Video: Michelle discusses the airport imams on O’Reilly
posted at 9:35 pm on November 27, 2006 by Allahpundit
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Should TSA really be suspicious of a bunch of guys reciting Islamic prayers and making anti-American comments before boarding a commercial flight? And what, precisely, is O’Reilly’s damage when it comes to store clerks not saying “Merry Christmas”? Tough questions for the boss tonight on a special post-Thanksgiving version of the Factor. Was she up to the task?
You bet your balls she was.
Update: Here’s a sneak peek of what, no doubt, they’ll be talking about next week.
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yes, she was up to the task. Next question………….
Is it just me, or is O’Reilly’s head getting even larger?
It must require Serious Effort just to keep it from flopping sideways
Janos Hunyadi on November 27, 2006 at 9:42 PM
Ohhhh yeahhhhhh!
No baggage, one way tickets, making disparaging remarks about the US,, nothing suspicious about them at all.
normsrevenge on November 27, 2006 at 9:42 PM
O’Reilly really has his priorities in order. No big deal about these lunatics on the plane, but make sure you stay away from Crate and Barrel.
What, no screenshot of Kirsten laughing?
JammieWearingFool on November 27, 2006 at 9:43 PM
You said ‘balls’.
Kevin M on November 27, 2006 at 9:44 PM
cervix
jummy on November 27, 2006 at 9:46 PM
Anybody sayin Allahu Akbar should be detained.
infidel on November 27, 2006 at 9:48 PM
If I ever see such nonsense, the perps will be drown out by a stirring renditon of God Bless America, right in their faces.
If that doesn’t work, then I’ll gangster-slap them.
JammieWearingFool on November 27, 2006 at 9:51 PM
KP “if it were just the praying they’d have a case”. I disagree. Why don’t all believers, of any denomination or belief, just pray in silence at the airport and in or around airplanes?
I find it especially curious when multi-culti liberals all of a sudden defend “praying-on-display”, or “my praying is more special and louder than yours and that’s ok”, and “so is America-bashing”. The rest of you are just narrow-minded.
Entelechy on November 27, 2006 at 9:54 PM
Pre boarding security checks should include drawing a cartoon of Mohammad and eating a ham sandwich.
Buzzy on November 27, 2006 at 9:56 PM
“What, no screenshot of Kirsten laughing?”
Let’s not overdo it. Absence makes the heart fonder.
O’Reilly may pick silly topics, but Michael Eric Dyson made up for it with his great insight.
Alex K on November 27, 2006 at 9:59 PM
Ain’t gonna be no more screenshots.
Allahpundit on November 27, 2006 at 9:59 PM
That sounds kind of ominous AP.is there trouble in KPland?
bbz123 on November 27, 2006 at 10:04 PM
Allahu pundit Akbhar. Minus the KP is ‘lovely’ whatever junk. We should all applaud AP’s growth as a male. I do. Yay Allahpundit!
Kevin M on November 27, 2006 at 10:32 PM
Michelle and KP alone are worth the price of high speed cable modem service. Both are sharp as a tack (in more ways than one).
Zorro on November 27, 2006 at 10:34 PM
…wipe their noses and wipe their eyes…grievance mongers…Marines didn’t sue…precautionary principle….
Da Boss was on! KP was right behind her.
I wonder if O’Reilly is acting as a foil, as comic relief for his actual *INFORMED* guests, not the usual parade of stiffs he has on the show…like the the guy he had on talking about racism tonight….
…as to the “imams”, suspicion is just that. Disruptive, saying anti-American things. Probable cause.
They were stopped and screened because they presented the security personnel — who are *CHARGED* with the safety of air travellers — with probable cause. As KP said, they made the best decisions based upon the information they had at the time.
Puritan1648 on November 27, 2006 at 10:48 PM
i’ve got to say that the three of them have good on air chemistry.
jummy on November 27, 2006 at 10:52 PM
balls
jummy on November 27, 2006 at 10:52 PM
Kahn!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sorry, had too.
