President Obama Defends Clinton Aide at Dinner for Muslim Americans

[cal04]

President Obama came to the defense of an aide to Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Friday night, countering conservatives who have called her a security risk because of supposed ties to Islamic extremists.

Hosting an iftar dinner at the White House marking the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, Mr. Obama singled out Huma Abedin, the deputy chief of staff to Mrs. Clinton who has come under fire from a handful of House Republicans who made unsubstantiated suggestions that she was among Muslim Americans with terrorist ties who have infiltrated the government.

Mr. Obama called Ms. Abedin “a good friend” and said she has “worked tirelessly in the White House, in the U.S. Senate and most exhaustingly at the State Department, where she has been nothing less than extraordinary in representing our country and the democratic values that we hold dear. Senator Clinton has relied on her expertise and so have I.”

He added: “The American people owe her a debt of gratitude because Huma is an American patriot and an example of what we need in this country – more public servants with her sense of decency, her grace and her generosity of spirit. So on behalf of all Americans, we thank you so much.”

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/08/10/obama-defends-clinton-aide-at-dinner-for-muslim-americans/


President Obama Praises Clinton Aide Targeted By Bachmann: ‘Huma Is An American Patriot’
http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2012/08/10/676901/obama-praises-clinton-aide-targeted-by-bachmann-huma-is-an-american-patriot/

[darkangel218]

1. We are so lucky

To have such an amazing president <3 If it was Bush Jr he would've probably let her go.

[Rhiannon12866]

2. K&R! How does this not have 1000 recs?!

[AtomicKitten]

3. Good. It's the right thing to do.

[pampango]

4. Obama: "diversity “makes us Americans” ... warned that tolerance for such diversity is “threatened."

President Obama on Friday voiced strong support for Huma Abedin, saying the top aide to Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton has been “nothing less than extraordinary in representing our country and the democratic values that we hold dear.”

Obama praised Abedin during remarks at a White House iftar dinner to mark the end of the fasting during the Ramadan holiday observed by Muslims. Abedin has been subject to unproven accusations by some House Republicans, including Michelle Bachmann (Minn.), that she is part of a conspiracy by the Muslim Brotherhood to infiltrate the top reaches of the U.S. government.

The president called Abedin an “American patriot” and added that the public owes her “a debt of gratitude” because she is “an example of what we need in this country -- more public servants with her sense of decency, her grace and her generosity of spirit.”

In his remarks, Obama said diversity “makes us Americans,” but he warned that tolerance for such diversity is “threatened.”

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/election-2012/post/obama-praises-huma-abedin-muslim-american-aide-to-hillary-rodham-clinton/2012/08/10/6fa11532-e354-11e1-98e7-89d659f9c106_blog.html

[goclark]

5. thank you Mr.President k and r

[malaise]

6. Very nice

Rec