Rep. Peter King shrugs off McCarthy comparisons over Muslim radicalization hearing

Updated 5:44 p.m. Eastern Time

Rep. Peter King (R-NY), Chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, told CBS News Tuesday afternoon that if he could plan Thursday's hearing on Muslim radicalization over again, he would change nothing other than his opponents' "hysterical" response.

The planned hearings are causing concern among Muslim Americans and civil right activists, who say that they unfairly single out one faith. Opponents have suggested King is conducting a witch hunt similar to Senator Joseph McCarthy's efforts to expose communists in the United States in the 1950s.

When asked about accusations by groups that he is a modern-day McCarthy, King responded that he considers the attacks a " badge of honor." (See that clip here)

King said that rather than a modern-day McCarthy, he sees himself as "a modern-day American who realizes the threat we face" from Muslims living in America who are radicalized by their mosques or the internet. He added that "no one is going to be unjustly attacked" at the hearings.

Two family members of Muslims who were radicalized are expected to testify Thursday. Melvin Bledsoe, the father of Abdulhakim Mujahid Muhammad, will tell the story of his Baptist-raised son who converted to Islam in college, traveled to Yemen and was imprisoned there for overstaying his visa. Muhammad ultimately returned to the United States and killed two military recruitment officers in Arkansas.

The other family witness is Abdirizak Bihi. Bihi was the uncle of Burhan Hassan, who ran away from home at seventeen to travel to Somalia with other teens in his Minneapolis community. The group would fight, and eventually die, with an al-Qaeda affiliated group there.

In addition to these family members, the first Muslim-American member of Congress, Keith Ellison (D-MN), and two other members of Congress will testify. Also testifying will be Sheriff Leroy Baca from Los Angeles County, California.

Baca is testifying as the Democrats' one witness. House Democratic aides have criticized King's witness list for not including any law enforcement officials or anyone who could substantiate his claim that Muslim communities are not cooperating with law enforcement.

"I think have heard enough of government officials," King said in response to the criticism. "We're going to have people who live in the Muslim community, who have been personally affected by this. So the average American out there watching this rather than seeing bureaucrats or people reading prepared testimony are going to hear people who've suffered, hear them speaking from the heart and see what they've gone through."

King also discussed his past with Muslim-Americans living in his own district. He said that before the September 11 terrorist attacks, he "had young students from the mosque interning in my office, I socialized with people in the Muslim community, spoke at mosques often."

After September 11, King said that "people I thought I knew, people who were very prominent in the Muslim community were denying al Qaeda was involved in the 9/11 attacks. They said it could have been Jews, it could have been the CIA, it could have been the FBI and not one Muslim leader on Long Island rebutted them. There was deafening silence."

In response to a question about whether these hearings could cause Muslims to be less inclined to cooperate with law enforcement, King said, "I don't think that a patriotic Muslim is going to refuse to come forward because of a hearing."

King added that he wants young Muslims watching the hearing to come away with the message that the "future is theirs."

"We look upon them to be outstanding American citizens in the future," he said. "And not allow al Qaeda to pervert their religion and to radicalize people in their community."

King said Thursday's hearing is just the first in a series examining radicalization among Muslims.

Rep. Keith Ellison: Radicalization an issue across religions, not just for Muslims
King/Ellison debate Muslim extremism hearing

[Obamaisagenocidalmaniac]

According to the Verona Papers-released by the KGB after the fall of the Soviet Union - everything McCarthy said was correct. One must now reconsider the "hero" status that CBS places on Edward R Murrow. He was not a hero. At best he was a dupe and a patsy. At worst, he was a mole also. Take your pick. CBS lied then. Are they lying now?

[Hauptnovae]

Well, Mr King, this all sounds very reasonable. I guess next you might suggest that we make all Muslims sew a large "M" on their shoulders, so we will know who they are. Or, better yet, I think there are a few abandoned internment camps out in the California desert...

[Birdman04]

Interesting that people have no problem or see an issue with profiling a minority group as long as it is not them. That will all change over time when we "white folk" who I am a part of become the minority in our country.

I pray that I will be treated with the same respect I have shown others. You do not condemn the many because of the acts of a few.

That simple concept like a gentle breeze flies right over the head of all but good normal decent folks. That is not how my parents raised me in my great home state of Virginia. All these excuses justifying this nonsense are spitting in the face of our Constitution. Pathetic.

[noloyalisti]

It's OK to be a terrorist if you are a CHRISTIAN terrorist like Mr. King, the GOP and others in the government (many on the side of Israel on both sides of the aisle).

This demonization of Muslims led to the many, many war crimes of the Bushoccio Crime Family. No we have the GOP-terrorist remix in the new Congress. EVERYONE should be afraid of these Christians.

[j_flood]

Representative King supported and still supports the terrorist actions of the IRA - without apology or reservation. And now he's sure there's a Muslim lurking behind every door waiting to kill a Christian. He's begun a witchhunt like his predecessors did with the House Un-American Activities Committee. And we call this freedom?

[wallyj16]

It's the prison economy stupid. Radicalization of Islam is done mostly in our prison system. King is trying to stir up fear and loathing to throw a little more "red meat" to his base.

I believe in separation of church and state no matter what the religion is. In fact, most of the terrorist attacks domestically are done by Americans. Not by al-Qaeda. Maybe some of these fear mongers out to try reading books, instead of fowarded hate emails they regurgitate as the gospel.

[VA_Jill]

Peter King is a BIGOT. And oddly enough, he even LOOKS a bit like Joe McCarthy, who I remember a little bit too well. Those who are screaming about Sharia Law don't even know what it says and are bigots just like him. Suggesting they should actually read what they are railing about just offends them...perhaps because they can't read so well? Or is it just that they've made up their minds and don't want to be confused with facts?

So where are the investigations into the radicalized anti-government so-called "Christian" elements? They are certainly far more dangerous than Al-Qaeda, and probably better armed, considering they live in the US. And where are the congresscritters who should be standing up and speaking out against King and his fellow bigots?

When fascism comes to America it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross.

[blindersoff]

Proud to be a bigot. He only has to pander to the teabaggers in his district I guess. I hope the reasonable people in his district see what an embarrassment he is. Doesn't he know Joe Mccarthy ended up being a disgrace?

[bantamei]

If you value your civil liberties, STOP VOTING FOR REPUBLIKOMMIES!!!!!

[bantamei]

This is another reason to abhor republikommiues.

[davefromdayton]

I have never understood why Bush (then) or Obama (now) has never said we are not at war with Islam, but extremists that say they are Muslims. Just as the Black Panthers say they are Muslims and the Klan says they are Christians. All of these groups are terrorists plain and simple. I feel the POTUS making that type of statement would drastically increase our support from middle of the road Muslims. But I have been wrong before

[blindersoff]

Black Panthers are NOT "Muslims". That was a political organization, the new group is also political, not religious. Fox will put anything on tv now and people just believe it.

[forsanity1]

Both presidents you mention have said we are not at war with Islam. It is sad that you are questioning them, while it is you that is the one without the facts.