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Why the focus on Norquist? Is he being singled out as the scapegoat? It seems like FBI, CIA, NSA and others are responsible for national security and they should have stopped the contacts prior to them getting an audience the White House. The fact they did is prima facie evidence even the Gov was unaware. To hold Norquist to a higher standard than the US Gov is ridiculous.

As I see it, looks like everyone got fooled regarding these deep moles and their hidden affiliations. Giving Norquist 40 lashes over it is nothing but a diversion.

I think that he's been the focus of so much scrutiny because he's the one who (mostly pre-9/11) had been bragging about bringing Muslims and Arabs into the GOP and acting as their conduit to the White House.

You say "To hold Norquist to a higher standard than the US Gov is ridiculous."

Actually, that's what we are supposed to do with "leaders" -- self-appointed and otherwise!

As has been mentioned, discernment is the key here. These groups and their leaders' pro-terror and explicitly anti-American positions have been well-known for a long time and easily available on the net. If this were in any other aspect of Norquist's political life, he would have vetted the Hell out of people he came remotely this close to (e.g., primary candidates or candidates for political appointments)-- and certainly anyone he was going to use up big chits for -- namely taking them into private audiences with the GOP candidate for President, and thence to the White House (not something even a Norquist spends lightly) -- let alone before then recklessly attacking people like Gaffney, and other's his senior in the movement, in such rabid and leftist Jesse-Jackson/ Al Sharptonian rhetoric --without first doublechecking!

I'm afraid there is no excuse for this, and certainly not ignorance of these rather notorious people. It is about money -- Norquist'firm was hired by Abdurahman Alamoudi and then Jamal Barzingi, two 20-year Wahhabi agents in the US; and Saffuri (immediately past deputy to Alamoudi) was previously a cutout for Norquist's long time rainmaker Jack Abramoff and even briefly worked at his lobbying firm,Greenberg Traurig, according to federal election records from 2001.

By the way, Norquist gets tons of money from all manner of firms and groups, from Microsoft to Beer wholesalers and Philip Morris and the RNC -- how do you think he does all his magicke? (Way more than Gaffney gets from Boeing, I'd bet a 747!). In Washington, it is all about Money. "The cause" is a mask that Norquist continues to wear to confuse the innocent, apparently with some considerable effect, while raking in the money. Abramoff and Norquist lobby for Indian Tribes (CASINOS) --tens of millions in fees -- all the while pretending it's just about lowering taxes and "privatizing" the reservation. (The WSJ and NYT have both profiled Abramoff and the WSJ cites him talking about how he moves millions through Norquist. To do what, get favors and rents from government. Hello!