Boston Mayor a Hypocrite on CFA

[tpeichel]

http://www.bostonherald.com/news/opi...t_chick-fil-a/

Given his stance on Chick-fil-A, would Mayor Tom Menino grant permits to a group that has counted among its leaders a man who has repeatedly called homosexuality a “crime that must be punished” by death?


Actually, he has done that  . . . and more! Menino effectively gave away city land valued at $1.8 million to the organization, and he gave a speech at its ribbon-cutting ceremony.


It’s the Islamic Society of Boston’s mosque, and when it comes to anti-gay sentiment, one of its early supporters makes Chick-fil-A look like the Provincetown Men’s Chorus.



During the (understandable) controversy over the city selling land for a house of worship at a below-market rate a decade ago, reporters discovered that the Islamic Society of Boston counted imam Yusef al-Qaradawi as one of its spiritual guides. As the Weekly Standard reported at the time:

“The ISB does not dispute the fact that they have repeatedly used al-Qaradawi as a tool to raise funds for the Boston mosque, printing a brochure that highlighted al-Qaradawi’s enthusiastic support of the mosque and playing a videotaped message of support from him at a 2002 gathering.”


Also in attendance at the gathering, listening to al-Qaradawi’s message: Mayor Tom Menino.

Outside Boston, al-Qaradawi is better known as a vocal supporter of terrorism who teaches a hard-core version of Islam. His claim to fame as a “progressive” is that he was the first prominent imam to urge women to become suicide bombers, too.

It was only when his terror support became known that the Islamic Society of Boston announced that epeated listings of al-Qaradawi as an ISB trustee had been a mistake.


But nobody’s accusing Chick-fil-A of supporting terrorism — just traditional marriage (I think liberals still see the former as more dangerous). Menino heard the president of the company call same-sex marriage a “sin,” and he announced it would not be allowed to do business in Boston.

OK, Mr. Mayor. But when you gave all that land to the ISB at a song, here’s what imam al-Qaradawi was teaching:

“[A homosexual should be given] the same punishment as any sexual pervert  . . . Some say we should throw them from a high place, like God did with the people of Sodom. Some say we should burn them.”


According to the Anti-Defamation League, “In 2003 Qaradawi stated on IslamOnline that the punishment of homosexuality is the death penalty.”

In the end, says the anti-Islamist organization MEMRI, al-Qaradawi came down on the side of stoning.

[Wickabee]

The guy shouldn't have got involved in the CFA in the first place. It was a stupid move on his part.

As for anything else, I really don't care. He's the mayor of Boston, which means that, unless I live in Boston (which I don't), what he says and does doesn't affect me and isn't worth my time. Unless you live in Boston this isn't news. Even if you do it's barely news.

[pghin08]

The guy shouldn't have got involved in the CFA in the first place. It was a stupid move on his part.

As for anything else, I really don't care. He's the mayor of Boston, which means that, unless I live in Boston (which I don't), what he says and does doesn't affect me and isn't worth my time. Unless you live in Boston this isn't news. Even if you do it's barely news.

Exactly how I feel.