Perspective Online: Dana Milbank: Ghosts of Tailgunner Joe

Peter King staged his investigation into the loyalty of MuslimAmericans in an appropriate place: a hearing room once used by theHouse Un-American Activities Committee.

The New York Republican was eager to avoid the red-scare taint,and he allowed the 84-year-old dean of the House, Democrat JohnDingell of Michigan, to open the session with wisdom learned duringhis time as a chairman. "I kept a picture of Joe McCarthy hanging onthe wall so that I would know what it was I did not want to looklike," Dingell said, cautioning the committee not to "blot the goodname or the loyalty" of Arabs or Muslims.

But the ghost of Tailgunner Joe would not be denied. It found ahost in the body of freshman Rep. Chip Cravaack, R-Minn., who askedLos Angeles County Sheriff Leroy Baca, a witness, about his workwith a large Muslim group called CAIR, the Council on American-Islamic Relations.

"You are aware that this is a Hamas and Muslim Brotherhoodentity?" the lawmaker asked, pronouncing Muslim as "moo-slim."

"No, I'm not aware of that," the sheriff replied.

Cravaack informed Baca that CAIR was founded by two peopleidentified as "Hamas members" by the FBI. "Basically you're dealingwith a terrorist organization," he said.

"If the FBI has something to charge CAIR with, bring thosecharges forward," Baca replied, coolly.

Cravaack was indignant. "Are you saying that the FBI was wrong inidentifying that CAIR is part of Hamas, an entity of Hamas?"

This is the very definition of McCarthyism: false allegations ofsubversion. King didn't even bother inviting the group to defenditself.

I'm no fan of CAIR, which was one of 250 unindicted co-conspirators in the Holy Land Foundation terrorist finance case of2007. But the FBI doesn't call CAIR a terrorist group. Nor does itallege that CAIR was founded or financed by Hamas. In America, ifsomebody, even somebody unpopular, has committed a crime, we bringcharges. We don't float Internet rumors at a congressional hearing.

Happily, King won't become another Joe McCarthy, even if hewanted to. This time, the opposition has no fear. Rep. KeithEllison, D-Minn., a Muslim, sobbed as he testified about a MuslimAmerican who died as a first responder on 9/11; King looked awayuncomfortably. It could not have been any more comfortable as Kingand his white Republican colleagues listened to the Democrats --most of them black or Latino -- speak up for another minority. Rep.Sheila Jackson Lee theatrically waved a copy of the Constitution andproclaimed: "This breathing document is in pain!"

King and his courtiers were evidently sensitive to appearance,because many of them prefaced their accusations in the way peoplesometimes say "some of my best friends are gay."

"I have many Muslim friends," said Rep. Tim Walberg, R-Mich.

"They are our neighbors and our friends," agreed Rep. ScottRigell, R-Va.

Instead, King's men found a safe alternative for their ire:American Muslim leadership, particularly CAIR. They were calling forregime change, urging Muslims to find friendlier leaders.

"Responsible Muslim American leaders must reject discreditedgroups such as CAIR," King demanded, invoking the group's"unindicted co-conspirator" status.

King's aides displayed a poster with the words "Don't talk to theFBI" and kept it up for most of the hearing. "Thankfully, FBIDirector Mueller has ordered the FBI to cease all dealings andcontact with CAIR, possibly and probably because of this type ofplacard and poster which was posted by San Francisco CAIR."

King neglected to mention that the poster was from the 1980Puerto Rico independence movement, or that CAIR called for theposter to be removed from its affiliate's website.

Rep. Frank Wolf , R-Va., delivered an extended condemnation ofCAIR, warning that it "is hurting the American Muslim community."One of the witnesses complained that CAIR was coercing Muslims tosupport imams and mosques. Another witness said CAIR had been"extremely insulting" to American soldiers.

Rep. Paul Broun, R-Ga., said "we need to know exactly who ourenemy is" before asking the witnesses for their views on CAIR. Kingjoked that his hearing had been "attacked by everybody from CAIR toKim Kardashian."

As the barrage continued, the Los Angeles sheriff appealed forreason. "CAIR supported the development of the Muslim AmericanHomeland Security Congress," Baca said. "Furthermore, they supportthe Muslim outreach program that I'm doing. ... I have notexperienced anything that suggests that CAIR supports terrorism."

What's this? Evidence that contradicts the committee'saccusations? How un-American!

Dana Milbank is a syndicated columnist. Contact him atdanamilbank@washpost.com.