Mr. Khan has represented District F on Houston’s City Council for 6 years. District F is on the far west side of Houston and is home to many immigrants from various regions of the world. He chose to run for controller because he believes that his education and business background makes him the most qualified candidate.
My interest lies in his claim to be a Republican. Although the race is classified as non-partisan, there is one Democrat running, Ronald Green, and two Republicans, Mr. Khan and Pam Holm.
If we look at Mr. Khan’s political contributions, we see that he gave $1,000 to Sheila Jackson Lee in 2000. Now, someone might say, heck, that was almost 10 years ago! And it was only a thousand bucks! Granted, it was a few years ago and the thousand bucks does pale in comparison to the amounts his wife has given Mrs. Jackson Lee but I’ll be honest. When it comes to Sheila Jackson Lee, I can’t imagine anyone giving her money and still claiming to be anything close to conservative. Ever. But maybe that is just me.
Far more troubling is a contribution that Mr. Khan made just last year to Democrat Keith Ellison, a U.S. Congressman from Minnesota’s 5th district. On Sept. 8, 2008, Mr. Khan gave a check for $1,000 to Rep. Ellison. If you go to Rep. Ellison’s website today, it is full of propaganda in favor of a public option for healthcare. But if you think you have heard that name before, you probably have and it isn’t because of his stellar legislative record. It is because he is the guy that chose to put his hand on the Koran instead of the Holy Bible when he was sworn in. Remember?
In addition to his support for a leftist politician that put the Koran ahead of the Holy Bible, Mr. Khan also embraces CAIR, the Council on American-Islamic Relations. As you know, CAIR has been linked to the terrorist group Hamas time and time again. Just yesterday, four House Republicans asked the IRS and Justice Department to look into this group yet again. What does this have to do with Mr. Khan? Here is a quote from Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee:
“How proud I am to have been associated with CAIR’s legislative work in the United States… We need CAIR and we need all of you supporting CAIR, for it has been willing to stand up and be courageous in time that were difficult. I’m reminded, in 1995 and the first terrorist act on the soil of the United States, so account for anti-Muslim feelings. I joined with my friend and Council member M.J. Khan to join together in Houston to stand up against violence.”
Proud to work with a group linked to Hamas against violence? Please. But it only gets worse. Here is a quote from Mr. Khan himself:
City Councilman M. J. Khan said that he is bothered, when someone says to tolerate each other: Usually we tolerate bad weather or bad cold. But for human beings, what we need is to respect each other. And this is the shinning example shown by CAIR through their efforts to make sure human rights of no one get violated: This indeed is a noble and visionary cause. Great ambassador we need to be. Reach out – Always be available and serve them as much as you can.”
CAIR is a “shining example” making “sure human rights of no one get violated”? Wow. Tell that to an Israeli and see what reaction you get.
Closer to home, Mr. Khan voted with Mayor Bill White to fund a day labor camp. Mr. Khan’s vote was the swing vote that pushed the contract through, over the objections of Pam Holm.
“And there is political posturing behind this,” Councilmember Pam Holm said.
In fact, so many amendments went on the table that even the mayor got mixed up.
“It turns out to be a little more complicated than I thought,” said Mayor Bill White.
“We have all kind of debates going on,” said Councilmember M.J. Khan.
In the end, M.J. Khan, a Republican immigrant, became the swing vote.
And lest you think Mayor White was alone in defeating Mark Ellis’ attempt in 2005 to end the city’s “sanctuary policy”, think again. Mr. Khan was right there with him.
Khan made it clear he strongly opposes illegal immigration. But he said it is the responsibility of specially trained federal officials to check for valid visas and passports.
Asking Houston Police Department officers to enforce immigration law would invite racial profiling, Khan said.
“Chances are, someone with broken English who looks like me is going to get detained,” said Khan, a native of Pakistan and a naturalized U.S. citizen.
I wonder what the widow of Officer Rodney Johnson thinks of that statement?
All in all, I’ve come to the conclusion that Mr. Khan is far more interested in pushing his Muslim identity than he is in pushing conservative, Republican values. Think I’m wrong? Okay, try this one:
But Khan sees growing political involvement. In Houston, the two major political parties choose a chairman to run party business in voting areas called precincts. Until 2002, he said, few of those precinct chairs were Muslim, but today there are more than 70 Muslim precinct chairs in eastern Houston alone.
“If people just take an interest in politics, the chance of success is there for them,” he said.
Referring to national politics, Khan said the election of Keith Ellison — a Muslim from Minnesota — to Congress “is a significant step toward political empowerment of the Muslim community.”
No, I’m not wrong. You’ll have to decide if Mr. Khan’s identity politics will affect his performance as city controller. As for me and my house, we’ll support Pam Holm and hope she wins decisively without a runoff. Principles matter far more than identity in politics.