GOP House candidate called 'terror apologist'
Mideast native denies blogger's 'mudslinging'
By Lynn Bartels, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
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A Middle Eastern native running for a state House seat faces a challenge from a blogger who called her "a terror apologist and an avowed enemy of Israel with no credible conservative credentials."
Republican Rima Barakat Sinclair said she has been unfairly labeled because she is a Muslim of Palestinian descent.
"I absolutely deny that," she said, of claims she supports terrorism. "What is behind that? Where is the proof? This is nothing but mudslinging."
Her campaign finance manager, who is Jewish, also dismissed the criticism, but some Republicans are leery.
Congressional candidate Mike Coffman's campaign on Tuesday informed Sinclair they were going to return her campaign donations because of an interview she gave where she called Israel "an occupier."
At the Denver County Republican assembly last month, Sinclair won enough support to get her name on the ballot in House District 6.
Her candidacy so alarmed Republican blogger Joshua Sharf, an orthodox Jew, that he now is collecting signatures to try to get on the ballot to run against her in the August primary.
The primary in House District 6 is expected to be one of the most watched this year. In addition to the two Republicans, five Democrats are competing for the seat now held by House Speaker Andrew Romanoff, who is leaving office because of term limits.
Came to Denver in 1987
Sinclair on Tuesday discussed her campaign and her criticism in a Cherry Creek coffee shop, where a number of customers knew her by name. She immigrated to Denver in 1987 from Jordan to go to college.
One of Sinclair's staunchest supporters is her campaign finance manager, Denver Republican Ron Chrysler. He hosted her party when she became a U.S. citizen. "I admire her intellect and her business sense," he said.
Chrysler said the criticism against her is unwarranted and is coming from the "extreme right."
Dispute with blogger
But Sharf, who writes the blog "View from a Height," said his concern is based on statements Sinclair has made in various interviews and during her appearance with him on former state Senate President John Andrews' radio show in December 2006.
"She made claims about Israel's behavior that simply aren't true," he said.
Sinclair said that's not true. Both Sharf and Sinclair offered numerous Web sites and articles in support of their positions.
In addition, Sharf said that during the GOP assembly Sinclair said she was pro-life. But he pointed out that in a 2004 Rocky Mountain News article Sinclair said she "would like a pro-choice president."
Sinclair said she doesn't remember saying that. But Sinclair's biggest problem may not be her views but voter registration, which heavily favors Democrats.
That obstacle doesn't faze her. After all, she said, as a single Muslim woman she managed to come to America, although it took three years. She got a degree, although many predicted she would drop out.
"I'm blessed," she said. "Everything that I set my mind on doing, I do."
Division in Denver
Religion has become an issue in the GOP race in House District 6 in Denver
Rima Barakat Sinclair
* Age: 48
* Occupation: consultant and translator
* Religion: Muslim
* Web site: www.sinclairdenver.com
Joshua Sharf
* Age: 41
* Occupation: Web programmer
* Religion: orthodox Jew
* Web site: www.jsharf.com/view
Comments
Posted by kathyM on April 2, 2008 at 12:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Well, this should be interesting!
Posted by Cynthia on April 2, 2008 at 8:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Ms. Bartels ignored the most important aspects of the story.
Ms. Barakat Sinclair didn't just call Israel "Occupiers", she called them "baby killers." She claims not to remember saying any of it but it's on video. See Youtube and elsewhere. She also claims not to remember when she told Jean Torkelson that she likes many of the Democrats' positions and would like to see a "pro-choice" President. That, after she got the nomination because she claimed to be "pro-life" and her challenger dropped out. Let's hear the rest of the story Lynn!
Posted by bropous on April 2, 2008 at 9:54 a.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by tajuddin on April 2, 2008 at 3:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"Interesting" is right - especially given arab/islamo-phobic sentiments like that expressed in the first post...
I generally vote Democractic but will definitely support Rima.
Posted by tajuddin on April 2, 2008 at 3:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
oops, meant "previous" post...
Posted by mali1 on April 2, 2008 at 7:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I think that it is very disheartening that as a society we become what we fear most. We label and mistreat without proof or conviction. This country is based on the freedom of religion and personal beliefs. When Arnold became the governor of California people did not tell him to go back and rule Austria. The beauty of this country is that we welcome diversity and that everyone is allowed to live the American dream. Good for you Rima that you have the courage to face the ignorance and fear and stand up for what you believe in. I SUPPORT YOU RIMA!
