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You Can Shun Terry Jones, But the Koran-Burning Bug Is Out [Media]

After Koran-burning pastor Terry Jones received enough mainstream media attention to merit a cease-and-desist phone call from the Secretary of Defense yesterday, some major news outlets are trying to absolve themselves of guilt. But how will they treat Jones’ copycats? More

Morning Joe Cuts Pastor Jones Before He Has Chance to Respond to Panel

In what had to be the ultimate in condescension and elitism, MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” brought Pastor Terry Jones on the show merely to lecture him on Christianity, cutting him off before he could even respond. Co-host Mika Brzezinski explained to him “we don’t really need to hear anything else, so thanks.” Newsbusters’ Mark Finkelstein first briefly reported on this segment this morning. Panel member Jon Meacham, the departing editor of Newsweek, briefly preached to Pastor Jones on Jesus’ New Testament message of love and forgiveness and then appealed to him “as a fellow Christian” to not follow through with his threats to burn the Koran. Then, before Pastor Jones responded, his live feed was cut and co-host Mika Brzezinski continued with the show, saying that they did not need to listen to Pastor Jones. “The central message of the New Testament is forgiveness, and to put oneself in the place of another,” Meacham lectured Pastor Jones on planning to burn copies of the Koran. “And so I would simply appeal to you, as a fellow Christian, that the course you suggested is going to be incredibly dangerous, and would ask you to desist in the name of New Testament theology.” After Jones’ feed was cut, Mika remarked “Well said, Jon Meacham. And Pastor Terry Jones, we appeal to you to listen to that. And we don’t really need to hear anything else, so thanks.” The show featured a bizarre segment earlier on Pastor Jones’ threat, which he retracted from Thursday and now is not sure whether he will follow through on his plan. Both conservative Pat Buchanan and liberal Donny Deutsch agreed with each other that President Obama, as Commander-in-Chief, needs to step in and arrest the Pastor before reactions in the Middle East by militant Islamists result in the death of American troops. Donny Deutsch was still fuming over an hour later, when the Pastor’s feed was cut. Deutsch said he wanted to confront Jones as a “terrorist,” calling him “scum” and saying that “seeing his face is disgusting enough.” “I don’t think there should be a peaceful message,” Deutsch said in dealing with the pastor. “Sometimes screaming is okay.” A transcript of the segment, which aired on September 10 at 7:30 a.m. EDT, is as follows: MIKA BRZEZINSKI: We’ve really been debating whether or not to do this. Joe says “no,” he doesn’t think it’s a good idea at all. He might be right. The Florida pastor, threatening to burn copies of the Koran tomorrow, is now saying his plans are “on hold,” after a local Imam told him that the proposed New York Islamic center near Ground Zero would be moved. And joining us now from Gainesville, Florida, is pastor Terry Jones. And the reason we’re doing this is my worry is that the pastor’s going to have blood on his hands if he goes forward with this plan. So Jon Meacham just has a quick message for you, sir. Jon? JON MEACHAM, Editor, Newsweek: Pastor, I just wanted to – this is Jon Meachem. I just wanted to suggest that Jesus said the night before he was handed over to suffering and death that he ordered his disciples to love one another as he had loved them. That was his central commandment, and as he died, he said that “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.” The central message of the New Testament is forgiveness, and to put oneself in the place of another. And so I would simply appeal to you, as a fellow Christian, that the course you suggested is going to be