- The Cat
MirCat on November 27, 2006 at 10:58 PM
Good idea Buzzy!
I hope the next flight I work has both an imam AND a blind passenger with a seeing eye dog boarding the plane. I can’t WAIT for the imam to say “I can’t be on the same plane with a dog!” My answer will be “Ok, well as soon as we reach 41,000 feet, you can leave.” Nah, that might get me fired. How about, “Well alrighty then … GET THE F@$* OF MY PLANE!”
Tony737 on November 27, 2006 at 11:00 PM
When it comes to security Imam or no Imam your just another passenger. So they see nothing wrong being one way,no baggage carrying,trash talking,beard wearing muslims. I think their removal was for their own safety cause scared and angry American passengers confined on a plane with suspicious muslims may have a tendency to get violent. I think I heard of another incident in Pennsylvania.
sonnyspats1 on November 27, 2006 at 11:38 PM
About praying in airports–as one who prays three times a day as a religious obligation (Jewish), it happens occasionally that I have to pray in an airport. Not my favorite thing in the world, and I usually try to make myself thin like a pencil, and hide between a couple of pay phones while I do it. I’ve seen people praying on planes with phylacteries, prayer shawls, the whole nine yards (never been MY privilege, may the Almighty be praised). I never knew of anyone who got in trouble for it, though. I think the glowering eye contact and anti-American statements probably did it. If people are praying in a foreign language and giving you the hairy eyeball, it could create the impression that they are praying that you die or something. That would make me uncomfortable.
As for the “Merry Christmas” thing. Anyone who is beefed about “Happy Holidays” should spend Dec 20-27 in Israel, in one of the big cities. If you want to know what it feels like to be culturally invisible, that’s a great time and place for someone who is big on Christmas to learn. THEN come back and tell me why you think it’s such a big deal that some people aren’t into “Merry Christmas.” Go for it Bill, Israel awaits you.
Personally, I don’t care. I just smile and say, “And a Happy Chanuka to you too,” without a even a touch of rancor. I think it’s just the polite thing to do and it’s also so, well, equitable. Sometimes I get the “Whaddya smart aleck” reaction–but hey, I’ve a black hat, a fuzzy beard, and little strings hanging down from my pants. I gotta wear a freakin’ sign? I do sometimes feel bad when some hopelessly PC person gets too apologetic, but not too much. I wish I had the nerve to say, “Looks it’s ok. It’s not like you flew a plane into my building or something,” but I guess I lack two of the many things Michelle has that I ain’t got.
smellthecoffee on November 27, 2006 at 11:39 PM
Michelle and Kirsten do seem to play well together in their discussions on TV. They sometimes differ but IMO at least they seem to keep it friendly and respectful which is more than I can say about many if not most news shows that feature two guests with views that don’t match 100%. They both have their say on the matter and it’s done without shouting.
Professional and smart, I love it.
Yakko77 on November 27, 2006 at 11:39 PM
PS Did anyone think mabey a real hijack plot WAS foiled?!!
sonnyspats1 on November 27, 2006 at 11:40 PM
I’m outraged!
AP defiles that Angelic Firecracker with talk of balls. Then he blinds my right eye with that f**ked up McCain 2008 flashing ad.
Curse you, AP.
Jaibones on November 27, 2006 at 11:48 PM
That McCain ad is making me have seizures.
Scot on November 27, 2006 at 11:56 PM
Yeah, I hate that friggin’ McCain ad too.
I’ll never vote for him. (not because of the ad, but it isn’t help change my mind in his favor; ad people take notice).
techno_barbarian on November 27, 2006 at 11:58 PM
help = helping D’Oh!
techno_barbarian on November 27, 2006 at 11:59 PM
Only religious bigots are offended by “Merry Christmas.” I ALWAYS say it to the “Happy Holidays” cashiers.
Mojave Mark on November 28, 2006 at 12:31 AM
I don’t see where you get “bigots.” People who are pains in the ass, yeah, but bigots? Help me out, here.
