intern spies on the Hill for purposes of subversion. But, says spokesperson Kerri Hanley, the office hasn't received a request for an investigation, and it wouldn't launch any probe until such a request is made.
"We don't have any information to form any kind of opinion to decide whether an investigation is warranted," Hanley says.
The charges made by Reps. Paul Broun (R-GA), John Shadegg (R-AZ), Sue Myrick (R-NC), and Trent Franks (R-AZ), are based on the new book Muslim Mafia, which is co-authored by a man who has labeled President Obama "Muslim."
They demanded that the sergeant at arms investigate the possibility of a security breach by Muslim intern spies.
As Franks put it at the press conference five days ago:
"We live in a post-9/11 world where the coincidence of nuclear proliferation and Islamic terrorism pose a very dangerous combination and real threat to America's national security. ... . I take the charges levied against CAIR and laid out in this book very seriously because they affect our national security."
Myrick's office told TPMmuckraker Friday it would be submitting requests for investigations in the next few days, but did not explain the delay.
The offices of three of the four Republicans did not immediately respond to requests for comment about the national security risk of waiting to launch an investigation.
Sara Mueller, deputy press secretary for Shadegg, told us: "Unfortunately, the congressman can't comment on that at this time. "
Meanwhile, the (supposed) cabal of Muslim intern spies can continue to ply their trade in still more sinister (but as yet undefined) ways.
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JohnW1141
October 19, 2009 1:12 PM
Blowhards!
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Indie Tarheel
October 19, 2009 1:19 PM
Sue Myrick is my rep.
(Hangs head in shame)
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salame
October 19, 2009 1:25 PM
OMG!
They can not let the congress be running amok with those muslim terror
cells infiltrating their sacred halls.
I demand that they immediately hold a press conference and spread more
fear and paranoia so that I can feel safe again.
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The Old Grouch
October 19, 2009 1:49 PM
Well, so far the only "spy" is apparently their bozo-for-hire.
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Mrs Panstreppon
October 19, 2009 1:50 PM
Myrick must have hired someone to update her original Wake Up Agenda to Wake Up Agenda 2.0 posted on her official website. The original version, online here, was a pathetic mess.
Myrick takes her talking points from the most radical, far right wing extremists in the country, most of whom have a vested financial interest in promoting an anti-Islamist agenda.
Chris and David Gaubatz are (or were) on the payroll of SANE, founded by David Yerushalmi who promotes an anti-Islamist agenda so radical even Daniel Pipes has distanced himself from him.
On the SANE website, Yerushalmi defines Islam as "Shari'a-faithful Islam" and then proposes that anyone who practices Islam in the US should be imprisoned for twenty years.
According to Myrick's 2007 personal financial disclosure, the David Horowitz Freedom Center paid her expenses for a trip to Palm Beach. Enough said.
One hand washes the other with Myrick. In 2007, she was interviewed for a flattering Investor's Business Daily article by Paul Sperry, the co-author of "Muslim Mafia". Myrick reciprocated by writing the foreword to the book.
(Sperry worked for IBD for 12 years prior to becoming Washington bureau chief for World Net Daily in 2002.)
For fun, someone ought to ask Myrick to explain how this proposal included in her Wake Up Agenda will work:
Shariah Finance Transparency: We will work to help draft transparency and disclosure legislation regarding "Shariah Financing" to ensure Islamists are not using Zakat to finance terrorist groups, as well as spread their radical ideology.
Bet she can't do it. Bet she can't explain exactly what Sharia financing is.
Thank goodness this woman is not actually on any committes that have anything to do with intelligence.
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11A7E
October 19, 2009 2:03 PM
Of course they haven't. They'd have to prove their allegations.
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Chabuka
October 19, 2009 2:06 PM
Seems as all we have in Congress any more is corporate ass-clowns.....and mental midgets
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Snig
October 19, 2009 2:23 PM
They're figuring out the timing in the media cycle that will have either maximum chance of making them look like spy-smashers and/or minimum chance of looking like ass-clowns. That time may never come.
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Avvocato
October 19, 2009 3:48 PM
Can.......not......wait. At least 25 spies were hired this weekend. Oh! The humanity!
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ccc1953
October 19, 2009 4:14 PM
Ms. Myrich (NC) and her cohort Broun (GA), Franks (AZ), and Shadegg (AZ) who want to investigate CAIR because of they placed Muslin interns in Congress should also demand that any investigation also includes Irish-American interns for ties to the IRA, Jewish-American interns for ties to Mossard, Palestine-Americans for ties to the PLO, Italian-American for ties to the Mafia, Mexican-American for ties to the Drug Cartel. The list is endless and any investigation should be inclusive and not just because one is Muslin. I challenge the four congresspeople to carry out an investigation that is inclusive of all and not a target of one group.
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durkin
October 19, 2009 4:27 PM
What a freakin' joke these bozo's are. I would be embarrassed if I were a Republican, but not these guys. It's all a game, to drum up base support for a problem that does not appear to exist.
Keep up the pressure, Josh. Your shining light is a sure disinfectant for these political germs.
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drinksforall
October 19, 2009 4:42 PM in reply to durkin
This all about showing their constituents (the racist portion)they have anti-muslim bona-fides in order. They know there is no merit to the charges of spying but have to put on a show being they are not accomplishing anything else other than being the party of "no". Gets them some quality air time on home local channels!
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Leftflank
October 19, 2009 4:55 PM
What isn't the GOP paranoid of? Next they'll be calling for the "possible" investigation of shadows. If they got slapped with a big enough fine, like Orly Taint, they might quit with the frivolous crap & actually try to help.
I know they won't, but it sounded good.
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ccc1953
October 19, 2009 5:39 PM
I have to agree with drinksfoi -- these folks are getting their faces on the news and the folks in their home districts eat it up. The continue to vote for ignorance. I guess the best way to fight their antics is to ignore them -- don't give them the media attention they crave.
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