incredibly dangerous, and would ask you to desist in the name of New Testament theology. (Cut Live Feed) BRZEZINSKI: Alright, well said Jon Meachem, and Pastor Terry Jones we appeal to you to listen to that. And we don’t really need to hear anything else, so thanks. Alright, moving on. Donnie, you disagreed. You wanted to talk to him. DONNY DEUTSCH, Chairman, Deutsch, Inc.: Yeah, I think, and I understand why you guys don’t want to give him a platform. I mean, seeing his face is disgusting enough. But a lot – this kind of reach out, that we’ve come to a country where sometimes action needs to be taken. We’re at war, to – in the previous segment, this is obviously a bigger issue of, you know, Islamic hate running amuk. And we need to make a stand. And this guy, he’s scum, he is not a man of God – BRZEZINSKI: Now what productive nature would saying that to him have? (Crosstalk) DEUTSCH: Yes, everybody’s pussyfooting around with this guy! BRZEZINSKI: I’m not. We’re giving him a very peaceful message that (unintelligible) DEUTSCH: I don’t think there should be a peaceful message. This is a terrorist of a different form. He is no different than terrorists that are holding this country hostage. DAN SENOR, Senior Fellow, Council on Foreign Relations: You confronting him the way you want to confront him will build him up, get him even more ___ than he already is? Or is it actually going to make him less relevant? I think you will make him more relevant. DEUTSCH: He’s relevant! He’s relevant there, and I think 99 percent of this country feels the way I do and wants some action, and I just – I really believe that. And he’s already – SENOR: What you want to do is not action! DEUTSCH: The toothpaste – the toothpaste is out of the bottle. No, I want our President, our Commander-in-Chief to act like a Commander-in-Chief and say “This is putting our country in harm’s way right now.” We have the General of our troops over there saying that. Act like a Commander-in-Chief and stop this from happening. Somehow, someway. That’s all I’m asking. BRZEZINSKI: Okay. You know what? Screaming at him – DEUTSCH: Sometimes screaming is okay. Yeah. Sometimes screaming is okay. SENOR: Donnie, can I – the principle of the President stepping in is a principle you would be committed to if this were President Bush in a time of war saying “I need to take action against say the Imam, Imam Rauf. The mosque he’s building is going to inflame people, it’s going to be viewed as a monument of military victory, and we need to shut that down. Would you be comfortable with that? DEUTSCH: The video of burning the Koran around the world – SENOR: That’s not for you to decide. The question is are you for the principle of the President on these grounds to step in? BRZEZINSKI: Pat, before we go to a break, your thoughts? PAT BUCHANAN: Mika, the mosque is a matter of the culture war. This thing down in Florida is a matter of the real war. And let me say that if Gen. Petraeus, as he has done, tells his commander-in-chief “My men are in danger, they will die if this thing goes forward, and you as Commander-in-Chief do not act, and then men die as a consequence of that, men are lynched in the Middle East, Americans are killed, you are not qualified to be Commander-in-Chief in my judgment if you cannot act to save the boys you sent into battle. BRZEZINSKI: Meachem? MEACHAM: There’s got to be a way through this that is not going to violate the Constitution, and can preserve some sense of our culture of liberty, which is the message we have to send around the world. This is what we’re fighting for, this is what the country is about. And it’s repulsive what’s going on in Florida, but we unfortunately – repulsive things happen here. And we just can’t – BRZEZINSKI: And around this table, by the way, we all love each other very much, and a lot of us disagree. But we do, as you say Jon, have to find our way through it.