I don’t find it offensive, just tiresome. It’d be like being a student at, say UC Santa Cruz, and they have like Earth Month every spring, and every single store you go into, they’re saying, “Happy Earth Month, Happy Earth Month” for a WHOLE MONTH!! At the gas station, at the 7-11, everywhere! After the twenty thousandth time, if you’re the type who walked out of the Al Gore movie, you’d just get tired of it. Not offended. It’d be just, “Look I’m not into Earth Month–I’m happy you are but it just doesn’t have anything to do with me, so–” “Happy Earth Month!” Riight.
My problem is I hate PC so much that I can’t stand it when people say “Happy Holidays” either. I just can’t respect someone who is that wishy washy. Bottom line, though, I choose to live here, and it goes with the territory. People who really can’t stand “Merry Christmas” should move to Israel, cause they won’t hear it over there, and they will hear it over here.
smellthecoffee on November 28, 2006 at 1:18 AM
Huh-huh, Muslim animals provoking airline employees and spreading fear for passengers. Multicultural deconstructionism undoing Christmas traditions. I’m sure they’re just isolated incidents, deserving nothing more than a hearty chuckle on a national talk show at how silly the world has gotten. After all, I wasn’t affected. It’s just images that I saw on my TV screen or sounds coming out of someone’s mouth. Let’s all just laugh our way to the slaughterhouse. It’s much easier that way.
Lazarus on November 28, 2006 at 1:40 AM
Three words:
Drop. Dead. Gorgeous.
infidel4life on November 28, 2006 at 4:49 AM
What the imans did was (as KP noted) more than just praying. They elicted a response of fear and alarm and upset those witnessing their behavior. What they did was break the law by DISTURBING THE PEACE.
Frankly, I’m upset that they were not charged with that crime and were let go instead. I’ve seen people arrested and charged with Disturbing the Peace for a lot less at a Bears or Cubs home game.
georgej on November 28, 2006 at 6:32 AM
And a Happy Chanuka to you too
If I said Merry Christmas and you replied Happy Chanuka it would put a great big smile on my face! You bet, Merry Christmas and Happy Chanuka!!!
Babs on November 28, 2006 at 7:16 AM
Poor KP, can’t get a word in.
E L Frederick (Sniper One) on November 28, 2006 at 7:17 AM
Ball-sy gal, that one.
seejanemom on November 28, 2006 at 7:58 AM
Is it just me, or at first glance, does Michelle’s pendant look like a backwards hammer and sickle?
PattyAnn on November 28, 2006 at 8:06 AM
The Imams were just acting like democrats. The typical anti-Bush, anti-American rantings of a lunatic with a couple of Allahs thrown in for good measure.
roninacreage on November 28, 2006 at 8:40 AM
More like a star and crescent.
roninacreage on November 28, 2006 at 8:41 AM
roninacreage, your take isn’t any better.
Nix that necklace, Michelle.
PattyAnn on November 28, 2006 at 8:47 AM
I’ll still fight ya for KP, AP. :-)
Is there a “Crate & Barrel” around here? I don’t care.
TwinkietheKid on November 28, 2006 at 8:58 AM
I agree more with KP than MM on this, although their opinions are similar. If I was detained for something innocuous, I’d be pissed off too, but that doesn’t sound like what occurred on that flight. I don’t think an actual hijacking was going on (as someone noted above), but I definitely think they were baiting people on the plane i.e., “exercising their rights as Americans.” They probably thought they’d piss people off, and that’d be that. So they got what they deserved. Try joking around in an airport that you’re carrying a gun, and see what happens to you.
With regard to the whole “holiday greeting” issue, I once again agree with KP and not BO. Who really cares? I certainly know that there are hyper-sensitive people in our country who actually get “offended” by things like this. I’m Jewish, and have NEVER been offended by a clerk saying “Merry Christmas” to me in a store. As most people celebrate Christmas in America, it’s approrpriate for the vast majority. Why some non-Christians think that “Merry Christmas” is a secret, coded message for, “All other religions suck” is beyond me.
