Dana Milbank's Heritage disaster

Politico ^ | June 17, 2014 | DYLAN BYERS

[don-o]

Washington Post columnist Dana Milbank set off a flurry of outraged tweets on Monday night after posting a highly critical recap of a panel event at the Heritage Foundation that, he says, "deteriorated into the ugly taunting of a woman in the room who wore an Islamic head covering."

Video of that panel has since surfaced and -- in my view -- Milbank grossly misrepresented the nature of that exchange.

The woman in question, Saba Ahmed, an American University law student, does not seem to have been "taunted." Both panelists who responded to her accepted the premise of her question entirely. One of them -- Brigitte Gabriel, the founder and CEO of ACT! for America -- strongly rebutted Ahmed's concerns, but never dismissed her right to ask the question.

In an email, Milbank explained that he "was there in the room yesterday, and the reaction in the crowd – the long, standing ovation, the cheers for Gabriel, the fingers pointed at Ahmed, the war whoops -- was intense, and a bit scary. The video captures some but not all of that."

Milbank is right on that point -- the video may not capture everything that took place. However, I do believe that the video disproves or casts doubt on several of Milbank's assertions.

The Heritage Foundation also feels that the event was "mischaracterized" by Milbank. It also notes that while the event took place at Heritage, it was hosted by the Benghazi Accountability Coalition.

"We hope to have full video of yesterday’s four-hour event hosted by the Benghazi Accountability Coalition available soon," Wesley Denton, a Heritage spokesperson, wrote.

[don-o]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3168761/posts

Thread on Dana Milbank WaPo oped.

[RatherBiased.com]

Milbank exposed once again as a slimy liar.

[don-o]

ping

[Servant of the Cross]

Former Congressman Lt. Colonel Allen West also responded to a similar lame and preposterous 'defense' of the "religion of peace (sic)" ...

It's the truth! It's out there! 622 A.D. on. The Nahkla Raid. It didn't happen? 628 the Battle of Qādisiyyah 3,000 Jewish families slaughtered. 732 A.D. Battle of Tours {unintelligible} {applause} 1671 {LOUD APPLAUSE} {unintelligible} 1693 {more applause} Islam {unintelligible} Mohammed's first wife. Something happened when Mohammed enacted the Hijrah. And he left Mecca and he went out to Medina. It became violent. Now you explain it to me. Major Hassan was shouting 'Allāhu Akbar.' The people who flew those planes into those buildings shouting 'Allāhu Akbar.' I've been on the battlefield my friend. Ok? Don't try to blow sunshine up my butt and tell me its warm and fuzzy. {APPLAUSE}

You attacked us! You attacked us!" {unintelligible} I went to Muslim countries to defend the freedom of Muslim people! Don't come up here and try to criticize me! Put the microphone down and go home!

[oldbrowser]

Milbank grossly misrepresented the nature of that exchange

I'm sure the lefties will praise him for his courage. This goes under the same category as alleged victims of hate crimes that later turn out to be bogus.
In Milbank's case he is a proxy victim

[Servant of the Cross]

MadIsh32's Heritage disaster ...

[Ted Grant]

White liberal males like Dana live in a strange, parallel universe. They are easily scared and intimidated.

[Ray76]

Meet Saba Ahmed:

From the Oct 6, 2011 archive of www.sabaahmed.com/saba.html

---

Saba Ahmed, Candidate for United States Congress

Welcome

   بِسْمِ اللّهِ الرَّحْمـَنِ الرَّحِيم

الْحَمْدُ للّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِين الرَّحمـنِ الرَّحِيم مَـالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّين إِيَّاك نَعْبُدُ وإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِين اهدِنَــــا الصِّرَاطَ المُستَقِيمَ صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنعَمتَ عَلَيهِمْ غَيرِ المَغضُوبِ عَلَيهِمْ وَلاَ الضَّالِّين

In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful. All praise belongs to God, Lord of the Universe, the Beneficent, the Merciful and Master of the Day of Judgment. (Lord), You alone We do worship and from You alone we do seek assistance, (Lord), guide us to the right path, the path of those to whom You have granted blessings, those who are neither subject to Your anger nor have gone astray. Amen!
(The Holy Quran, 1:1-7)
 

Saba Ahmed, was born and raised in Islamabad, Pakistan. She moved to Portland, Oregon for college and earned her Bachelors degree in Electrical Engineering and Physics from Portland State University. Once Saba started to take an interest in political work, she worked for Governor Ted Kulongoski and Congressman Earl Blumenauer to gain more political experience. She also worked at Intel in several engineering and management roles. Saba will be completing her joint Juris Doctorate-MBA degrees later this year with a focus on intellectual property law from Lewis and Clark Law School and University of Portland.