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Morning Joe Cuts Pastor Jones Before He Has Chance to Respond to Panel

Again TERROR Pirate Terry Jones holds KORAN hostage: Lists his demands!

It seems “Pastor” Terry Jones is STILL threatening to burn the Koran on 9/11 if his list of demands aren't met. His list may include: No masque on ground zero, four pepperoni pizzas, a case of Pepsi Clear, and a chance to be a contestant on Wipeout. “nobody move or the Koran gets it” said an unnamed man on deck with a parrot. http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-naw-koran-burning-20100909,0,6… added by: thelastwheeler

Qur’an Burning Threat Leads Network News to Discover Wisdom of Palin and Pope

“Anti-Muslim bigotry is a problem, but it is only exacerbated by the media’s tendency to exaggerate and sensationalize it,” the Wall Street Journal’s James Taranto observed Wednesday in looking at the media’s focus on the threat, to burn Qur’ans, by one widely condemned Florida pastor with barely a few dozen followers. On Wednesday night, for the second night in a row, two of the three broadcast network evening news shows led with Terry Jones (ABC and CBS on Tuesday, CBS and NBC on Wednesday.) But what I found amusing is how network journalists decided Sarah Palin, the Pope – and even Pat Robertson – are now sources of wisdom worth publicizing. Over aerial video of the Vatican (screen capture below), Katie Couric teased the CBS Evening News: “Tonight, despite condemnation from the Vatican and a personal plea from Muslims, that Christian minister in Florida is going ahead with plans to burn copies of the Qur’an.” “This is the news,” an excited Diane Sawyer announced on ABC, “not only is Billy Graham’s son Franklin trying to reach out to him, so is Sarah Palin.” Terry Moran relayed how “late today, Sarah Palin tweeted her opposition, writing: ‘Please stand down.’ And long-time televangelist Pat Robertson blasted Pastor Jones this morning.” In the second of two reports at the top of the NBC Nightly News, Andrea Mitchell touted how “the Florida pastor even got the Vatican’s attention” and aired a clip of a Vatican spokesman declaring: “This act would only call for new hate and violence.” Mitchell concluded by approvingly paraphrasing a political figure normally the object of journalistic scorn: “Sarah Palin has now tweeted that Pastor Jones should please stand down , that people have a right to burn a Qur’an but that it is insensitive and an unnecessary provocation that will feed the fire.” Palin’s tweet: “Koran Burning Is Insensitive, Unnecessary; Pastor Jones, Please Stand Down” Back to ABC’s World News, Terry Moran saw sinister views of Islam held by Americans, but failed to point out attitudes have held steady for years and are not spiking: Still, Jones vows to go forward, convinced he speaks for many Americans. A brand new ABC News poll confirms some disturbing facts. 26 percent of Americans admit to feelings of prejudice against Muslims and only 54 percent of Americans see Islam as a peaceful religion. 31 percent say mainstream Islam encourages violence against non-Muslims. In reciting the same numbers online , however, ABC News polling chief Gary Langer added a crucial fact which undermines the implication that negative views of Islam are growing: Just 54 percent call Islam a peaceful religion, while a substantial minority, 31 percent, thinks mainstream Islam encourages violence against non-Muslims. This view has held steady since 2003 , after doubling from 2002. From the WSJ’s online “Best of the Web Today” for September 8 , a perceptive take from James Taranto: …Anti-Muslim bigotry is a problem, but it is only exacerbated by the media’s tendency to exaggerate and sensationalize it – and by the adversarial and snobbish attitude many journalists and some politicians have adopted toward the vast majority of Americans, who are not bigoted and who see the Ground Zero mosque as an affront. The obnoxious pastor and the obnoxious media have a confluence of interests here. It is no credit to the latter that their behavior has been no worse than that of the former. Sawyer set up Moran’s September 8 story: The chorus of voices grew louder today denouncing that Florida pastor who plans to burn the Qur’an on Saturday, the anniversary of 9/11. And, as we told you last night, Terry Jones’ church has only a couple of dozen members, but tonight, this is the news: Not only is Billy Graham’s son Franklin trying to reach out to him, so is Sarah Palin. And, we have a new poll showing what Americans really think and know about Islam. Here’s Terry Moran. …. TERRY MORAN: Late today, Sarah Palin tweeted her opposition, writing: “Please stand down.” And long-time televangelist Pat Robertson blasted Pastor Jones this morning. PAT ROBERTSON: Imagine a pastor that is so egotistical that he would sacrifice the lives of missionaries and soldiers to go forward with something. This is so stupid. CBS Evening News, September 8: After Couric’s tease quoted above (“Tonight, despite condemnation from the Vatican and a personal plea from Muslims, that Christian minister in Florida is going ahead with plans to burn copies of the Qur’an”), she related in her opening: “And the Vatican said quote, “This act would only call for new hate and violence.’”

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Qur’an Burning Threat Leads Network News to Discover Wisdom of Palin and Pope