Because I’m Jewish, I say “Happy Holidays.” I’m sure when I say this that no Christians are offended. If they are, they’re perceiving a secret, coded message where there is none.
asc85 on November 28, 2006 at 9:15 AM
I agree with MM…it’s about a “2″ on the rage-o-meter.
And MM is looking pretty darn fine these days.
Malpaso on November 28, 2006 at 9:32 AM
What Michelle, no Boo-freaking-hoo comment? Ok I am a dork, I have my own wacky conspiracy theory on the imams. Want to hear it….? Good. As Michelle noted it wasn’t just the praying, they were moving from their seats to first class, they were moving to seats near the exits, they were asking for seat belt extenders even though they are not overweight. Here is my wacky conspiracy theory…These guys are milking this, I hear they are considering lawsuits now. This is a setup. Jihadis haven’t been able to pull another 9/11 because of people noticing these type of actions, increased security…etc. If they can blow this out of proportion, they think people will have second thoughts about reporting suspicious behavior, profiling, etc.. because people will be afraid of lawsuits, and making a big deal. Thereby making it easier for the terrrorist to get by without any interference. That’s what they are up to.
That’s my wacky conspiracy theory for the day….carry on.
vcferlita on November 28, 2006 at 9:32 AM
asc85, I’m Jewish and agree with you about “Merry Christmas.” But I do say it to people I know or strongly suspect are Christians. It’s their holiday. Why not say it? (The only time it gets weird is when people who know I’m Jewish say Merry Christmas to me, individually. But it’s not a slight; it’s just weird.)
By the way, for all the people who hate the flashing McCain ad, just hit the “ESC” key.
Attila (Pillage Idiot) on November 28, 2006 at 9:33 AM
dude, thanks for the clue…
AP, sorry to hear that the APKP honeymoon is over
I also miss this week’s allotment of gumballs. It should be written into her FoxNews contract.
urbancenturion on November 28, 2006 at 10:06 AM
You’re a better person than me Attila! But I absolutely agree with your logic, and may in fact start saying “Merry Christmas” to Christians that I know. I’ll have to think about it some more. I guess I sort of view “Merry Christmas” as a greeting that is “shared” between two people of the same faith. Then again, if a non-Jew said to me “She-na To-vah” around Rosh Hashanah, I would be very surprised and feel warm about that person. But if a non-Jew said “Gut Yontif” to me…I think I might be taken aback!
Thank you again for your comments!
asc85 on November 28, 2006 at 10:15 AM
Please translate. Thank you.
PattyAnn on November 28, 2006 at 10:22 AM
No more KP because Allah can’t quit Ace
PattyAnn on November 28, 2006 at 10:26 AM
Hi PattyAnn,
“She-na To-vah” is Hebrew for “Happy New Year”, which is why this is said around Rosh Hashanah. I don’t know if that’s the literal translation, as it’s been awhile since I’ve been in Hebrew School, but that’s what it is.
“Gut Yontif” is Yiddish for “Happy Holidays,” and can pretty much be said for all Jewish holidays. Since Yiddish is mostly spoken by older Jews who learned it from their parents, it would shock me if someone non-Jewish ever said that. I would think it’s funny, but I would also think it’s forced.
asc85 on November 28, 2006 at 10:42 AM
WoW. Have I mentioned how photogenic and gorgeous Michelle is on TV? -my infatuation continues.
Someone mentioned Bill’s big head… if I had the ability to get KP and MM on my show whenever I wanted, I’d have a big head also.
And, Yes, Kirsten. IT DOES MATTER who says or doesn’t say Merry Christmas. Maybe it doesn’t matter to you personally, but it very much does matter to a very significant majority of people. This liberal spinning of the issues is admirable with respect to your dedication to your position. Dizzy ideas from a dizzy liberal blonde, I guess I should just enjoy the ride.
Lawrence on November 28, 2006 at 11:04 AM
— vcferlita
I could not have said it better myself. All along I have been thinking that they wanted to draw attention to themselves. For what purpose? Exactly as you stated. To make folks wary of saying anything, which ultimately helps to clear the way for any real bad guys who want to get on those planes. I pray we will not be so easily fooled.
