[SnarlinCubBear]

Issa's an Arabist and borders on being a Wahhabist apologist.

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Please explain that to me. I'm in California, and may have the opportunity to vote on this. I've never heard that statment made about him, and am ignorant of his views.

[Guillermo]

Issa, who happens to serve on the House International Relations committee, has praised Hezbollah (yes I know Hezbollah is not Wahhabist).

He has also praised Arafat, calling him "Charismatic."

On a one-way ticket, with no luggage, boards a plane for Saudi right after 9-11. Of course, he was questioned, and what does he do? He throws a fit, whining about "Arab profiling." This was days after 9-11.

[EdJay]

Re: Darrel Issa and Hezbollah:

The charge that Darrell Issa, whose family is of Lebanese Christian origin, has made statements "praising" Hezbollah has been around for a couple of years, since it was first given currency by a columnist for NewsMax, who back in 2001 dubbed Issa "Jihad Darrell."

Issa denies these charges, to which he replied in an interview with another WorldNetDaily writer, Geoff Metcalf. (Metcalf appears to believe that the columnist who originally made the charge got her information from Iranian propaganda sources -- which distorted what Issa actually said for their own purposes -- and didn't bother checking her sources.)

I have no axe to grind on this, since at this time I really have no opinion at this time on whether Issa would or would not make a good governor. I would have to look at his background and record more fully before deciding that. But on this issue, as fellow Republicans, I think we should consider carefully before accepting charges that he is an apologist for "Wahabism," Hezbollah, or any other Islamic cause or organization.

This interview is at http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=25690