CBS’s Smith Questions ‘Radical Islam’ Being America’s Enemy

In an interview with controversial Florida Pastor Terry Jones on Wednesday’s CBS Early Show, co-host Harry Smith doubted whether or not Muslim extremism was really a threat: “Would you regard radical Islam, then, as the enemy?” While Jones’ plan to burn copies of the Koran on the anniversary of 9/11 has been rightfully condemned as offensive and an unnecessary provocation, Smith’s response of questioning the danger of  Islamic radicalism all together denies the ideological motivation of America’s enemies. After Jones described receiving threats over his planned event, Smith responded by quoting scripture: “…you’re a student of the New testament, I’m sure. Did not Jesus say you’re to love your enemy?” After Jones continued to defend the burning of the Muslim religious text, Smith again cited the Bible: “But there are at least two different times in Matthew and Luke where Jesus is quite, quite clear about loving – about loving your enemy.” Concluding the interview, Smith commented: “Well, I know you say you’ve been praying about it. And I hope that you find the wisdom in order to do the right thing, as the next couple of days unfold.” In the past, Smith has not been so quick to tout Christian theology. On the September 6, 2005 Early Show , Smith fretted over Christian charities forcing religion on victims of Hurricane Katrina in an interview with Saddleback Church Pastor Rick Warren: “…if I’m a family, am, do I need to be concerned that I’m going to go live with a church family, are they going to proselytize me, are they going to say, ‘you better come to church with me or else, I’m, you know, you’re not going to get your breakfast this morning’?” On Tuesday, Smith lumped opposition of the Ground Zero mosque in with Jones: “…you’ve heard about…the controversy near Ground Zero…the proposed building of an Islamic cultural center there. And there have been all kinds of people protesting this and one of them is a preacher from down in Florida, who has really been on the march on this. And he has promised to burn a Koran on the anniversary – on the 9/11 anniversary.” During the Wednesday interview, footage rolled of people protesting the mosque in New York City while Jones discussed burning the Koran.    Here is a full transcript of Smith’s September 8 interview with Jones: 7:00AM ET TEASE: HARRY SMITH: Koran controversy. A Florida minister’s plans to burn the holy book condemned by the U.S. government and others. But Pastor Terry Jones insists he will set fire to the Koran on September 11th. We’ll talk to the man at the center of the controversy.      7:07AM ET SEGMENT: HARRY SMITH: This morning a Florida minister refuses to back down in the face of worldwide outrage. The Reverend Terry Jones insists he will burn a Koran this Saturday, the ninth anniversary of 9/11. We’re going to talk to him in a moment. But first, CBS News correspondent Kelly Cobiella has the latest. KELLY COBIELLA: From his small office in Gainesville, Florida, Pastor Terry Jones hears the worldwide protests building against him. Muslims in Kabul, Afghanistan, are burning him in effigy. Fellow evangelical Christians are denouncing him. RICHARD CIZIK [REVEREND, NEW EVANGELICAL PARTNERSHIP FOR THE COMMON GOOD]: You bring dishonor to the name of Jesus Christ. [ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Koran Controversy; Pastor’s Burning Plan Comes Under Attack] COBIELLA: Secretary of State Hillary Clinton singled out Jones and his plan to burn 100 copies of the Koran on the anniversary of 9/11 at a Washington dinner to observe Ramadan. HILLARY CLINTON: I am heartened by the clear, unequivocal condemnation of this disrespectful, disgraceful act. COBIELLA: Yet despite mounting pressure, this small town pastor will not budge. Jones, who keeps a gun at his side because of death threats, insists he is answering a religious calling. TERRY JONES [PASTOR, DOVE WORLD OUTREACH CENTER]: We are speaking to radical Islam, saying we don’t want them, their influence, and their Sharia law. COBIELLA: Jones says the only thing that will change his plans is a message from God. Kelly Cobiella, CBS News, Gainesville, Florida. SMITH: And joining us now from his church in Gainesville, Florida, is Pastor Terry Jones. Pastor Jones, good morning. JONES: Yeah, good morning. SMITH: So, we’ve got the White House, you have the Secretary of State, you have General Petraeus, you’ve got the VFW, among many others, saying, ‘please don’t do this.’ Are you still determined to do it? JONES: As of right now, we feel that this message is that important. We are still determined to do it, yes. SMITH: Yeah. And the message being what, exactly? JONES: Well, the message to Islam is actually the message geared towards radical Islam. We see its influence around the world. We are sending a message to them that we don’t want them to do as they appear to be doing in Europe. They appear to begin as they grow in numbers, to push their agenda, to push Sharia law. What we are saying to them is that if they’re in America they need to respect, honor, and obey our Constitution and not slowly try to push their agenda upon us. [FOOTAGE OF GROUND ZERO MOSQUE PROTEST] SMITH: Right. Would you regard, then, as radical Islam as – as your enemy? JONES: I didn’t quite understand you. Sorry. SMITH: Would you regard radical Islam, then, as the enemy?                          JONES: Oh, I think definitely. Definitely radical Islam is an enemy. I think there’s also the question of how – I think sometimes we don’t realize that this radical element of Islam goes deeper into the Muslim community than what we actually want to admit. To give you a small example, we had yesterday a Muslim lady came onto our property. I mean, we’re here in America. We’re in Gainesville, Florida. We’re in a little subdivision. And a Muslim lady comes on to our property and threatens us. She says, ‘if you do not stop this, there is a wrath, there is a judgment, there is a judgment coming upon you that you cannot handle.’ SMITH: Let me ask you- JONES: That is in Gainesville, Florida. SMITH: I understand. JONES: And we asked the lady, is this a threat? And she says yes. SMITH: Let me ask you this – you’re a student of the New testament, I’m sure. Did not Jesus say you’re to love your enemy? JONES: Yes, definitely. SMITH: Right. JONES: And I believe that this approach is not the normal approach, but I believe this approach is at this particular time in history very necessary. We also see times in the Bible where Jesus also got very upset. SMITH: We understand. JONES: Jesus went into the temple and threw all the money changers out. We feel this is definitely an exception. SMITH: But there are at least two different times in Matthew and Luke where Jesus is quite, quite clear about loving – about loving your enemy. JONES: Right. And that’s exactly what we do. With this action here, this action here itself is not – is not supposed to be an act of love. We agree that generally that’s what we do. We would reach out to Muslims in other ways. SMITH: Right. JONES: This particular act is actually an act of warning radical Islam. It’s a different type of a thing. SMITH: Well, I know you say you’ve been praying about it. And I hope that you find the wisdom in order to do the right thing, as the next couple of days unfold. Pastor Terry Jones, thank you very much for taking the time to speak with us. JONES: Uh-huh. Thank you.

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CBS’s Smith Questions ‘Radical Islam’ Being America’s Enemy