Also, may I add my voice to those pleading for the removal of the McCain ads? Or at least stop the insane blinking? Someone is going to have an epileptic seizure…
lan astaslem on November 28, 2006 at 11:04 AM
vcferlita, I think you’re right on target. They are going to push the envelope every chance they get, and fall back on religious discrimination lawsuit threats. The afternoon drive talkshow host on KMBZ (which carries Limbaugh and O’Reilly leading in) bought that line on the similar British incident a few months ago. He was convinced that the passengers and the airlines were just racists, and that a lot of his callers were as well. And that is the goal - to use our own tolerance of others against us.
The Monster on November 28, 2006 at 11:07 AM
Their own minor prophet Isa (Jesus) said that one should not pray ostentatiously.
I guess Mohammad forgot that line.
He forgot a lot.
profitsbeard on November 28, 2006 at 11:58 AM
Zorro,
Michelle’s sharp as tack, but not perky.
Aside from that, I think this was all, too, a set-up. Perhaps to lessen future suspicion about a group of Muslims praying loudly and openly at an airport, make anti-American remarks, being plainly rude while on the plane, and have staggered seating arrangements just so the next attack can take place and do another 9/11?
Kokonut on November 28, 2006 at 12:27 PM
Multi-purpose feint.
1) Use the “discrimination” factor to make TSA and airline personnel think twice about removing persons who act in a suspicious manner.
2) Probe measures TSA and airline personnel use to identify threats.
SicSemperTyrannus on November 28, 2006 at 12:51 PM
Thank you for the translation, asc.
Mostly what I’ve learned that’s of a Jewish nature was by reading Faye Kellerman. Thanks for adding a little bit of knowledge.
PattyAnn on November 28, 2006 at 12:57 PM
Perhaps it’s some sort of subliminal message to the ‘troops’.
Oh, well. Looks like I’m off to score a Communist Manifesto and get to work.
Readymade on November 28, 2006 at 2:15 PM
I’m getting really frustrated with people that claim that the imams were removed from the plane because they either were praying on the plane or had prayed in the terminal before the flight. They were removed for a whole lot of little, suspicious behaviors that added up into one big ball of suspicion. They weren’t sitting in their assigned seats (and, by some accounts, refused to move when they were asked), they asked for belt extenders they didn’t need, they were chanting (I’ve witnessed flight attendents asking people to be quiet when they were talking loudly, I’m sure chanting falls under this category), etc etc etc. That is why they were removed. Anyone else, muslim or not, that exhibited the same behaviors, would also have been removed under similar circumstances.
As for Crate & Barrel, I don’t think BO was annoyed that they are choosing to say “Happy Holidays” I think his annoyance was that they came out and said, “We are definitely NOT saying Merry Christmas.”
I personally don’t care what clerks say to me. Anymore, I’m amazed when they stop talking on their cell phones long enough to say anything at all. I am a Merry Christmas kind of person. Around holidays of other religions, if I know my coworkers/friends practice those religions, I will say whatever is appropriate for that holiday. However, I don’t think it’s offensive to say “Merry Christmas” to them when it’s near Christmas either. I’ve never been offended when someone has wished me a “Happy Hannakuh” or anything else. It doesn’t happen as much now that I’m in SoCal, but, when I was in NYC, it did happen a lot and I always appreciate well wishes regardless of the faith. I’m glad that people hope I have a good day on Rosh Hashanah and I hope they recognize the good will in my hoping they have a good day on Christmas (regardless of whether or not they will be celebrating). I’m also not at all offended by someone wishing me a “Happy Holiday” although I usually respond with “Merry Christmas” (from habit, not to make a point) or “Same to you!” (if I’m feeling lazy).
I think people spend too much time looking for possible offenses. If they took all the time they spend looking for offense and being offended and put it into a profitable persuit, this world would have a lot more millionaires.
JadeNYU on November 28, 2006 at 5:39 PM