It turns out that Ben Carson, campaigning on a Religious Right-endorsed platform, which regularly mixes religion and politics, doesn’t think Muslims should be able to mix religion and politics.
He wants CAIR – the Council on American-Islamic Relations – to lose its tax-exempt status because it criticized him by pointing to Article VI of the Constitution and calling on him to withdraw from the presidential race.
Taking to his website to whine most hypocritically and righteously, Carson said “The IRS should immediately revoke CAIR’s tax-exempt status.”
He went on to say:
“This is not the first time that CAIR has disrespected U.S. laws or America. It has previously lost its tax-exempt status by failing to file federal taxes three years in a row. It had also been named by federal prosecutors as an unindicted co-conspirator in a criminal conspiracy to funnel money to Hamas, a terrorist organization.”
And even falsely asserted that:
“Under the Obama administration, the IRS has systematically targeted conservative nonprofit groups for politically motivated audits and harassment. The agency should now properly do its job and punish the real violators of America’s laws and regulations.”
If you want to join him in his unholy hypocrisy, he even has a petition you can sign. Great guy. Way to turn the other cheek like Jesus said, Ben. Stay classy. CAIR, on the other hand, began distributing free Qurans.
And the real violators? That would be the Religious Right. Ben’s pals. Let’s go get ’em.
Carson isn’t the only one to advance this claim. Fox News’ Megyn Kelly pointed to the IRS code which says non-profit groups “are absolutely prohibited from directly or indirectly participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for elective public office.”
It is amazing that Megyn Kelly has not noticed the widespread involvement of Evangelical and conservative Catholic clergy in the Republican culture wars. Presumably, these Republicans will now want the Catholic Church to lose its tax-exempt status as well, given the Pope’s words during his visit here.
Heck, the American Family Association, a non-profit 501(c)(3) just like CAIR, involves itself so heavily in politics that it not only has a voter guide, but a voter guide app! But by all means, let’s go after the Muslims for pointing out facts.
CAIR, of course, is a Muslims civil rights group. They would not be doing their job if they did not speak out in the face of such obvious bigotry as that demonstrated by Ben Carson. Maybe Carson just wants them to hold their collective breath next time he issues an egregious insult?
Heck, even Ted Cruz went after Carson, pointing to Article VI’s “no religious test” clause. Lindsey Graham came out from hiding under his bed long enough to say Carson should apologize. But a Muslim civil rights group should remain silent?
“We find it interesting that Dr. Carson seeks to use a federal government agency to silence his critics and wonder if that tactic would be used to suppress First Amendment freedoms should he become president,” said CAIR spokesman Ibrahim Hooper in response.
You have to remember that it is widely believed among Religious Right demagogues that Islam does not have First Amendment protections because it is not really a religion at all, but a cult, or a cult and a legal system, etc.
You will remember Carson’s words on NBC’s Meet the Press:
“I would not advocate that we put a Muslim in charge of this nation. I absolutely would not agree with that. If it’s [a president’s faith] inconsistent with the values and principles of America, then of course it should matter.”
Of course, it doesn’t matter. The Constitution says it doesn’t matter. It forbids religious tests.
On Monday, September 21, Nihad Awad, national executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, a frequent target of conservative spite, responded by saying at a news conference,
“We ask Mr. Ben Carson to withdraw from the presidential race because he is unfit to lead because his views are in contradiction with the U.S. Constitution.”
Awad said, reasonably enough, “We do not know how he can lead and take the highest position in this land.”
It was these criticisms that has Carson so upset. You would think a guy who can say Muslims should not be president would be tough enough to hear justifiable, constitutionally-based criticisms of his position.
Interestingly and revealingly, Carson hasn’t gone after the Baltimore Jewish Council, whose executive director, Art Abramson, also condemned Carson’s attack on the idea of a Muslim president.
It is no secret that Republicans don’t like or approve of CAIR. It’s an Islamic Civil Rights group, after all, and Republicans feel Muslims have no civil rights. It was just last year at this time that WND’s Joseph Farah was claiming that there is no difference between CAIR and the Islamic State, even as we saw Duck Dynasty’s Phil Robertson embracing ISIL’s own policy, that Muslims must “convert or die.”
CAIR, it scarce needs be said, has not called on anyone to “convert or die,” unlike Carson’s Evangelical friends.
Ben Carson claims to be a Christian. His website says, “Heal. Inspire. Revive.” He ought to add, “Throw the First Stone” and maybe a word or two about ignoring Jesus as well.
Turn the other cheek, Ben, and don’t be a hypocrite. You know what Jesus had to say about that.
- Resistance Leader Maxine Waters Receives Standing Ovation at MTV Movie Awards - Mon, May 8th, 2017
- A Desperate Trump Lashes Out As Sally Yates Prepares to Testify - Mon, May 8th, 2017
- Idaho Republican Claims ‘Nobody Dies Because They Don’t Have Access to Health Care’ - Mon, May 8th, 2017
