McCollum, Muslims to discuss controversial film

Attorney General Bill McCollum and Muslim leaders will meet today to address concerns that McCollum showed the controversial film Obsession to his staff during work hours in state buildings.

Through an assistant, McCollum sent an e-mail to his 500 employees in January, urging them to attend one of three screenings of the film in order to understand "the terrorist threat to Florida and the West by radical Islam." Employees taped up posters of the crescent moon and star of Islam imposed over the wreckage of the World Trade Center.

Muslim leaders from the Muslim Public Affairs Council in Los Angeles and the Council of American Islamic Relations describe the film as an "anti-Muslim propaganda film."

"We are gravely alarmed that a respectable, high-level official such as yourself would be promoting such inflammatory anti-Muslim propaganda through your office, " wrote MPAC executive director Salam Al Marayati on Jan. 23. "The office that hate crime victims turn to for legal aid and justice is itself igniting the fire of bias and fear through such events." (full story here)

Comments

What possible reason would the Atty Generals people have in "understanding the terrorist threat to Florida." Since when does he run the FBI?

The Attorney General is the chief officer in Florida specifically charged with prosecuting crime. Like terrorism.

I thought AG was charged with safeguarding civil liberties not trouncing on them.

They don't like it, too bad. Why don't they show outrage that their fellow Muslims like to blow people up?
Cry me a river.

8:05 So this was a training film for prosecutors huh?

Now showing at a theater near you:

Howdy Doody in his critically acclaimed role "Jack Booted Thugs"

Don't give in to Moslem fanaticism like the Archbishop of Cantebury just did. There is a threat to Western civilization, like or not. Everyone has to face the facts before their wives and dughters end up in burkas.

Yes 8:35 there is a threat but don't use that as an excuse here. This situation was totally inappropriate.

What would people do if the AG should Farenheit 911, another propaganda film about terrorism?

complete bonehead move by the office. Pathetic because the office just showed that a select group of special interests can trump any move by his office.

… and what’s with that moronic “thumbs up” gesture, do they teach that in political school or something?

[AG Office]

the AG office is full of liberal bureaucrats and for all his bluster--McCollum appointed career liberabl bureaucrats has his deputies. Case in point: Trish Conner, an anti-trust anti-free market attorney is a deputy. Go look what she is doing to Microsoft---along with the other ultra liberal and leftist state AGs. Go look it up. ahe is only hurting americans and their 401k with people like Trish going after free-market companies like Microsoft.

There's two issues here--1) should the film be made available for employees to watch, and 2) should it be shown on state time. I don't have any problems with the film being made available but I'm not cool with employees watching movies on (my) tax dollars!

There's two issues here--1) should the film be made available for employees to watch, and 2) should it be shown on state time. I don't have any problems with the film being made available but I'm not cool with employees watching movies on (my) tax dollars!

Actually, we would have to see the film to conclude that it was inappropriate. If in fact, it illustrates a particular mentality involved in terrorist activities by mindless drones (suicide bombers) killing innicent people as they go about their business, maybe it was entirely appropriate. Especially if it was shown to a section that deals with terror related crimes. Including terror related economic crimes.

McCollum is a very bright man and an excellent lawyer. If this thing had his approval, I give him the benefit of the doubt.

The spectacle of the Archibishop of Canterbury wanting to accomodate those Moslem extremists who, privileged to live in a free Britain nonetheless repay British hospitality with treason and wanting to soil Britain with their brand of religious fanaticism is revolting.

Where's Richard the Lionhearted when you need him?

and FIFTY years ago, i am sure wee willie would have been happy to show the "threat" neeeegras posed to our pure, what 'merikun wimmens!

what a FREAKING DISGRACE!!

should have been "pure, white 'merikun wimmens".

WHAT A FREAKIN' DISGRACE!

mightnt we expect a shred of dignity from this anus?

[Tom - Orlando]

When Muslims protest this film about Radical Islam, they are identifying themselves with the Radicals in the film. They can't blame the rest of us for doing that; they are doing it themselves.