Posted by Liam on April 2, 2008 at 10:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Israel has occupied Palestinian land since 1948. To call it an occupation is not anti-Semitic. It is just fact. Most Israelis actually disagree with the occupation and settlements in the West Bank. Haaretz the Israel newspaper is much more critical of Israel policy than the American media. The occupation is supported only by the right wing Likud party, and AIPAC the Israel lobby which is not supported by the majority of American Jews. The US government has been the major financial and military sponsor of Israel. For this, the Palestinians have suffered greatly. And US commitment to Israel has inflamed the Middle East.
Posted by bropous on April 3, 2008 at 9:47 a.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by drumman on April 3, 2008 at 10:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm proud to be one of the delegates who voted against Rima Sinclair at the county assembly. I oppose her not so much for her current stands on the issues, but because I believe her to be dishonest. At the assembly, she announced her candidacy at the last minute after a rather heated debate over whether or not the pro-life delegates could tolerate the current pro-choice candidate, and she made it look like a spur of the moment decision. I believe she had it all planned in advance, because her speech about how she travelled to America with copies of the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights seemed too contrived and convenient to me.
Her last minute announcement limited the time we had for questions on her positions on the issues, which worked to her advantage because she seems woefully ignorant of the issues. When asked about net neutrality, she needed an explanation that "net" stands for "internet" and then proceded to state she'd need more information to determine if it's cost effective.
There is nothing in Islam that prohibits one from aborting a fetus, and I have never personally met a Muslim who was against abortion. Add that to her being quoted as saying "I would like a pro-choice president" (she doesn't remember?) and it all adds up she won the nomination under false pretenses. Please don't fall for the head games of a politician who is willing to say anything she needs to just to get elected. I encourage everyone to support someone other than Rima Sinclair.
Posted by Liam on April 4, 2008 at 10:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The objections to this Palestinian woman all seem to be based on Islamophobia. The plight of the Palestinians has long been ignored in the US. And it looks as if nothing will change as long as such hate speech continues. The Palestinians have continually lost land since 1948. Their olive orchards & houses have been uprooted and torn down. They are not allowed on Israeli roads. Checkpoints interfere with their daily lives, whether trying to get to work, doctors, whatever. Most Americans have never heard of Rachel Corrie. Google her name. Read The Lemon Tree.
Posted by drumman on April 5, 2008 at 12:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Liam, Rima Sinclair can say anything she wants about Israel, but obviously her views are not in line with those of the republican party, so the only logical conclusion is she's trying to get around running in the crowded democratic race (there are two candidates running plus two more trying to petition onto the ballot in the house district 6 race on the democratic side) by running as a republican. She's also not being honest about being pro-life, and another dishonest politician in office is the last thing we need!
Posted by mali1 on April 9, 2008 at 9:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Mr. Drumman, Muslims are not allowed to abort a fetus. It is completely against the religion and is seen as murder. In the Islamic world it is still against the law to have an abortion. I really do not think that Mrs. Sinclair would be pro-choice. This seems to be the only issue you keep referring to. If there is more, please be specific regarding the so called dishonesty.
Posted by SJones on April 11, 2008 at 12:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
First of all, ain't the "extreme right" who's 'ginst Ms. Sinclair, but a cadre of Colorader *neoconservatives*, who typically refer to theysevves as th' "center right." (Means they muddled, if'n y' ask me.) We who are paleocons are th' only true "extreme" right, if by that term "authentic", or "traditional", is mint. 'N traditional rightists are much more circumspekt on th' Israeli/Palestinian kerfluffle, not bein' willin' to defend any and ever' thang Israel does, like an automaton. They ain't necessarily robotic advocates of the Palestinians, neither.
Second, and th' main point here: Joshua Sharf done committed a HUGE non sequitur by callin' Ms. Sinclair a "terror apologist", on the basis of that video he keeps sqwakin' about. Any fair hearing of Sinclair's statement on that video will reveal only that she is a critic of Israel and a Palestinian partisan. She may-a been hyperbolic at times (hyperbole from the Middle East!?), but nowhere did she defend terrorism, 'ginst the Israelis or anyone else. 'N I challenge Sharf and/or any of his sycophants to produce true evidence that she is what he sed she is.
Snaggle-Tooth Jones, The Colorado Confederatarian
http://coloradoconfederatarian.square...
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