Stop Changing the Subject, Mr. Emerson
June 04, 2007
Recently, MPAC Communications Director Edina Lekovic appeared as a guest on CNBC's "Kudlow & Company" alongside Steve Emerson of the Investigative Project, to discuss a Pew Research Center poll which found that Muslim Americans are middle class, mainstream and share core American values. During that interview and in the days since, Mr. Emerson has launched an offensive smear campaign against Ms. Lekovic based on her brief affiliation with a student publication at UCLA nearly a decade ago.
SEE: CNBC "Kudlow & Company" interview (5/23/07)
As stated in the title of the poll, the Pew Research Center found that Muslim Americans are "middle class and mostly mainstream". Based on more than 1,000 interviews, researchers describe Muslim Americans as diverse, largely integrated, happy with their lives, and embracing the American dream. The vast majority also do not see a conflict between being a devout Muslim and living in a modern society. Nearly three-quarters agree that most people who want to get ahead in the U.S. can make it if they work hard.
Those polled also expressed an increased difficulty in being Muslim since 9/11, and there was some controversy in attitudes towards violence. What was lost in the media coverage, however, was that polls of the general American public found the same levels of agreement with the statement that attacks against civilians can be justified in some situations. As Lekovic pointed out, any support for such violence is unacceptable and must be addressed, no matter where it originates.
SEE: "Pew Study on Muslims Shed Positive Light on Mainstream, Middle Class, Moderate Muslim American Majority" (MPAC, 5/23/07)
During the interview on CNBC's "Kudlow & Company", Emerson described the poll as evidence of widespread extremism among Muslim Americans, then went on to accuse MPAC and Lekovic of being extremists. Rather than dealing with the topic at hand, he then read a quote from an article which appeared in July 1999 in Al-Talib, a student magazine published at UCLA, and attempted to attribute it to Lekovic who he said was the editor at the time.
SEE: "Ms. Lekovic... A Dozen Printing Mistakes?" (CounterterrorismBlog, 5/30/07)
Lekovic denied being editor of Al-Talib and then denied being managing editor of Al-Talib. In point of fact, Lekovic never served as editor but did serve as managing editor for three quarterly issues during her senior year at UCLA (Sept 1998 - June 1999). The role Lekovic played at Al-Talib was peripheral at best, insignificant enough that she simply did not recall it when she was asked about it on CNBC. How many people can recall with clarity all the things they did while they were in college? Her greatest mistake - an embarrassing memory lapse after having mud slung at her by Emerson on national television.
The real problem here is not that Edina Lekovic is "double talking", it is that Emerson is myopic and he propagates an ideology that only breeds fear, doubt, and suspicion. Emerson's failure to distinguish between violent extremists and moderate forward-looking Muslim Americans is a blow to reason and morality, and a demonstration of his fundamental lack of knowledge or expertise.
MPAC is a moderate, inclusive and forward-thinking organization with a history of fostering a strong Muslim American identity, and combating terrorism and extremism. Lekovic has had a professional and personal life defined by her commitment to creating opportunities for Muslim Americans to contribute to their communities and country.
You don't have to search that far to see that Lekovic has been a staunch and outspoken critic of extremism and misinterpretation of core Islamic texts and traditions. She was a member of a Muslim Student Association in college, and knows firsthand what can happen when young people feel disenfranchised and un-represented in the public discourse. She knows where anti-establishment sentiments are born and fed. And she also knows from experience that working with young Muslim Americans to expand their self awareness, broaden their worldview and encourage their contribution to broader society are crucial steps in fostering a vibrant and productive generation of emerging leaders.
Emerson defines Lekovic through a single college experience, and completely ignores all that she did before and since. In reality, Lekovic has served as an editor on half a dozen books promoting moderate and authentic interpretations of Islam and progressive social values. She has spoken at conferences, universities, churches, synagogues, law enforcement agencies and civic events around the country about the need for enhanced integration and involvement by Muslim Americans. And she is a co-founder of "NewGround: A Muslim-Jewish Partnership for Change", which brings together young Muslim and Jewish professionals in Los Angeles to tackle the pressing civic issues facing their common city. An example of her frank and direct message can easily be found online in a talk Lekovic gave in November 2005 in Chicago about "Muslim Identity on Campus"(mp3 file).
Lekovic's Record at UCLA:
As she stated during the "Kudlow & Company" interview, Lekovic was a student at UCLA and she served as Editor in Chief of The Daily Bruin. Lekovic's record as a student journalist is notable for its excellence -- she was recognized the Society of Professional Journalists for her excellence in news writing and the newspaper was named "Best in the West" under her leadership. Her peers, colleagues and supervisors would attest to her integrity and high ethical standing throughout her undergraduate years.
During her first three years at UCLA (1995-1998), Lekovic was an editor of the Daily Bruin and had no direct role in Al-Talib other than being consulted occasionally in order to enhance the editorial standards and practices of the publication. She was given "special thanks" in those issues as a result of providing sound advice, and nothing more. Attempting to connect her to articles in those issues is dishonest and underhanded.
Lekovic served as managing editor during her senior year in order to provide advice and input that could improve the quality of the publication, and to push for more productive discourse in its editorial content. She did not play a significant role in the day-to-day operations of the magazine. As any journalist knows, a managing editor does not have final say in any editorial decisions.
Emerson attempts to hold her responsible for other articles in nearly a dozen issues of Al-Talib in which her name appeared -- while completely ignoring the reality that the views expressed in these articles represent only the opinion of the author (as is clearly stated in the staff box to which Mr. Emerson so frequently refers in his blog). Emerson does not cite a single article which was penned by Lekovic. He has found no "smoking gun", and he therefore resorts to his classic ripped-out-of-context quotes to paint the intolerant and hateful image he evokes so often when dealing with Muslim Americans.
