Lie Down with Dogs, Wake up with Fleas...

CAIR (Council of American-Islamic Relations), the unindicted co-conspirator to the Holy Land Foundation, a sponsor to terrorist Hamas, has been flexing legal muscle against one of its exposers, Robert Spencer of JihadWatch.

On July 31, 2007, on CNN's Paula Zahn Show, CAIR spokesman Ibriham Hooper slandered Robert Spencer by alleging that he supports genocide against Muslims. Dennis Prager and Christopher Hitchens were present and Mr. Prager defended JihadWatch and Spencer. Blithely, Zahn accepted Hooper's accusation without any question.

Truth is, a new reader posted the repulsive comment and it was deleted by Spencer within an hour after its posting. It's strangely serendipitous that CAIR just happened to be reading the MANY comments posted at JihadWatch and pounced on this comment before it was deleted...

On August 1, 2007, the Young America's Foundation received a letter from CAIR's Attorney, Sandler Reiff & Young concerning Spencer's appearance at a Student
Conference:

"...You should be aware that Mr. Spencer, a well-known purveyor of hatred and bigotry against Muslims, has a history of false and defamatory statements...

...For these reasons we demand that YAF cancel the the subject session, or else take steps to ensure that false and defamatory statements are not disseminated at that session...

...Our clients have instructed us to pursue every available and appropriate legal remedy to redress any false and defamatory statements that are made at the session..."

CAIR's attempt to silence Spencer clearly reflects the organization's contempt for the first Amendment. What's disturbing is CAIR's ability to do engage in such lawsuits with only 1700 members paying an annual fee of $50.00. Furthermore, Mr. Sandler of Sandler, Reiff & Young works for the DNC ... and for MoveOn.org.

YAF's Jason Mattera responded:

"We will not be intimidated by Islamic thugs... CAIR can go to hell and they can take their 72 virgins with them."

UPDATE:

A press release from the Middle East Forum:

Press Releases
The Legal Project to Defend Robert Spencer from CAIRNews
from the Legal Project, Middle East ForumAugust 2, 2007

PHILADELPHIA - The Legal Project of the Middle East Forum announces its support of Robert Spencer and the Young America's Foundation (YAF), the latest victims of what appears to be a targeted intimidation and defamation campaign by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) designed to silence critics of its organization...

...CAIR's letter appears to be aimed at maliciously harming Spencer's reputation, interfering in his lawful employment, and aimed to discourage both Spencer and YAF from exercising their fundamental rights to free speech and assembly. Furthermore, the letter wrongfully implies that YAF has an independent duty to censor Spencer, and that it may be subject to suit for allowing Spencer to speak on private property. It is our opinion that CAIR's pre-emptive accusations are without merit, without any legal basis, and that CAIR has yet to prove any of its statements as true.
Therefore, the Legal Project hereby gives CAIR and its attorneys notice that it, too, will pursue "every available and appropriate legal remedy to redress any false or defamatory statements that are made" or have been made by CAIR and its attorneys against Spencer. We advise CAIR's staff to govern themselves accordingly.

The Legal Project, established by the Middle East Forum in June 2007, is dedicated to safeguarding the democratic liberties afforded by the Constitution to U.S. citizens, namely the rights to free speech and free assembly. The Legal Project protects researchers and analysts working on the topics of terrorism, terrorist funding, Islam, and Islamism against those who seek to silence them through intimidation, defamation, and predatory lawsuits.

Huzzah for The Legal Project! Let's keep it afloat!