As an American of German decent, whose Grandfather stayed in Germany and was likely a Nazi, I see Muslims protesting against criticism of Radical Islam the same as if every time someone says something bad about Nazi Germany, that I protest that it reflects on all people of German descent. I think after a while, folks would think that maybe I agree with the Nazis, and maybe the problem is not the people that criticize Nazi Germany, but ME.

Radical Islam is at war with us. Radical Islamic Extremists want to kill us. They say it every day! CAIR and other groups that defend Radical Islam may not be who the pretend to be?

[What it is!]

Worth repeating, and dead on point!

"When Muslims protest this film about Radical Islam, they are identifying themselves with the Radicals in the film. They can't blame the rest of us for doing that; they are doing it themselves."

Well put Tom!

McCollum will not back down on this. The film fairly represents the threat of radical Islam, not all of Islam. The flack machine for the radical Islamists knows the difference, but won't tolerate ANY criticism of Islam, even the terrorist branch, and seeks to portray all Muslims as victims. That is duplicitous of him, and tragic for all the multi-culti weenies out there who refuse to see the real threat of the radicals.

Yes, these folks at CAIR want you to believe that all these so-called radical Islamists are just poor misunderstood victims of American cultural imperialism. If only we could tolerate their intolerance of freedom, of other faiths, and especially their intolerance of criticism of Islam. We should just let them use women and children in their suicide bombings of marketplaces, mosques, buses, and weddings; after all, who are we to judge? Aren't all cultures equal? Can't we all just get along?

Tom - Orlando: well said.

SOP for conservatives and in this case R's:

we have NO POLILCY but if you let us we can SCARE you to death!!

scare you about uppity neegras
scare you about wuppity wimmins
scare you about homersectionals
scare you about illegull im'grunts
scare you about mooslims
scare you about ................

we have NOTHING to sell but FEAR ITSELF and are counting on enuff stoopid people to believe our SCARE TACTICS!!

gaaawwwd bless 'merika!!

So, are these people suggesting that Osama is not a Muslim extremist? Are they suggesting that the 9/11 hi-jackers were not Muslim extremists? I don't really see where the dispute is. I mean, I'm a white guy from the South. I'm not a racist, but I understand that if the FBI were looking for a KKK member, they'd be interviewing people who look like me. They'd be wasting time and tax dollars if they instead interviewed african-americans at an NAACP rally trying to find a Klansman. What is the big deal?

in orwells' ninteen eithty-four, oceania was CONSTANTLY at WAR with someone and the population was driven by fear into surrendering even the most basic human and civil rights.

sound familiar?

remember, back in the "days of shock and awe" (thanks, neil young!) when the CHIMP vowed to hunt osamabeenforgotten down like a DOG?

wonder what happened to that?

and you fools still want to believe that pathological liar?

if it werent muslims, then the drunk and his team would have had to invent someone else, since it certainnly WASNT saddam, was it?

funny 11:22...that the man ehose quote you chose to distrot - FDR, a Democrat - may have also been one of the most bigoted presidents in the last 100 years, refusing to even welcome Jesse Owens into the White House.

[ed]

CAIR would make a big impact if they would apply the same emphasis to atacking the RADICAL ISLAMISTS AS THEY DO TO ATACKING McCOLLUM-REMEMBER "THE BEST INDICATOR OF WHAT SOMEONE WILL DO IS WHAT THEY HAVE DONE"-LIKE TO HEAR FROM CAIR ON THIS!!!

Blame it all on the teachers and outsource education, and vote ‘Publicken or we’ll all die!

[Joe Kaufman]

AG Bill McCollum is a great man, who understands the threat our country faces from those that wish to destroy us. CAIR and MPAC don't like it, because they support our enemies. Go to www.americansagainsthate.org to find out more about our enemies within.

