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The top Republican in Congress on Thursday criticized Rep. Michele Bachmann and four other fellow House Republicans for making "pretty dangerous" accusations when they questioned the security clearance of a Muslim aide to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
The comments of House Speaker John Boehner came after Sen. John McCain, the 2008 Republican presidential nominee, blasted the five lawmakers for seeking an investigation into whether Huma Abedin, Clinton's deputy chief of staff, had connections to the Muslim Brotherhood, an Islamist political organization.
Related: McCain defends Clinton aide
Boehner, speaking at a regular news briefing, said "accusations like this being thrown around are pretty dangerous." He said he did not know Abedin, but "from everything I know of her, she has a sterling character."
McCain took to the Senate floor Wednesday to accuse the lawmakers of making a "sinister" attack on Abedin. Following the custom in Congress, he did not name them but left no doubt he was talking about Bachmann, as well as Reps. Louie Gohmert, Trent Franks, Thomas Rooney and Lynn Westmoreland.
They sent a letter in June to the State Department's inspector general suggesting members of Abedin's family may have connections to the Muslim Brotherhood, which the writers said may be seeking access to high levels of the U.S. government.
Most attention has focused on Bachmann, who earlier this year failed in her bid for the Republican presidential nomination. She has long been criticized by fellow Republicans, among others, for controversial comments and factual errors.
Bachmann defended her actions Thursday on the talk show of conservative host Glenn Beck. "If my family members were associated with Hamas, a terrorist organization, that alone could be sufficient to disqualify me from getting a security clearance," Bachmann said, according to a transcript of her remarks. "So all we did is ask, did the federal government look into her family associations before she got a high-level security clearance."
There is no evidence connecting Abedin or her family to any terrorist organization, McCain stressed in his Senate speech.
"Rarely do I come to the floor of this institution to discuss particular individuals," McCain said. "But I understand how painful and injurious it is when a person's character, reputation and patriotism are attacked without concern for fact or fairness."
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He called Abedin "an intelligent, upstanding, hard-working and loyal servant of our country and our government, who has devoted countless days of her life to advancing the ideals of the nation she loves and looking after its most precious interests."
A State Department spokesman said Clinton "very much values" Abedin's "wise counsel and support" and called the allegations preposterous.
McCain was supported on Wednesday by Edward Rollins, a prominent Republican strategist who worked on Bachmann's primary campaign.
On the Fox News website, Rollins wrote that he was "fully aware that she sometimes has difficulty with her facts," but said "this is downright vicious and reaches the late Sen. Joe McCarthy level," a reference to the U.S. senator from Wisconsin who rose and then fell accusing government officials and others of being communists in the 1950s.
"....Shame on you, Michele!" Rollins wrote, adding that she should apologize to Abedin, Clinton and "to the millions of hardworking, loyal, Muslim Americans for your wild and unsubstantiated charges."
The lawmakers' June 13 letter, which they released publicly, asserted that the State Department had recently taken action "enormously favorable" to the Muslim Brotherhood and that its interests could pose a security risk for the United States.
The letter cited a security study by an outside group alleging that three members' of Abedin's family, including her father who died two decades ago, and her mother and brother were linked to operatives or organizations of the Muslim Brotherhood.
Abedin is married to former U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner of New York, a Jew.
Copyright 2013 Thomson Reuters. Click for restrictions.
Leave a Comment:
There is integrity finally showing its face in the Republican Party...if this can happen more I might think of retroactively voting for McCain.
With the majoriety of the obama administration not even being able to pass a FBI backround check and a good part of this countries secuity secrets leaked out for a obama vote or headline,,I ask,,,What the he!! difference does it make?
Murphy Andrew's family hasn't proven they aren't communist....or terrorists......so I guess they are.
Neither has Kevin D or his family, so I guess they are communists... or terrorists also.
Really sound logic dude.
a non-partisan stance on individual integrity..
a smell of fresh air..
you will never see this from the partisan democrats!
What part of "Clintons aide" don't you understand?
Nut-job McCain suddenly becomes most Republicans. They are wrong on this issue just as they were wrong on the 2011 "Arab Spring". When my son needed a TS clearance when he was commissioned they asked questions to nearly anyone who knew him over the last ten years. The letter in question asks a simple question--what was your process? It was not an attack on anyone! Whatever you do don't seek the truth! I find it really great that the loser is commended for taking a stance which involved him doing one thing--wetting his finger and sticking it into the air. Way to go King of the Rinos!
Ducky-2278072,
Are you stupid or just trying to fool everyone out here. This was done for no other reason then to bring it up before the election. Another attempt to make the President look bad. As I said you either have no idea what is going around around you or you are attempting to cover the real reason this was ever started.
Did anyone go public news coverage, the web with the assumption that your son could be a danger to his country before they did any investigation on him. I think not............................... Ducky, I am sure you would have been ok with that, right ???
Ducky: you might be shocked to know that the majority of Congress has not been subjected to a background investigation, yet their staff are all required to. So perhaps the letter should have requested that all members of Congress, or even better all politicians, be required to submit to vetting prior to assuming office as well as all of their family members. Since your son, supposedly, underwent the investigation you should know how an outstanding parking ticket is enough to prevent a TS clearance, yet we have members of Congress exposed all the time for far more serious offenses.
good lord !!!!! .. next thing you know , they're going to admit that the president was actually born in Hawaii.. after seeing BOTH birth certificates , of course ....
The really scariest part of this request for an investigation is that she really believes what she spouts. What's even as bad, she infects so many other loonies. I am in awe that some other republicans came out against her McCarthyite accusation. I would like to know who were the other dolts were that signed her letter. I bet Neo-Taliban incharge Issa signed it.
They are just now noticing the hate coming out of their party? It has been there for the last 5 years since President Obama came on the scene. They have been throwing out "foreigner, socialist, communist, marxist" etc. They are shameful and history will show who was on the side of bigotry.
Have you listened to Obama and his campaign ads? You want to talk about who is throwing around the hate and disgusting behavior?
The Republicans have evolved from the Bush days. To see the Republicans taking the stance of what is right rather than what is politically opportunistic, is refreshing, and a big feather in their cap.
Perhaps Obama could learn something from the Republicans. Learn from the past and make yourself better.
Your post and so many others are proof of what I say. You take a positive and immeadieately turn it into a negative partisan ATTACK.
So you are calling the kettle black, and you fool no one. You are the Problem, not the solution!
@wtf
Well cry me a river. The Republicans invented and perfected this garbage and now you're all crying foul when it's turned back on you. People like you deserve what they get. You don't even get it, you're backing a lame horse.
Your problem is that you're just so blinded by your hatred you have lost your reasoning powers. This is what happens when you only listen to Rush and Faux Not News.
Dennis,
Not sure what your problem is, but medications can probably help you some, seriously, not being mean.
I know what threw you off. My post was talking about being positive, and not finding the negative in everything. Totally foriegn concept to you apparently.
Like I said, posts like yours only prove my point of view that much more. Sticks & Stones... Keep 'em coming. You represent the hate and lies that the left brings to America today. That's why we WILL kick your side to the curb this November. Glory days are coming!!!!
@WTF
OK, I admit, I might have been a little harsh. If so I apologize.
When you say:
President Obama tried playing nice with the Republicans and they spit in his face. He thought he had an agreement on raising the debt ceiling and what did he get? They pulled the rug out from under him and went on to say how he wouldn't work with them. After they did this a few times he kind of quit trying. He offered a 10 trillion spending cut with a small increase in taxes. The Republicans stomped their feet screaming no, no, no, no. They had signed a pledge to not help the American people but to help Norquist and Koch. That pledge seems to supersede their oath of office. That's real American of them.
So, I get a little upset when all people are able to do is parrot Rush-isms and tea party nonsense talking points. It shows me that they have no intention of doing anything truly intelligent. All they want to do is call people like me un-American because I believe that we truly are our brothers keeper and that it's not right to punish people just because they're poor. I don't like it when they accuse me of wanting freebies when there is no such thing and that I have never taken a handout from anybody.
Most of all it makes me mad that they don't have the stones to tell it to my face. I dislike cowards.
Dennis,
I do not listen to Rush. I am not a Tea-Party follower. I voted for Obama. I will not be voting for Obama again. I am actually going to vote against Obama more than I am voting for Romney. Nothing personal, but I just think he is doing a REALLY bad job, and I don't think America can handle another 4 years. Romney is more likely going to be able to rebound the economy, and that is #1 what I expect from the President and the government. I couldn't care about Bain or what he did in HS. If he did something illegal, he would have been prosecuted. No politician will ever pass the litmus test we put them through without a few spots.
I do believe the Republicans are not spitting in his face, I see it as they cannot believe a word he says. He has not tried playing nice, he has been extremely partisan. He locked them out of the process, and can't understand why they are just lining up to his point of view. He's really quite inexperienced at this leadership thing. If the Republicans don't like what the President suggests, he attacks them. Calls them names. He's a school yard bully if he doesn't get his way, all the way, all the time. While I understand you probably disagree with what I say, the suggestion I would make is don't take it personally. I'm not attacking President Obama. But I am allowed to disagree with him, and even not approve or like what he's doing. That is American, so please don't infer that I'm being un-American because I don't agree :)
You second para clearly shows you are not listening to anyone's perspective other than your own. If someone disagrees with you, you immeadiately call them names and presume they are this or that. Perhaps they just don't agree with you! And I don't totally disagree with you. But those who disagree with you get similarly attacked, as I believe you had done. And I do appreciate your apology, this shows you are not one of the "bad" guys :) I do understand how frustrating some people can make it, so please join me in ignoring those people and just playing nicely with those that will play nice back.
If I may offer my thoughts/perspectives to a couple of points you made:
They are telling it to you to your face, your resonse is not so nice, so there is no room for conversation if you chose to hold this response to those who disagree with you. It shouldn't make you mad. THis turns into a self-serving prophecy, and a never ending loop. Differing opinions are a good thing. It's the hate and anger that people have towards others who have a differing opinion that makes it difficult. I don't get mad. I make my point, and move on from the haters. OK, I may point out their silliness, but not in a mean way I hope.
Have a good one!
Wtfwwus,
You have a flawed understanding of your own political system. This is coming from a Canadian.
The republicans successfully blocked any real attempt there was at successfully dealing with the recession. As much as I dislike my own right wing government, I voted for them knowing that they
1) Had the power to handle the economy during this turbulent time
2) Would handle it properly
The president is very limited in what he can do when the House and Congress are too busy pandering instead of finding solutions.
Crite,
What an idiotic statement. Stay in Canada. Butt out of our Countries affairs.
1. You say the house and congres. Well the house is part of congress. Congress is the house and senate.
2. The Dems control the senate, and had control of the house for Obama's first two years. They got nothing done, without the need for 1 Republican vote.
3. The Democrats (Harry Reid) are blocking the jobs bill, not the Republicans. Why? He doesn't have enough Democrat votes for it. Even the Dems can't support the junk Obama is sending.
4. I agree with the Republicans blocking the crappola that Obama presented. It is a matter of opinion if they would have worked, but it is universally agreed they would have cost trillions without any guarantee of success, and many believe they would not work. Obama doesn't know what he's doing. Nothing personal, just my take on his actions. I support the Republicans and encourage them to stop the madness coming from our white house!
So with little effort, I have proven that you are the one who knows very little about the US politcal system or the facts of the matter.
Please refrain from speaking about what you know so little about. At least educate yourself on the topic if you're going to try to butt in to another countries affairs. You don't belong in this conversation!
Critc
is right.
Most Americans don't know their own political system.
It will come back to bite their butts. Let's say Mit wins .. and the Democrats in congress have a meeting and decide whatever it is .. the answer is NO. Let's see how well Mit does :)
I have noticed posters here on the Republican side getting very upset that their strategies are now also being used by the left. Too bad.
As a Canadian also .. I will NOT be staying out of American politics. Don't like it? Too bad. There is absolutely nothing you can do about it. We can even send money to who we want. Don't like it? Too bad.
Remember .. it wasn't the 'lefties' that allowed all this to happen. It was your party that invited our participation. Don't like it? Too bad.
Republicans kind of remind me of this guy we use to play cards with. He always cheated. All of us noticed this ... so we started to cheat also ... I don't need to tell you when he saw us doing the same as he did .. it was suddenly unacceptable.
what else can you expect from Mrs. Bachmann, a nut will be nut for her whole life, no matter what, just I hope she does not get reelected ! she has done too way much damage to this country!
I wish Boehner had gone a step further today and spoken about removing her from the Intelligence Committe. I've no clue how she got on it in the first place!
Realist, I agree. I am impressed with McCain standing up against her tactics and I've also been impressed with Jon Huntsman vowing not to attend the GOP convention. If the rest of that party would take their cues from these two gentlemen, we might be able to get back to discussing actual issues instead of constantly putting out fires.
With regards to Michelle Bachman's outrageous statement about Huma Abedin -- I'm always so disappointed when a LIAR's (Michelle Bachman) pants don't actually catch on fire . . . she'd be ablaze in seconds! Someone, please stop this crazy b!tch.
This woman truly represents the Teaparty and its members, remember this when you go to the polls in November, a vote for republicans is a vote for the lunatic fringe.
Remember that it was the Republican Party that stood up and condemned this whack jobs actions, not the Democrats.
A Democrat would NEVER condemn the actions of a Democrat Whack job.
Remember that, a vote for Democrats is a vote for the extremist socialists.
Is that last statement any more fair than your last statement?
@wtf
Maybe it's because Democrats generally don't do stupid things like this. Quit trying to change the subject low life. "Extremest Socialists", right. You wouldn't know when it they cracked you over your head. You have zero idea what Socialism is yet you keep spewing all those Faux, Rush BS talking points.
WOW Dennis. Such logic and compassion from another hate filled leftie :)
Yeah, like Democrats don't do stupid things like that? Both sides have their idiots and "bad" guys.
But based on such brillance as "you wouldn't know when it they cracked you over your head" WHAT? Do you even think about what you write, or is your blind hatred for anyone who doesn't agree with you so overwhelming that you cannot even think or act responsibly!
But you do amuse me. Seeing that you apparently can't read and comprehend what I wrote. Look up the word sarcasm.
Talk about BS!
wtf
The rep/teas are eating their own. Please bring back the Old Proud GOP. Mr McCain is a true gentleman and has a sense of right and wrong...something the Baggers like Bachmann, Ryan, Rush, Hannity have hijacked away from the Party. The Teas are out to Divide this country...stop them.
I do agree with that in terms of the right wing fanatics, but I also would add you are also adding to the division of this country. By calling people who you don't agree with derogatory and sexually demeaning names, isn't exactly helping un-divide the country, now is it? As I see it, anyone who calls Tea Party followers "baggers" is doing exactly what they are objecting to. I see it as very hypocritical, and kind of takes credibility away from those who do it.
Let's also include the "Progressives" like Pelosi, Reid, even Obama that have hijacked the Democrat party and the liberal cause. They too have lost the meaning of right and wrong, and are likewise out to divide this country. Let's stop them too!
@StevenC -
I couldn't have put it better: Repubes - the party of the lunatic fringe!
Every time I read a post on these vines it's proven! Michelle Bachman is their poster child!
Really Suzq?
How come the Republicans spoke up in Congress to denounce Bachman, while the Dems, yet again, do nothing but complain and attack.
Every time I read posts like yours it confirms that the truth and reality just don't matter to so many libbies. Hate is their mantra!
I'd be more concerned that Abedin is married to Anthony " let me show you my" Weiner .That truly shows a lack of any type of common sense, self respect and dignity.
Again I have to post: I have read these comments & the ones from the previous article, and have yet to see someone say "I voted for Bachmann and stand by my choice". How did she get elected? If someone actually voted for her can you explain your reasons, because the rest of us are baffled by your vote.
Maybe she ran against a Democrat? :) I just had to, it was too easy...
It will be interesting to see how Minnesotans cast judgment on their Congresswoman when she's up for re-election. For those halfway admonishments remember, talk is cheap..
Abedin is married to former U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner of New York, a Jew.
Where's your wiener?