I’ve been reading him for a couple of years now. I’m not saying that he’s not a good guy . He is. But I do think there are ways he could have gotten his message out to the mainstream. If I mentioned Middle East Forum to most people, they would be clueless. The problem is that President Bush relied on various members of CAIR and other similar organizations to set policy, as did Clinton before him. That reliance on the wrong individuals may be changing somewhat. I hope so.
How long, do you think, has Jasser truly considered reform in Islam? I could probably go back through some of his stuff and figure it out, but maybe you have that information close at hand? I remember reading something a couple of years ago that defended Islam, but didn’t really espouse making changes in it.
“But I do think there are ways he could have gotten his message out to the mainstream.”
So, you’re faulting him for not doing enough to get his message out sooner and not being able get the MSM to publish him earlier?
He was in the Navy, he got out and went to medical school, he moved to Arizona, got married, had a family, opened a medical practice and then after 911 when everyone finally woke up, somehow managed to find time in between seeing patients, to start writing about the dangers of islamism and begin his campaign in earnest by starting his website and gaining attention from conservative pundits & news outlets. Not easy to do with bias and mistrust from the Right.
I think he’s done a heck of a job. I don’t know about you, but I couldn’t manage a full time medical practice, young family, and travel across the country attending meetings & giving speeches and interviews and write regular articles.
I don’t know where he finds the time or energy. But he is a bit younger than me, so I guess that helps.