[Tom - Orlando]

RE - Posted by: | February 12, 2008 at 11:22 AM
SOP for conservatives and in this case R's:
we have NO POLILCY but if you let us we can SCARE you to death!!

Hey dude, the temps are going to rise 1.7 degrees centigrade in the next 100 years and the world will come to an end, especially after the polar bears add drown (even though they can swim) . BOO! AND if that didn’t make you pack your prius and head to the mountains - in about 10 years, the cooling period will come and you will freeze to death - BOO!

Stupid Republicans…worrying about terrorist attacks that are happening every day all over the world and the radicals that are in our country.

So like somebody posted earlier, why not show Farenheit 911. It would be a good terrorist training tool.

[Dee]

The more awareness of radical islamic terrorists and their sympathizers the better.

This CAIR outfit seems to be nothing more than an apologist front. Why haven't they organized a huge march against radical islam? Are they Americans or not?

Show the film, people in public leadership positions need to be aware of these type of anti-American people as well as be able to share their knowledge with others about this.

Also, the AG's office is on the front lines at the state level when it comes to legal issues relating to terrorist activity and their front organizations. So, it makes sense for staff to be exposed to anything relating to it.

Why trash Trish? She's a Republican friend of Gallagher and a career attorney with OAG.

Actually that was TR's quote of "nothing to fear" not FDR's. Another wise guy "clarifying" history for us.

I'm about ready to draw some cartoons of the Prophet and see how tolerant radical Islam really is. Or I could allow children to name a teddy bear after him. I will say though that there are some Hollywood starlets that could use a burka (Lohan, Spears, etc.).

Is this the same film Hasner showed at the IMAX a while back and invited legislators?

Friend of Gallaghers? Please tell me who in the AG's office hasn't worked for Gallagher or Jeb.

[Zhombre]

I hope the jerks like the guy at 11:22 have a supply of tinfoil hats to protect them from reality through the coming McCain Administration. I'd consider their drivel about 'Mericans to be funny if it wasn't so pathetic. I don't know how these imbeciles can function. It must be a task for them to dress themselves and stuff their Coco Puffs in their mouths in the morning.

Let me get this straight.

State attorneys use their own money to take out an ad on Sayfie and beg the Legislature not to cut their positions.

Yet these bozos have so much time on their hands they can watch a propaganda film on state time on the off chance they might prosecute a terrorist.

ACLU come on down

[J Edgar Hooooover]

Bill - keep up the good work!

This was poor judgment on the part of General McCollum. Every American should be concerned about radical islamic terrorist who want to kill us, Christians, Muslims, Jews, Athiests, Wiccans, Agnostics, Mormons, Jehovas Witnesses. The Attorney General as a private citizen should have rented a hall on the weekend with his own money to show anyone who wanted to watch it. He should not have used his office to show it, just has he should not have gotten involved in the same debate at UF about the same movie (in which he defended the republicans students for showing it).

Yes while the movie was optional to watch, the apperance of impropriety is there because it looks like he is instructing AG employees to watch it. He shouldn't have doen it.

The State Attorney General does not deal with terrorism like the federal attorney general does. Other than the Statewide Prosecutor, the White Collared Crime unit, and the Capital Collateral Appeals and Criminal Appeals unit, the AG does not deal with crime per se, let alone terrorism (although leaders in the AG may be involved in the Homeland security planning with the feds, including the AG in his role as appointed the FDLE Director along with the other members of the FDLE Commission, which is the cabinet). Ironically state attorneys may be more appropriate ones to watch this video since the people put behind bars are recruited by muslim terrorists, even in state prisons. And terrorist can be tried under state laws, and prosecutors try criminals, not assistant attorney generals.

Still this should not be done on state time. Remember as AG, General McCollum represents muslims here in Florida, as well as everyone else, and he should be sensitive about that also.

I think this all stems from General McCollums passion to fight terrorism, which is what he was involved with back as a Congressman. Still he is the Attorney General of the State of Florida, head of the Office of Legal Affairs, and the State's Chief Legal Advisor. If he wants to fight terrorism, then i would suggest he apply for a US Attorney position or Assistant US Attorney position (which he would do a great job in).

