Wow. Some folks in AZ are very upset with John McCain because he defended Secretary of State Clinton aide Huma Abedin from crazy lady Michele Bachmann’s accusations that Abedin is in cahoots with “Islamic enemies of America”.

Per the Capitol Times:

Harris said he believes Muslims’ loyalty to the U.S. is questionable because their ultimate loyalty is to the Quran and Islam, which he described as “more a fascist type of organization.”

“Have you ever read the Quran? I suggest you do so, because anyone that is a Muslim is a threat to this country, and that’s a fact,” Harris told the Arizona Capitol Times. “There is no such thing as a moderate Muslim. If they are Muslim they have to follow the Quran. That’s their religion and that’s their doctrine.”

Harris said he plans to circulate recall petitions against McCain. In his email, he said, “We must find a way to get rid of this embarrassment.”

The email Harris sent includes a forwarded item from the blog Bare Naked Islam that castigates McCain for defending “Islamic enemies of America” and attacking U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann, a Minnesota Republican and tea party favorite. The blog piece ends by saying, “Go to hell, Senator, it’s time for you to take your final dirt nap.”

Geez.

The charges against Abedin are ludicrous but if Harris really believes that all Muslims are radical followers of the Quran over all else and are intent on infiltrating our nation’s institutions then he should be deeply worried about the can of worms Rep. Debbie Lesko opened this past session. When Catholic and other conservative Christian leaders complained that contraception coverage in employee health plans was a grievous infringement of their “religious freedom”, Lesko promptly introduced HB2625, which allows employers to deny women contraception coverage based on religious objections. Lesko has insisted all along this was not about birth control. Not about birth control at all, you guys! Oh no, Lesko’s bill was motivated by the purest considerations of freedom of religion.

Freedom of religion, Wes.

Which means that when a group of radical Muslims (cuz they’re all radical dontchaknow) demands accommodation for Sharia Law in health plans they provide to employees (whether those employees are practicing Muslims or not), they have to get it. Why? Because religious freedom, that’s why. Otherwise it’s like admitting that HB2625 was really was nothing but the radical social conservatives getting their misogyny on and playing religious favorites. And Lesko can’t admit that because, you know, she’s deeply committed to religious freedom. So, hello to Sharia Law in health plans! How free will you feel when you learn that your visit to a physician of the opposite gender will not be covered because it’s against your boss’s faith?

Think about it, Wes Harris. Sharia Law. Oh, and good going, Debbie Lesko.

In all seriousness, while it’s nice that McCain and some other Republicans stepped forth to denounce this bigoted attack on a good public servant (who is married to Anthony Wiener, by the way, hasn’t Huma Abedin been through enough?), it doesn’t cut it. Republican leaders don’t get a cookie for being halfway decent every once in awhile when the GOP has pretty much dedicated itself to nonstop pandering to bigots to win elections. Again, moderate Republican voters, what is it going to take for you to stop voting for and with such hateful people? As long as you keep rewarding this behavior by helping them get elected it is not going to stop.