Jihadi relinquishes Virginia immigration panel seat

WVRA ^ | 27 SEPT 2007 | WVRA

[radar101]

Richmond, Va. (1140wrva.com) - Doctor Esam Omeish has resigned his position on the State Commission on Immigration. Omeish stepped down after a caller to WRVA's "Ask the Governor" program told Kaine a video existed of Omeish preaching hatred of Israel. A second video also shows Omeish saying "jihad.. is the way to liberate your land."

Kaine says Omeish resigned because he did not want controversy to cause problems for the commission. Kaine says he will appoint another Muslim representative.

Click here to see the video the caller was talking about.

Click here for the jihad comment video.

Click here to hear the complete exchange on "Ask The Governor."

[R. Scott]

I knew it would happen - but not that quickly. Most of our Democrat Governors took their time.

[untenured]

The First Amendment prohibits the Congress (and by extension through the 14th Amendment, the Virginia Legislature) from passing a law respecting an establishmnt of religion.

Actually, you could do better than that. Article VI requires that "no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States." This seldom comes up in litigation, but this seems like an obvious case. Someone really should challenge this.

[muawiyah]

The "religious test" deal is strictly federal ~ although states might well have the same deal.

That the Governor of Virginia would propose Unconstitutional legislation is not unexpected. It's happened before.

Took the Union Army several years to wrench the place back into line.