John Bennett was talking about ordinary Muslims, not ISIS: CNN analyst

Rasa - Dean Obeidallah says: "What makes Bennett's comments so alarming is that they weren't directed against Islamic terrorists such as ISIS, but rather against Muslim Americans, people like my family, friends and me.”

News ID: 1187

Date: 20 September 2014 - 12:29

RNA - In his article, CNN’s Dean Obeidallah says: “As a Muslim American, I didn't think anything could shock me when it comes to anti-Muslim bigotry.”

“But I have to give it up for Oklahoma state Rep. John Bennett,” he adds, “a Republican, who has set a record for the vilest anti-Muslim comments yet. What makes Bennett's comments so alarming is that they weren't directed against Islamic terrorists such as ISIS, but rather against Muslim Americans, people like my family, friends and me.”

A few weeks ago, Bennett posted on Facebook using his account "State Representative John Bennett" that Christians should be "wary" of Muslim Americans: "The Quran clearly states that non-Muslims should be killed. Arab is the ethnicity, not Muslim or Islam. Be wary of the individuals who claim to be 'Muslim American.' Be especially wary if you are Christian."

Despite calls for Bennett to apologize for inciting hate against Muslim Americans, he instead escalated his campaign of bigotry.

On Monday, Bennett held a public forum with more than 100 constituents in a Western Sizzlin' steakhouse in Sallisaw, Oklahoma. There, Bennett provided his supporters with something other than steak -- a big helping of hate.

According to the Sequoyah County Times, Bennett told the audience that Muslims are a "cancer that must be cut out of the American society." He added that the goal of Muslims is "the destruction of Western civilization from within."

But here's where Bennett's comments truly become bone chilling. Bennett, a military veteran, issued what some could interpret as a call to arms: "I'm not advocating violence against anyone ... but I am not going to stand back and allow them to let Islam take over this nation."

Dean Obeidallah, a former attorney, is a columnist for The Daily Beast and editor of the politics blog "The Dean's Report." He's also the co-director of the documentary "The Muslims Are Coming!"

R111/108/B/