Rep. Issa Says Airline Kept Him off Flight Because of His Lebanese Heritage

Associated Press ^ | AP-ES-10-26-01 1618EDT | By Mark Sherman

[TheOtherOne]

Rep. Issa Says Airline Kept Him off Flight Because of His Lebanese Heritage
By Mark Sherman Associated Press Writer
Published: Oct 26, 2001

WASHINGTON (AP) - Rep. Darrell Issa, grandson of Lebanese immigrants, says he was the victim of racial profiling when he tried to board an Air France flight to Paris this month.

The airline denied the California Republican a seat on a late-night flight from Washington's Dulles International Airport on Oct. 4, after he showed up at the gate an hour before departure with a one-way ticket to Saudi Arabia via Paris, and, he said, "an Arab surname."

Air France workers would not budge, despite Issa's protest that he was a member of Congress who was departing on an official trip to the Middle East, and the intervention of Rep. Robert Wexler, D-Fla., who had already boarded the plane. Both men carried a series of one-way tickets, including one for a return trip to Washington, which Issa said he gave to the airline employees.

"They disappeared with my stuff for 15 or 20 minutes. When they came back, they said, 'You're flying tomorrow,'" Issa said in a telephone interview Friday.

Air France spokesman Jim Faulkner would not comment on Issa's treatment.

Issa and Wexler, a Jewish congressman from south Florida, were headed to Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Lebanon for talks on terrorism and the Middle East peace process. "Rob and I made a good team, showing how diverse we are," Issa said.

He caught up with Wexler the next day.

There have been widespread reports from Arab-Americans and Muslims that they have been singled out for closer scrutiny and discriminatory treatment since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Several incidents have occurred on airplanes, including passengers of Middle Eastern descent being removed from flights.

Issa said he wants Congress to look into racial profiling, "whether it's flying while Arab or driving while black," but not while the country is at war with terrorists, one reason he kept quiet about the episode for three weeks. "I want us to keep our eyes on the ball, which is the war we're fighting," Issa said.

The congressman recounted his situation with good humor.

"Rob was more frustrated than I was," Issa said. "He was facing going to Saudi Arabia without his Arab counterpart."

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On the Net:

Issa's office: http://www.house.gov/issa/

Wexler's office: http://www.house.gov/wexler/

AP-ES-10-26-01 1618EDT

[mgc1122]

Why do I think there is more to this story than the Representative's side?

[isthisnickcool]

Hey, can you blame them? He was with Wexler....

[mewzilla]

I thought that you were supposed to show up two or three hours before an international flight if you expected to keep your seat. No offense to Rep. Issa, but he should keep that in mind. Rules aren't just for the little people.

[Peter W. Kessler]

Life's a bitch, Darrel.

Perhaps if you and your associates in Congress had done a better job watching the agencies who were supposed to be protecting Our Nation, you'd have made your flight.

As for Wexler...

Nevermind.

[Dialup Llama]

>after he showed up at the gate an hour before departure with a one-way ticket to Saudi Arabia via Paris, and, he said, "an Arab surname."

What does this doof expect? Next time show them your Arabic pilots manual. It might arouse less suspicion.

[AngrySpud]

" ... going ... without his Arab counterpart."

Life is unfair ... get used to it.

Now, why does a third generation Lebanese-American refer to himself as an "Arab"?

[rolling_stone]

My guess is the plane was overweight if Wexler was on it and that's why they wouldn't let him get on the same plane..LOL

[chemainus]

Issa tough shitski Issa... this is war... no one is concerned with peccadillos.

[dennis1x]

My reply to all these racial profile whiners..... "you'll live"

[North Coast Conservative]

Oops! Sorry. Next?

In God We Trust.....Semper Fi

[Bikers4Bush]

"The airline denied the California Republican a seat on a late-night flight from Washington's Dulles International Airport on Oct. 4, after he showed up at the gate an hour before departure with a one-way ticket to Saudi Arabia via Paris, and, he said, "an Arab surname.""

What kind of idiot congressman buys a one way ticket to Saudia Arabia?

At the very least he's an ass for buying a one-way ticket at tax payers expense. You show me the freakin' airline that doesn't charge more for two one-way tickets than one round trip ticket. The guy is an ( * ).

[Bikers4Bush]

"The airline denied the California Republican a seat on a late-night flight from Washington's Dulles International Airport on Oct. 4, after he showed up at the gate an hour before departure with a one-way ticket to Saudi Arabia via Paris, and, he said, "an Arab surname.""

What kind of idiot congressman buys a one way ticket to Saudia Arabia?

At the very least he's an ass for buying a one-way ticket at tax payers expense. You show me the freakin' airline that doesn't charge more for two one-way tickets than one round trip ticket. The guy is an ( * ).

[Bikers4Bush]

I meant Saudi.

[mgc1122]

"Hey, can you blame them? He was with Wexler...." LOL!

[samtheman]

Get over it. Just like we have to get over the fact that every single Muslim or Middle-Eastern person who's ever been interviewed about Sep11 always talks about how the event might make life more unpleasant for them. Never a word of mention about the 6,000 dead. Only whine and crying about themselves.

[lady lawyer]

And the point is? These people should be more angry at their fellow Arabs than at those who are trying to protect themselves. What are the airlines supposed to do? Hassle middle aged white women? Profile Norwegians? With limited resources it only makes sense to pay more attention to the group producing the men who want to kill us. They must accept the inconvenience. They SHOULD be good humored about it.

[Dane]

Issa, was traveling with Wexler? The French did Issa a favor, IMHO. If I was in the next seat listening to Wexler on a six hour flight, I would probably ask the flight attendant to land the plane, rather listen to Wexler's incessant verbal terrorism of how the Supreme Court performed "chad" terrorism against Al Gore.

[oc-flyfish]

Hey, that's my congressman!

[TomGuy]

Doesn't he carry a Congressional ID? Sounds like he's one of those "I'm so important, you should recognize me by my car" ones--like that Senator who tried to run down a guard at an airport...in New York, I think...what was her name?