APOLOGIST FOR OBAMA'S ISLAMIC ENVOY CHIMES IN

Josh Goldberg, High School classmate and friend of current Obama envoy to the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC), Rashad Hussain, has written a column in defense of his friend. Before I get to Goldberg's column, here are some indisputable and irrefutable facts.

* Rashad Hussain spoke at a 2004 Muslim Student Association (MSA) event.

* MSA founded the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), an unindicted co-conspirator in the Holy Land Foundation Trial.

* A publication quoted Hussain as saying things sympathetic to convicted terrorist Sami al-Arian at the 2004 event.

* The quotes attributed to Hussain were removed from the article sometime after 2007. The editor of the publication suggested it was removed in February of 2009, weeks after Hussain took a job as an attorney in Obama's Justice Department.

* The editor of the publication said she couldn't remember who told her but that the quotes attributed to Hussain were actually not said by him but al-Arian's daughter, Laila.

* The writer of the article, apparently thrown under the bus by someone, stood by her story - that Hussain was the one who said those sympathetic things about al-Arian.

* Politico reported on February 19th that it had obtained a recording of the event and Hussain actually DID say those things about al-Arian.

* Hussain admitted to saying those things about al-Arian shortly after Politico presented the recording to the White House.

* Hussain confessed to being the one who went to the publication and asked them to delete his comments from the article.

* On February 22nd, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs announced that the White House was standing by Rashad Hussain.

These facts are sourced, linked, and further explained here and here.

Now to Goldberg's column via Mediaite:

Last week, television again gave me a front row seat to the politics of personal destruction. This time however it was different – it was not voyeuristic, watching someone whom I did not know become the latest casualty of the traveling carnival that is cable news.

The target was a man I have known all of my adult life and whom I profoundly respect and admire. I watched this man, my good friend, as he was labeled a “jihadist,” “terrorist sympathizer,” infiltrator and worse. My reaction was incredulous, as these absurd, outrageous and despicable claims were parroted across cable television, the blogosphere and Twitter.

I don't know what news report Goldberg was referring to but notice in all of the facts I listed above, nowhere will you find the terms "jihadist" or "terrorist sympathizer", let alone having them attributed to Hussain.

Goldberg continues...

Rashad was not simply a debate partner, but a close and trusted friend. And while some may argue that our friendship prevents me from thinking clearly, I know it gives me the unique perspective to speak to the things that matter – his character, his views and his love of country.

It is inexcusable to witness people who know nothing of Rashad, not his Wyoming roots nor his love of Carolina basketball, or his skill at impersonations – try to smear a good man. It is one of the reasons I felt compelled to write about the man I know and the great American public servant he is becoming.

Any of the facts I listed addressed yet? Nope. However, Hussain's love of basketball is. So far, Goldberg has revealed himself as nothing but a biased observer who refuses to confront some very disturbing facts about his friend. Maybe Goldberg is priming the pump by building up Hussain's character as a foundation on which he can build a credible argument against the facts.

Let's continue....

I have known Rashad for 17 years. I have eaten in his house more times that I can recall and discussed every issue imaginable – from Middle East peace to Tiger Woods.

And I can say without equivocation, hesitation or reservation, that Rashad is the ideal candidate for public service – he truly is a fantastic human being, and absolutely unrecognizable from the descriptions in the hate media.

Nope, not there either. However, Goldberg does again refer to a media that is using hateful descriptions of his friend. Hey, James, how about those facts? I noticed as I read a little further that Goldberg again focused on the television media that had reported on his friend. Perhaps he would address it here...

The proliferation of television channels and other media have enabled smear campaigns to occur at lightening speed. One moment a friend is the President’s new OIC envoy, and the next, he is decried as a jihadist. The need to shock and enrage audiences, to provoke and antagonize has never been greater, and in the process, we discredit the very people that are most qualified to help.

Goldberg still refuses to address any of the facts but is perfectly ok with demonizing those who bring them up. After reading Goldberg's entire piece, not one time did he address ANY of the disturbing facts surrounding Hussain's attendance at the 2004 MSA event, MSA's ties to the Muslim Brotherhood, Hussain's comments at that event, or Hussain's attempt to cover-up those comments. Instead, he communicates pure emotional support for Hussain while attacking those who raise questions about those facts.

Based on all of those facts, perhaps Goldberg should consider studying another Islamic term. That would be Taqiyya.

There are two forms of lying to non-believers that are permitted under certain circumstances, taqiyya and kitman. These circumstances are typically those that advance the cause Islam, in some cases by gaining the trust of non-believers in order to draw out their vulnerability and defeat them.

Now, Mr. Goldberg, perhaps you should re-think your loyalty to Rashad Hussain based on facts that seem to indicate he has something to hide and precepts in Islam that encourage him to do so.

There is a name for defending those who pose a threat to oneself while demonizing those who are trying to save you. It's called Stockholm Syndrome.

via MediaIte