Al-Talib was founded in 1990 in order to provide a voice for Muslim students to explore and address their identity, their community and their challenges. To characterize the entire publication on the basis of a few cherry-picked passages is a terrible misrepresentation of the publication, not to mention a slap in the face of free speech.
Specifically, Emerson attempts to attribute to Lekovic statements made in articles from two different Al-Talib issues which are sympathetic to Osama bin Laden or minimize the Holocaust. If you check the pages, Lekovic did not write these articles, nor has she ever espoused, condoned or adopted the sentiments expressed in them. The unsigned article which contains a passage praising terrorist Osama bin Laden appeared after she graduated and she had no role in its writing nor its publication. She stands firmly behind the fact that her name being published as managing editor in that issue is a printing mistake. Non-students cannot serve as editors on student publications, and Lekovic had already graduated when this issue was published.
In fact, Lekovic and MPAC have unequivocally and routinely condemned and argued on religious grounds against violent extremists, including bin Laden, by name. Throughout her professional life, both as a student and in the eight years since, Lekovic has focused almost exclusively on working with Muslim Americans to encourage their political and social integration rooted in a tolerant, authentic and inclusive vision of Islam.
But let us remind the reader, too, that this article was published in a pre-9/11 world, during a time in which Taliban leaders (bin Laden's associates) were brought to the United States by the State Department to speak before business and foreign policy establishments. A brief survey of American publications and statements by public officials before the catastrophic events of 9/11 would also show that terrorists like Bin Laden were naively described as American allies and freedom fighters.
MPAC was on record in the 1990s as opposing and condemning the Taliban while the foreign policy establishment of the U.S. assisted the Taliban, and MPAC also spoke out against Sheikh Omar Al-Rahman (the convicted terrorist behind the first World Trade Center attack) and refused to give him an audience when he traveled around the country in the early 1990s. Why is it that Mr. Emerson refuses to acknowledge even the obvious?
Who is Steve Emerson?
Steve Emerson and his Investigative Project are among those who scapegoat Muslim Americans, rather than provide constructive counterterrorism policy. Through this process, Muslim Americans are excluded from the formation of effective policy, depriving America from an experienced and knowledgeable segment of our pluralism.
Throughout the 1990s, Emerson developed a well-deserved reputation for inaccuracy and anti-Muslim bias. Among his more notorious gaffes was an effort to blame Arabs and Muslims for the 1996 Oklahoma City bombing, claiming that the attempt to kill as many people as possible in the attack was "a Middle Eastern trait." Since 9/11, he has spared no effort at throwing accusation after accusation against MPAC and other mainstream Muslim American organizations.
SEE: "Counterproductive Counterterrorism: How Anti-Islamic Rhetoric is Impeding America's Homeland Security" (MPAC, December 2004)
In 1995, he bizarrely claimed in the Jewish Monthly that Islam "sanctions genocide, planned genocide, as part of its religious doctrine." He then declared in the Jerusalem Post that "the US had become occupied fundamentalist territory." Emerson brings to mind the most paranoid McCarthyites of the 1950s. His attempt to recast himself as only a righteous seeker of Muslim extremists does not fit the facts. His is more a struggle to keep legitimate Muslim American organizations from participating in the political life of their country.
SEE: "Terrorists Under the Bed" (Salon.com, March 2002)
Where in his track record have Emerson and his colleagues identified or acknowledged the efforts and commitment of any segments within the Muslim American community to work with law enforcement, promote mutual understanding and proactively enhance integration with American society? In January 2007, on the very same day Emerson accused MPAC on the Fox News Channel of encouraging its members not to cooperate with law enforcement, MPAC was holding working meetings with the chief of police of Los Angeles Police Department. The relationship between MPAC and federal and local law enforcement agencies is founded upon the idea that greater dialogue will lead to better partnering to protect both the Muslim American community and our nation. Since May 2004, MPAC's National Grassroots Campaign to Fight Terrorism has been endorsed by mosques across the country and received recognition from the Department of Justice as a model for effective community policing.
When has he or fellow blogger Daniel Pipes ever acknowledged positive steps taken by Muslim American organizations? Instead, all they can do is fill their blogs and the airwaves with hateful tirades. Time and time, Emerson and Pipes have made false accusations against MPAC, and time after time they have been proven wrong. This was demonstrated when Emerson tried to have the Los Angeles County Human Relations Relations revoke an award for Senior Advisor Dr. Maher Hathout, argued publicly that Executive Director Salam Al-Marayati should be barred from engaging with the Department of Justice and the FBI, and it's being demonstrated again in this current attempted smear against Edina Lekovic.
SEE: "MPAC, CAIR, and Praising Osama bin Laden" by Daniel Pipes (Frontpagemagazine.com, 6/1/07)
When have Emerson and his colleagues ever sat down for an open and frank discussion with leaders of any Muslim American community-based organizations to attempt work toward security and peace and American values? Instead, all they do is sling wild accusations, and attack and defame these individuals and groups as "wolves in sheep's clothing". If they had a true commitment to fighting terrorism, they would stop looking for the Boogeyman in all the wrong places.
Founded in 1988, the Muslim Public Affairs Council is an American institution which informs and shapes public opinion and policy by serving as a trusted resource to decision makers in government, media and policy institutions. MPAC is also committed to developing leaders with the purpose of enhancing the political and civic participation of Muslim Americans.
