Plain Speaking From Fred Thompson

Although I haven't yet decided on a candidate for president, I have to admit that Fred Thompson is looking better and better to me. My main concerns are that our next president be very strong on combating Islamic terrorism, and that he be able to defend himself quickly and forcefully against the vitriol and smears from the left - which he is sure to encounter no matter what he does. It has been very frustrating to observe lies and smears from left-wing politicians and the mainstream media go unanswered, and Republican politicians acting as if there was something to be ashamed of for embracing conservative principles.

One thing that has already set Thompson apart from the declared Republican candidates is his willingness to give a direct answer about his beliefs on any issue. He has come out firmly against the amnesty-immigration bill now before Congress, and, unlike every other politician, says bluntly that Scooter Libby has been treated very unfairly and should not go to jail for what is, at heart, a political disagreement.

Ever since 9/11, conservatives who were paying attention have been warning about the activities of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, and confounded by the Bush Administration's stance on this terrorist-supporting group. Now we find out that America's Muslims have indeed been paying attention - by departing from this fake civil-rights organization, CAIR, in droves. From the Fred Thompson report on ABC:

Good News about CAIR
The Fred Thompson Report, June 20, 2007

“I've talked before about the Council on American-Islamic Relations -- most recently because it filed that lawsuit against Americans who reported suspicious behavior by Muslims on a U.S. Airways flight. Better known just as CAIR, the lobbying group has come under a lot of scrutiny lately for its connections to terror-supporting groups. This time, though, The Washington Times has uncovered some very good news about the group.

For years, CAIR has claimed to represent millions of American Muslims. In fact, they claim to represent more Muslim in American than ... there are in America. This has alarmed Americans in general as the group often seems to be more aligned with our enemies than us -- which isn't surprising as it spun off from a group funded by Hamas. As you know, Hamas has been waging a terrorist war against Israel and calls for its total destruction. It also promises to see America destroyed. Nowadays, Hamas is busy murdering its Palestinian political rivals.

Even with this history, and CAIR's conspicuous failure to condemn Hamas by name, it has been treated as if represents Muslim Americans by our own government. The good news is that the financial support CAIR claims to have among American Muslims is a myth. We know this because The Washington Times got hold of the group's IRS tax records.

CAIR's dues-paying membership has shrunk 90 percent since 9/11 -- from 29,000 in 2000 to only 1,700 last year. CAIR's annual income from dues plunged from $733,000 to $59,000. Clearly, America's Muslims are not supporting this group -- and I'm happy to hear about it.

Of course, every silver lining seems to have a cloud; and this cloud is that CAIR's spending is running about $3 million a year. They’ve opened 25 new chapters in major cities across the country even as their dues shrank to a pittance. The question is; who’s funding CAIR?

CAIR's not saying. The New York Times earlier this year reported that the backing is from "wealthy Persian Gulf governments" including the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Obviously, we have a bigger problem here than the one with CAIR.” Fred Thompson