Tag: khizr khan
Rep. Terri Sewell, Alabama

While Nominating Biden In Virtual Rollcall, Democrats Showcase America’s Beauty

The 2020 Democratic convention's roll call vote for its presidential nominee was an entirely new experience. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, states got to nominate Vice President Joe Biden from their home turf, and it was an opportunity to see the best of the country.

In what was termed the "Roll Call Across America," people from Alabama to Puerto Rico to Washington and, of course, Delaware. cast their votes for Joe Biden.

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If ISIS Could Vote In Our Election, It Would Choose Donald Trump

If ISIS Could Vote In Our Election, It Would Choose Donald Trump

Countless foreign affairs experts (including plenty of Republicans) and weathered military brass all agree: Donald Trump is grossly unfit to be Commander and Chief. But in reality, it’s not just that Trump lacks presidential qualifications; is that he’s uniquely qualified to make things a lot worse.    

It’s already happening. ISIS is using Donald Trump as a recruitment tool, galvanizing support and boosting their momentum.

Think of it this way: if ISIS is a fire that we have to put out, having no access to water or a fire hose would render one unfit to fight it. However, the frightening truth is that Trump and his Republican backers are actively, willingly, and ignorantly throwing gasoline on the flames.  

If you don’t trust U.S. politicians, then at least trust U.S. enemies: ISIS is rooting for a Trump presidency because it gives them a leg up. But why?

First,  the ISIS worldview is simple: They see the world as believers vs. non-believers, divided between land governed by their version of Islam and the lands of its enemies. ISIS fears religious freedom and secular society, which is why their main goal is to “destroy the gray area of coexistence.” ISIS approves of Western Islamophobia, because it fuels their binary “us vs. them” doctrine; they gain power and support from the irresponsible and hateful brand of divisiveness Trump flings around when he solicits cheers for anti-Muslim rhetoric — like he did when he insulted the family of a fallen Muslim-American soldier.  

What’s more, scholars agree that Trump’s proposal to ban Muslims from entering the U.S. is outright illegal under U.S. and international law, citing the U.S. Constitution’s equal protection clause and the First Amendment’s doctrine of freedom of religion. It’s not just illegal, it’s also not possible:  there’s no ‘religion’ column on passports. So Trump’s nonsensical proposal has the sole effect of playing into ISIS’s narrative–basically doing their dirty work for them.

This isn’t all just theory, either. In a new analysis, Foreign Affairs magazine recently interviewed ISIS supporters, and according to a former ISIS fighter and self-identified jihadist, “We don’t need to convince Muslims in the Middle East that the West is against them … The next step for the Islamic State is to reach Muslims in America and Europe.” Another said, “Congratulations to us on the victory of Trump! Sit back and relax and watch the end of America at his hands.”

From the same Foreign Affairs analysis, another man who left ISIS said that ISIS wants to make the West an “incubator” for locally inspired attacks. ISIS is currently using video footage of Trump’s anti-Muslim sentiments around the attacks in Brussels and Orlando to recruit and galvanize support.

And since ISIS is losing ground on its home turf in the Middle East, they’re increasingly focusing their propaganda less on battles in the region and more on the Trump-type content that will encourage homegrown terrorism and lone-wolf attacks in the U.S. and Europe. Picture a room full of jihadi social media operatives splicing islamophobic Trump-isms into their recruitment videos, woven between footage of beheadings — what more do they need to justify their hateful narrative?

In an increasingly combative election, one of the few things we still all agree on is countering ISIS’s ideology and evil mission. Donald Trump, however, seems intent on designing”‘policies” and advancing an attitude that plays right into their hands, both ideologically and operationally. He claims that he alone can keep the country safe, but he’s actually singularly bad for our national security–and our enemies are taking notice, and using his rhetoric as fuel.

It all boils down to a simple question all American voters must ask themselves: If ISIS would vote for Donald Trump, why would you?

Kevin Samy is a political Partner at the Truman National Security Project and a communications strategy consultant. Views expressed are his own.

IMAGE: A fighter of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) holds an ISIL flag and a weapon on a street in the city of Mosul, June 23, 2014. REUTERS/Stringer/Files

Khizr Khan Blames Intolerance On Trump, Calls On McCain To Withdraw Support

Khizr Khan Blames Intolerance On Trump, Calls On McCain To Withdraw Support

Khizr Khan, the Gold Star father of a slain American war hero, blames Republican nominee Donald Trump for the growing intolerance and hate plaguing the nation: “The voices that wouldn’t dare because they were afraid of the decent America to condemn them … have gathered courage to show their ugliness.”

Khan, speaking on USA Today’s weekly news series “Capital Download,” said Trump’s call to ban Muslim immigrants and his disparaging comments towards Mexicans and other minority groups has led to a new wave of racism and intolerance.

“Most Americans are against this kind of nonsense, but there is an element that has gotten voice, has been encouraged by this political rhetoric, and especially this election season has made it worse,” Khan said.

At the Democratic National Convention, Khan gave a now-famous speech directed at Trump for his hateful rhetoric. In it, Khan asked Trump if he had ever read the Consitution of the United States.

Earlier this week, Khan gave an interview to Cronkite News, a division of PBS in Arizona, calling for Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) and other prominent Republicans to pull their support of Trump.

Khan has publicly been a fan of McCain’s, calling the senator  “my and my family’s hero.”

On Tuesday, Khan directed his comments specifically at the senator, saying, “I implore Senator McCain … I continue to implore all of the good Republicans who either support or are going to vote for their party’s candidate, this will be a historic moment in the Republican Party.”

Khan spoke of the desire for Republican officials to be on the right side of history with regard to Trump: “If you publicly rebuked him, you will look back and you will stand tall in front of the nation and you will say you were not for this, we were for [a] better America.”

The McCain camp has not yet withdrawn their support for Trump.

Photo: Khizr Khan speaks during the last night of the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia

Protesters With Pocket Constitutions Thrown Out Of Trump Rally

Protesters With Pocket Constitutions Thrown Out Of Trump Rally

It seems a list is quickly building as to what can get you summarily ejected from a Trump rally. On last count, Trump couldn’t stand the following at his events: Muslims, the press, and babies. Now, Trump’s added on to his persona non grata list: protesters holding Constitutions.

On Thursday, several protesters attended a Trump rally in Maine. Rather than picketing or overtly opposing Trump’s candidacy, they chose to stand up and silently display pocket-sized copies of the Constitution of the United States.

The protesters were referencing the man who may end up causing Trump’s downfall. At the Democratic National Convention last week, Khizr Khan, the father of a slain Muslim-American soldier, pulled a pocket Constitution out during his speech and openly asked Trump whether he had ever read the document himself.

The protesters in Maine were immediately thrown out of the rally by Trump campaign staff, and faced a booing crowd on their way out.

The pocket Constitutions held by the protesters were issued by the ACLU and they’ve have seen a dramatic increase in sales in the days following Khan’s speech. Although it was unclear whether the protesters were actually affiliated with the ACLU, the organization Tweeted out its support:

 

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally in Greensboro, North Carolina on June 14, 2016.   REUTERS/Jonathan Drake