Windermere, FL: Statement from Dan Fanelli, Candidate for Florida's Congressional 8th District:
I recently had several short commercials produced focusing on the very important and timely issue of the Terrorist Threat. This is one of the most significant dangers our nation faces, and we must move forward in protecting innocent American lives and the freedoms that America was founded on. It is only by the grace of God that many more lives were not lost from the Christmas bomber (Umar Farouk Abdulmatallab), and from the more recent NYC car bomber (Faisal Shahzad). It was also a stroke of luck that he was apprehended after the plane had left the gate; however, we cannot depend on luck in the future. I cannot remain silent while radical Islamic terrorists continue to try to indiscriminately kill innocent people around the world who have done no wrong, but just happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time.
We must face the reality that Islamic extremists want to kill us. Osama Bin Laden issued a video tape in 1993 where he declared war on America, and his many Jihadist followers have grown in number and continue to be at war with us today. As a candidate for U.S. Congress, I refuse to apologize for protecting Americans against terrorism. I cannot, nor should any patriotic American shy away from common sense solutions for the sake of delusional political correctness. As an elected servant of the people, it is my job to protect the lives and Constitutional freedoms of all Americans from any cowardly and murderous terrorists. The Preamble of the Constitution places the responsibility to “provide for the common defense” of the American people with the federal government. In my opinion the “defense” of our people is the most important duty and responsibility of the government. That duty rests squarely on the shoulders of the Congress, including Alan Grayson and the White House, and unfortunately their liberal agenda and refusal to accept reality is putting our country and its people in immediate danger.
It is an indisputable fact that traveling on a commercial airliner is a privilege, not a right. It only makes sense that the depth of the inspection for each person going through security should be based on various demographics, commonly referred to as “intel” (in the military) or “a profile” (for the police, FBI, and CIA) that increase the probability of a real terrorist being caught. I want to make it perfectly clear that I endorse “profiling”. This profile has nothing to do with color of the skin, We know that historically more than 9 out of 10 terrorists have the following demographics:
1) Originating in a foreign country with terrorist training camps, or a visitor to one of these countries in the last year, or in close contact with people/organizations from one of these countries (including: Pakistan, Afghanistan, Syria, United Arab Emirates, Libya, etc.)
2) A male between the ages of 18 to 45 traveling alone
3) Radical Islamic Fundamentalist extremists who believe in terrorism, and not peace
4) People traveling one way, more so if the ticket purchased was on short notice
5) People paying in cash
6) People with no bags**The more items on the list the more thorough the search should be, and the items on the list will change over time as terrorist practices change.
I recently received a letter from the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee concerning my commercials on terrorism. I had hoped to work hand and hand with organizations like this to promote real solutions that protect Americans of all religions, races, and from all four corners of the globe against terrorism. My commercials are color-blind, and my intention is to illuminate the issue of terrorism. One of my commercials shows that an elderly, thin and frail man is much less likely to be a terrorist than a fit young man. A Syrian-American actor was chosen for the part by the production company for realism, and because they had recently used him in a movie on terrorism. He was cast for that film and many others because he “looks” like a Middle-easterner. His name is Anwar A. and he totally supports my position on terrorism. If the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee's claim were true, then every movie that cast an actor that “looks” like Anwar playing the part of a terrorist must support racism, which is totally ridiculous.
A survey on my commercials by the WESH Ch 2 website found 68% to 74% of the participants approved of my commercials and agree that they are not racially biased. Therefore, I am very disappointed about the false statements that the ADC has made in their letter and statements which are posted on their website. I spoke with them on the telephone concerning the matter, and I will also respond in writing to their letter very soon. My commercials will remain posted on my website, will be run on television, and I will be more than happy to speak to any group to explain that my anti-terrorism recommendations are for the benefit and protection of all people, races and religions.
.To get more information and see all the “Fanelli for Congress” commercials, please go to electdan2010.com.
To all Media Contacts:
Dan Fanelli advocates a common sense approach to scrutinizing potential terrorist threats and welcomes the opportunity to debate, discuss or be interviewed on this topic and his candidacy for Congress.
Media Contact: Mike Brown
contact@electdan2010.com