FLASHREPORT

On September 1, I penned a commentary on this page that highlighted that Speaker Bass and Senate President Pro-Tem Darrel Steinberg were listed as "co-hosting" with CAIR [Council on American Islamic Relations] a Ramadan Iftar in the Capitol Rotunda.

Celebrating the end of Ramadan is not, in itself, controversial. However, CAIR is officially listed by the FBI as a hostile organization and an unindicted co-conspirator in a terrorist trial, then you begin to wonder---what are Bass and Steinberg thinking? Moreover, what were there staff's doing? A little Google research would show that Senators Barbara Boxer and Schumer both recently denounced CAIR. Hardly rightwingers.

The piece generated lots of calls to the 12 Democrat Senators "co-hosts", the 23 Democrat Assemblymembers, plus Republican Anthony Adams and Governor Schwarzenegger.

Amador county Republican chair, Arnie Zeiderman MD, contacted Speaker Bass. She immediately denied she was a co-host, nor did she attend nor did "many" of "my colleagues" give permission, nor was she "involved". Sounds like a big misunderstanding.

We sure would like to know if the other 34 legislators plus the Governor feel the same?

See Speaker Bass's letter below:

From: Assemblymember Bass <speaker.bass@assembly.ca.gov>
To: [Deleted For Privacy]
Sent: Tuesday, September 8, 2009 10:17:27 AM
Subject: Dear Mr. XXXXX:

Thank you for your letter with your concerns about the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and their recent event in Sacramento.

I would like the opportunity to correct a misstatement from your email. For the record, I did not co-host the event. My name and the names of many of my colleagues were used without permission. Nor did I attend the event. On Tuesday, the State Assembly was in Session all day and I had other engagements on my calendar that did not include attending CAIR's capitol event.

I understand that you do not support CAIR and that there are those who allege that the group has ties to terrorism, however, please understand that I am not affiliated with this group. There are many instances where the names of elected officials are listed on invitations or announcements of events though they are not necessarily attending or sponsoring the occasion. I was not involved with this event and hopefully the attached article will help clear up this matter for you.

Thank you for taking the time to write and share your concerns.
Sincerely,

Karen Bass
Speaker of the Assembly