I rarely have a "perfect" diet and fitness day...
(I didn't count the sample size mini-turtle that I got at "Fresh Market")
Who is Ali Jawad?
As presumptive Republican presidential candidate John McCain touches down in Michigan today for a fund-raiser and town hall meeting in Oakland County, some leaders in metro Detroit's Arab- and Muslim-American community are demanding an apology from the Arizona senator.
The leaders said Monday that they are insulted that McCain's campaign severed ties with political activist and businessman Ali Jawad, the founder of the Lebanese American Heritage Club.
A group of Arab-American and Muslim leaders said Monday they want John McCain's campaign to apologize for cutting ties with an Arab-American businessman serving on the GOP presidential candidate's Michigan finance committee. (emphasis mine)
What about it?
Schlussel said among her concerns about Jawad were two federal cases involving him and his company: He was convicted in 1997 in U.S. District Court in Detroit for insurance fraud and sentenced to probation. His company was convicted the same year of mail fraud and was ordered to pay more than $250,000 in fines and restitution.
She also alleges that he has met with Hezbollah leaders and Hezbollah-allied members of the Lebanese parliament on two trips to Lebanon.
"John McCain did the right thing by asking Ali Jawad to leave," she said.
And?
For his part, Jawad said he wasn't forced into resigning. He asked to be removed from the committee after receiving two calls from the McCain campaign inquiring about the allegations and questioning his "integrity and loyalty to this country."
Ok...McCain should apologize...McCain did the right thing...BUT...Jawad wasn't forced to resign!
The story also says:
We do not want a president who makes a decision ... based on false information," said Osama Siblani, president of the Arab American Political Action Committee and publisher of the Arab American News. "This is an insult to every Arab-American and Muslim American in the country."
MY TAKE:
1) Schlussel has been involved in many political scuffles and anything she writes should be investigated (meaning both her sources and her content). If you take her word for an accusation such as this one - you might get hung out to dry.
2) Jawad is a convicted fraud.
3) If every political campaign weeded out all of the convicts (such as this one)...the political arena would be a much different place.
4) If there are suspected ties to Hezbollah, they should be investigated...if the ties are not there, act accordingly. If they are not, act accordingly.
5) If Jawad asked to be removed from the committee based on mere questioning...that does seem like a smoking gun.
6) Either way, he was not removed by McCain. He asked to be removed. Is an apology in order? If the questioning were only following up on rumors - no.
Following up on rumors like this one is what a responsible campaign does.
Oh! the possibilities...
(the above is a merged panorama of three photos.)
"Total Depravity" matters.
It matters because if there is some little bit of good in us, then we can somehow try to earn our salvation.
Mormons say, "For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we saved, after all we can do." (II Nephi 25:22) - emphasis mine
Total depravity matters, because if we can earn our salvation, there is no need for a savior.
We are not just a little "sick", so that we can get better and so attain salvation.
No - we are DEAD in our sin. We can no more walk toward our own salvation than Lazarus was able to walk out of his tomb before Christ called him.
It is not until we understand the depth of our sin that we can fully understand our need for our Saviour.
It is not until we see how bad we are, that we see how good God is.
How Deep The Father’s Love For Us
Words and Music by Stuart Townend
©1995 Kingsway's Thankyou Music
How deep the Father's love for us
How vast beyond all measure
That He would give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure
How great the pain of searing loss
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the Chosen One
Bring many sons to glory
Behold the Man upon a cross
My guilt upon His shoulders
Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers
It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished
I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no powr's, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection
Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom