At some point, those who are standing on the sidelines relative to the debate about Huma Abedin’s connections to the Muslim Brotherhood must begin to factor her defenders into the equation. In fact, Republican Party members who have sided with Abedin over Reps. Michele Bachmann, et. al. will have to start doing a little more collar tuggin’ because Haris Tarin, of the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) is now in their camp. One would think that the likes of McCain, Boehner, et. al. would begin to look around and notice whose side their choosing.

From Tarin’s piece at the Huffington Post:

Why the party of Abraham Lincoln has chosen to allow bigots and fear to control its discourse on some of the most pressing issues facing our nation puzzles me. Growing up, I associated the Republican Party with two names — Lincoln and Ronald Reagan.

As an Afghan American, my parents would tell me how Reagan helped Afghans in their struggle against the Soviet Union. In school, I was taught it was Lincoln and the GOP whose policies led to the abolishment of slavery and paved the way for the civil rights movement. So what happened?

I’m not alone in my puzzlement. Even Republican Rep. Richard Hanna (R-NY) expressed his concern with the direction of the party: “I have to say that I’m frustrated by how much we — I mean the Republican Party — are willing to give deferential treatment to our extremes in this moment in history.”

My what a big glass house you have, Mr. Tarin. Bachmann, et. al. are calling out the Muslim Brotherhood, a group that is inherently anti-Semitic. Are you faulting Bachmann for being concerned with Muslim Brotherhood influence or for pointing out that Hillary Clinton’s closest advisor – Huma Abedin – has extensive familial ties to it. Disputing the premises for either of those questions is a non-starter because they’re both factual premises.

Tarin continues…

Bachmann’s absurd accusations expose the extent to which the Republican Party is struggling with its vocal minority, which has taken the megaphone and the reins and is actively steering the party towards irrelevance and extremism. Yet presidential cndidate Mitt Romney has remained silent. Not only has he remained silent, recently he met with the General who was too radical even for President Bush, William Boykin, and has appointed Walid Phares and Michael Bolton as foreign policy advisers.

Wait! Stop! When did Mitt Romney appoint Michael Bolton as a foreign policy adviser??!! I must have missed that one. Did he appoint THIS Michael Bolton…

…or this Michael Bolton?

But I digress…

The organization Tarin represents (MPAC) as he defends Abedin is indeed significant. Remember, central to Bachmann’s concerns is the prospect of Muslim Brotherhood infiltration. A central component of the Brotherhood’s ideology is anti-Semitism. How about the organization that Tarin represents? Does it have a history of anti-Semitism (that would be racism)?

The short answer is yes. Consider former MPAC political director Mahdi Bray. In October of 2000, he stood behind Abdurahman Alamoudi – a man who has since been convicted and sentenced on charges related to terrorism – and expressed jubilant support for Hamas and Hezbollah:

How about MPAC’s founder, Maher Hathout? He has a history of expressing effusive praise for Muslim Brotherhood figures.

Yet, Tarin is more concerned with Bachmann?! Perhaps Mr. Tarin should explain his organization’s history of supporting Hamas and Hezbollah before pointing fingers at those who denounce such organizations?

Perhaps groups like MPAC, CAIR, ISNA, and other like-minded organizations should continue expressing their support for Huma Abedin and derision for Bachmann. It actually serves to help make Bachmann’s case more iron clad.

I’m reminded of Romans 8:28, which says:

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

As Walid likes to say, manure is responsible for yielding the best fruit.

Read the Investigative Project on Terrorism’s comprehensive report on MPAC here.

Consider Bachmann’s position further reinforced with the denunciation of it by Haris Tarin.

Ben Barrack is a talk show host and author of the book, Unsung Davids