Prior to joining the first class of Emerge Oregon, Saba participated in the New Leadership Oregon (NLO) program and met several politically engaged women who encouraged her to apply for Emerge. Saba felt the concept of running for political office was still a fairly abstract concept since she is only in her early twenties. Yet, upon gaining acceptance and beginning her involvement with Emerge Oregon, Saba has gained the support and confidence to crystallize her interest in running for Congress in the future. She says, "I realize that it will be a fabulous journey no matter what."

Saba has found political networking to be more accessible and comfortable since she has aligned herself with Emerge. Saba says people are generally very "impressed and intimidated" when they learn she is a program member of Emerge, because they recognize "a new powerful, highly-connected group of Oregon women will be running for office."

Upon graduating law school, Saba plans to explore the possibility of running for U.S. House of Representatives. "The United States and the State of Oregon have blessed me with so much," she says, "I would like to give it back through public service."

She believes her corporate background will help her participate in conversations regarding our economy. The economic climate in Oregon is a particularly compelling factor for Saba’s candidacy – they have the 4^th highest unemployment rate in the country.

Growing up in Pakistan gives Saba a unique vantage point into foreign policy. Saba observes that there are few members of Congress who have lived in the Middle East. Without adequate cultural understanding, Saba challenges whether Congress can authentically put forth policy affecting Muslims, Pakistan, and the Middle East. She strongly believes she can help "bridge gaps between the East and West" and contribute to current foreign policy. While Saba appreciates "decisions that are well-researched, they are not the same as someone who has lived in both countries."  

http://web.archive.org/web/20111006151254/http://www.sabaahmed.com/saba.html

---

 

From the Nov 27, 2010 archive of www.sabaahmed.com/saba.html

---

Saba recently joined Blakely Sokoloff Taylor & Zafman to pursue her Patent Attorney career. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering and Physics from Portland State University and is currently completing her joint Juris Doctorate-MBA degree at Lewis & Clark Law School and University of Portland. She has worked for Intel Corporation, Digimarc Corporation, Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski, Congressman Earl Blumenauer, Oregon Supreme Court and Stoel Rives. In February 2010, she fought for her civil rights to successfully repeal an Oregon law that banned teachers from wearing the Muslim headscarf, Sikh turban, Jewish yarmulke and other religious attire. Saba is best known for her political activism and community organizing in Oregon, United States. She also serves as the President for Pakistan Defense of Human Rights and regularly lobbies / consults government officials on Muslim American issues.

http://web.archive.org/web/20101127203747/http://sabaahmed.com/saba.html

---

 

The Contact page ( http://www.sabaahmed.com/contact-us.html ) lists a DC address, but the business is registered in Oregon.

http://egov.sos.state.or.us/br/pkg_web_name_srch_inq.show_detl?p_be_rsn=1478148&p_srce=BR_INQ&p_print=FALSE

 

Additional info:

Saba Ahmed LLC
P.O. Box 902
Portland, Oregon 97207

Revenue: $1 mil. - $5 mil.
Employees: 10 - 20

http://www.zoominfo.com/s/#!search/profile/company?companyId=355807759&targetid=profile

[Oliviaforever]

No matter the context of the actual events, Milbank had no right to broadcast or expose what may have been said at the Heritage Foundation event.

[righttackle44]

More Millbank SphincterSpeak.

[kevkrom]

Shades of the phony “kill him!” nonsense from a Palin event in the 2008 campaign.

[tsomer]

Another thing he never pointed out:
Brigitte Gabriel was a survivor of the Lebanese Civil War—which destroyed that country. She lost her fiancée to that jihad; she might have lost her life had the Israelis not intervened.

She knows what she is talking about.

[don-o]

No matter the context of the actual events, Milbank had no right to broadcast or expose what may have been said at the Heritage Foundation event.

It was open to the public and, in fact, lived streamed.

Can be watched here

[Servant of the Cross]

And shades of the laughable phony spitting incident that the CBC tried to incite with the Tea Party ....

[Jane Long]

Yes, Brigitte Gabriel knows what she is talking about...and, she is a blessing!

[facedown]

Nice research. She is clearly an agent provocateur with political ambitions.

[Ray76]

h/t to 9YearLurker who put me on the trail

http://freerepublic.com/focus/news/3168761/posts?page=39#39

[tanknetter]

That says that she’s getting her JD from University of Portland, but the article says American University, which is in DC.

Same person?

[RushIsMyTeddyBear]

Epic radio on Chris Plante this morning! XD. I was also reading Milbanks’ Twitter feed. Hilarious.

[Ray76]

I’ll see if I can find a photo.

How many Saba Ahmed’s can there be?

“In February 2010, she fought for her civil rights to successfully repeal an Oregon law that banned teachers from wearing the Muslim headscarf, Sikh turban, Jewish yarmulke and other religious attire.”