John McCain appeared on Fox & Friends this morning where the hosts immediately questioned his conservative bona fides by saying he had just missed Laura Ingraham echoing “many Republicans” in saying that McCain is “flip-flopping” on his support for President Obama. And “She feels as though you’re bailing (Obama) out – a misguided, confused policy.” But McCain had the last laugh. (H/T Think Progress)
First, McCain got in a dig at Ingraham. After explaining his position on Syria, he added, “I’m sure that with her vast knowledge of tactics and military strategy she knows better than me.” Of course, unlike McCain, Ingraham never served in the military.
But Kilmeade was bound and determined to delegitimize the Syria effort and the heck with whether or not he knew what he was talking about. Kilmeade played footage of someone in the Syrian opposition shooting a government fighter jet down and exclaiming, “Allahu Akbar! Allahu Akbar!”
Kilmeade said, “I have a problem helping those people out if they’re screaming that after a hit.”
McCain shot back, “Would you have a problem with an American Christian saying, ‘Thank God? Thank God?’ That’s what they’re saying. Come on! Of course, they are Muslims but they are moderates and I guarantee you that they are moderates. I know them and I’ve been with them. For someone to say, ‘Allahu Akbar’ is about as offensive as someone saying, ‘Thank God.’”
I’m not so sure the rebels are really moderates but McCain is absolutely right in his assessment of the significance of “Allahu Akbar.” As Slate explains:
Muslims can use Allahu akbar to express general approval, or even as an exclamation of surprise. Sometimes crowds will shout the phrase as a form of applause, the way people might yell “Bravo!” at the end of a performance. (Allahu akbar) often stands in for applause after a Quranic reading, since it would be inappropriate to cheer for someone who has merely recited God’s words. But the phrase might just as well be shouted out at a soccer match.
So McCain was exactly right. Kilmeade was fear mongering over something he couldn't be bothered to fact check. Being made to look like an ignorant fool is exactly what he deserved.
You’ll notice he immediately changed the subject.
:^)
This dufus, old fart just doesn’t get it. He’s so obsessed with opposing President Obama, that he becomes an unhinged fool.
Sorry grumpy-gramps, WE have nothing to gain, and everything to lose from getting involved with this civil war. No matter what we do in the future, we will be scorned for our involvement or lack of involvement in Syria. Might as well just keep our noses out of it.
Those People scare me! Thank God I’m Catholic!!!
Nothing surprising. Slimy Sean knows that there is only one God, and he’s a white North American…
…or maybe he’s trying to ratchet up his rep as an Islamophobe? Hannity is only bested by two woman on that front: Ann “Moose-lims” Coulter, and Monica Crawley who shouted (on her radio hatefest) the alarm for Boston a few years back with “The Muslims are coming… the Muslims are coming! Grab your arms, don’t let them build more mosques!”
Kilmeade said, “I have a problem helping those people out if they’re screaming that after a hit.”*
Anyone happen to know what Kilmeade’s opinion was of “Tebowing?” Tebow’s little performance was WIDELY understood to be an on-field prayer of thanks.
And I suppose Kilmeade isn’t aware that the Syrian Constitution (even if it is routinely ignored by the current President of Syria) requires that the President be a Muslim, so I imagine that Assad has exclaimed “Allahu akbar” more than once.
This clown has a radio show as well. His audience is small like his brain.