Obama in warm defense of Clinton's Muslim aide
Obama used the occasion of a dinner celebrating the Muslim holy month of Ramadan to pour praise on his "good friend" Abedin, a Muslim American, in a highly public and strong statement of presidential support.
He said Abedin, who has been at Clinton's side in the White House, the Senate, her 2008 Democratic campaign against Obama and in her globe-trotting travels at the State Department, had worked tirelessly to represent the United States.
Clinton, now Obama's top diplomat, has relied on Abedin's expertise and "so have I," the president added.
"The American people owe her a debt of gratitude -- because Huma is an American patriot, and an example of what we need in this country -- more public servants with her sense of decency, her grace and her generosity of spirit.
"So, on behalf of all Americans, we thank you so much," Obama told Abedin, at an iftar dinner marking the end of Ramadan's daily fast, in the State Dining Room of the White House.
Abedin has been the target of a small group of Republican lawmakers, including former presidential candidate Michele Bachmann, who have alleged she is part of a Brotherhood conspiracy to influence US foreign policy.
She has won bipartisan support. Republican Senator John McCain spoke strongly in her defense, saying she was a devoted public servant full of "decency, warmth and good humor."
Abedin was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan in 1976 but moved with her family to Saudi Arabia when she was two. Her father was born in India under British rule and her mother is Pakistani.
"Put simply, Huma represents what is best about America: the daughter of immigrants, who has risen to the highest levels of our government on the basis of her substantial personal merit," McCain said.
Members of Congress, including Minnesota Congresswoman Bachmann, wrote a letter to the deputy inspector general of the State Department alleging the conspiracy and demanding a probe.
Abedin came under the spotlight last year when her husband, New York congressman Anthony Weiner, resigned after sending lewd online messages and photographs on his cell phone and then lying about it.
The Muslim Brotherhood is an Muslim political movement founded in Egypt in 1928 and a staunch opponent of several Middle East governments that enjoyed US backing, notably Israel and the formerly secular regimes in Egypt and Tunisia.
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The tone has changed. A year ago, the Muslim Brotherhood was still perceived with mistrust and scepticism by the US. Since Clinton's visit in Cairo four weeks ago, the Brotherhood now enjoys "US backing".
Truth is mostly whatever is allowed by a religion is disallowed by its Pundits who are "hollier than thou" for obvious reasons. Muslim wemen very well have the right to marry a Jew or a Christians (considered people of the book" by Quran. as both prey to the God of Abraham just like the Muslims do. I loved the question General Colling Powel posed to the Americans "what if Obama was a Muslim" does that disqualify him to be the president of the US. Just like the end of the slavery, civil rights and womens liberation, we have to fight to free our religions from thre grip of the evil power hungry hate mongoers! Religions are codes of life we adopt to better our lives and not to force our will on rule others make them succumb to our evil desires and needs.
@sam: All on assumptions or you are a mind and soul reader. There is nothing wrong marrying an 'ahl-e-kitab and especially the partner she chose was famous and capable to marry her, although it went scandalous briefly but whole america supported Abedin and scolded her husband. She was so graceful, patient and dutiful that here country came first and anything else second and performed her duties excellently. We are living in the Muslim fifteenth century not sixth or seventh century of Islam. Prejudiced, hatred and bigotry is killing Islamic world and people like you are participants to support it.
worst times. a muslim woman will give birth to a jew son.Huma Abedin married to a Jew and gave birth to a Jew.could not even give her son a muslim name.
in West muslim women are targeted.they are denied fair go unless they marry a non muslim man or atleast have love affair with a non muslim man.Abedin had to marry a Jew and give birth to a Jew son to be a "respectable,civilised citizen".Famous Pakistani female writer Ayesha Jalal had to marry a Hindu from India to be labelled as "civilised". There are unwritten rules.If a muslim woman marries a muslim man she cant progress in society.the reason Obama defended Abedin because she is wife a Jew and mother of a Jew.Shame
Every US effort is badly failed,in vain,time and money wasting and extremely useless to gain the world's muslims favors and soft corners in their hearts unless US respects and honors the world's muslims and their countries' sovereignty and territories and stop their aerial's and land's violations.....