(Daily360.com) – New York Democrat Senator and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer seem to hold opposite opinions about a controversial politically active Muslim group. Schumer has both praised and denounced the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) over the years leaving many to wonder what his actual position is on the group.
CAIR has long been at the forefront of Muslim-related activism in the United States and recently drew condemnation over comments made during the Israel conflict with Hamas. Its founder said he was “happy to see” the October 7th attack by Hamas on Israel that killed nearly two thousand and saw many others taken hostage.
Schumer, who is of Jewish faith, has been trying to position himself as the premier pro-Israeli member of the Senate, and he recently called for the U.S. government to cut ties with CAIR over its “ties to terrorism.” These remarks could appear as opportunistic in the present political climate as they are opposite of ones he made about CAIR just last year. Schumer referred to the group as fighting for the “sake of our freedoms” and that Americans are “fortunate” to have them in the country. He lauded CAIR for their work to “spread humanity” and “cultivate and encourage” Americans to come together in peace.
Schumer has been waffling for years on the group. In 2003, twenty years prior to his praise of CAIR, he accused them of having clear ties to Hamas. In 2009 he wrote a letter to the FBI detailing his belief the group were in essence a Hamas front-group do to their connection to the Holy Land Foundation.
CAIR’s executive director, Nihad Awad, recently said, Israel has no right to defend itself against Hamas or other enemies. The current White House, held by Schumer’s political party, included CAIR as a member of its National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism group.
CAIR’s website also had a page dedicated to American politicians who had praised them. The group, included 135 members of Congress made-up primarily of Democrats, including Schumer, Kamala Harris, Elizabeth Warren, Kirsten Gillibrand, Corey Booker, Richard Blumenthal, and Adam Schiff.
Copyright 2023, Daily360.com
