Candidate Bush with the Al-Arian clan
The Post article was accompanied by a photograph taken of Al-Arian with Candidate George W. Bush and his wife, Laura, during a campaign stop at the Tampa Strawberry Festival in March 2000. Perhaps this photo op was a way of thanking Al-Arian and his wife for the efforts they claim to have made on Mr. Bush's behalf "in Florida mosques and elsewhere because they thought him the candidate most likely to fight discrimination against Arab-Americans."
Interesting article, thanks for posting it. It does point out that Bush's staff should have done more investigation. But remember, Al-Arian was a professor at a well respected university, so it is not unusual, that he was accepted at face value.