8:00 you make some very good points.

One would have to question whether the AG even knows what the role of his office is. He appears to be expanding the mission for what could turn out to be self serving/political purposes.

[very thin on personality and smarts]

Trish Connor is an anti-trust attorney. Anti-trust prosecutors do not believe in free market principals like Ronald Reagan, but they believe in central governement and techocratic interference with individuals and the concept of laissez-faire (i have a feeling that Trish, as an anti-trust prosecutor--does not believe in laissez-faire). Evidence: look at the latest action the State of Florida has done with Microsoft---a truly innovative and good company. But the techocrat, ie trish connor, with the elevated position as a deputy, no doubt, had significant involvment with pursuing a capitalist company to make it bend its will to that of the all controlling state--ie--run by bureaucrats like trish. That is why you get recessions and depressions---look at what gov't has done to anything it gets it hands ons. microsoft is under constant attack by the EU (a socialist nirvana if ever there was one) and Trish is following suit with other liberal attorney generals to be like the EU. So there you have it---McCollum is an idiot to appoint a technocrat as a deputy and a bigger idiot to make microsoft do what he deems best. He is a Hoover--and not a Reagan Republican.

[So this is a Republican---or a technocrat similar to hoover. And was trish involved? we are a demo]

In something of a surprise move, four state attorneys general who previously praised the effectiveness of Microsoft's antitrust settlement with the feds said they're not ready to see five years of oversight wind down just yet.

In a nine-page court filing with U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on Thursday, officials in New York, Maryland, Louisiana and Florida said they were joining a group of six states, led by California and the District of Columbia, in calling for dragging out oversight on Redmond until 2012.

"An extension is appropriate to assure that marketplace participants have sufficient opportunity to establish positions to compete against Microsoft, an entrenched monopolist," they wrote, according to a document seen by CNET News.com

[Is it McCollum or Trish]

who agrees that: Microsoft is an entrenched monopolist.

[So McCollum's Florida]

is just like New York (very liberal), Maryland (extremely liberal), California (liberalism run amuck) and the District of Columbia (not enough words to discribe this place).

So is McCollum, by slight of hand, trying to establish a very liberal and intrustive florida AGs office. And confuse the base with his stance on terrorism. Creating a crisis to distract from what he is really doing to the department.

[do you really wnat]

someone who talks hard line conservatism, but appoints entrenched bureaucrats who will seek to get more authority over individuals? i don't think so---he has no principals. I think the deputies he appointed are more entrenched technocrats (who want to usurp private business) than microsoft is an entrenched monoppolist. and google will soon eat microsofts lunch after microsoft is fatally weakened by bureaucrats like connors and her benefactor, bill mccollum

[so who decides if microsoft is fair and losing it's butt in the market place]

does that fall under Trish Connor's jurisdiction as deputy or Bill McCollums. and when did either of these two ever run a company and compete in the competative marketplace. ummmm----never.

[More on Florida's position thru McCollum---such a bureaucrat in love with power.]

The latest filing discusses what the attorneys general call the "indisputably resilient" monopoly that Microsoft holds in the operating system realm. They say they are "mindful" that Windows' approximately 90 percent market share in client operating systems is not the only test for how successful the antitrust agreement has been. But, they add, "the absence of meaningful erosion in Windows' market share is still problematic for the public interest."

Because of those concerns and Microsoft's "well-known difficulties" in complying with other portions of the consent decree, specifically a server protocol licensing section, it's appropriate for the oversight period to cover a full decade, as is typical of antitrust consent decrees, the New York group argues.

The New York group's joint filing with the Justice Department in August said: "Microsoft was never found to have acquired or increased its monopoly market share unlawfully. Therefore, the final judgments were targeted to reinvigorating competitive conditions that Microsoft had suppressed, not to slicing off some part of Windows' market share."