A recent flap regarding Florida Senator Bill Nelson and a Tampa Muslim activist is making waves, reflecting the sensitivity of Florida politicians toward the Jewish vote, a key demographic in next year's election in the Sunshine State.
Steven Emerson's website, The Investigative Project on Terrorism, last week reported that Tampa Muslim activist Ahmed Bedier had co-hosted a recent fundraiser for Senator Nelson, who faces re-election next year. That's a fact that neither side disputes.
Bedier is with the group United Voices for America, but used to be affiliated with CAIR, the Council on American-Islamic Relations, here in Tampa. And the website article says that he still is associated with the group, helping them out at various fundraisers.
The website (as well as the Tampa Tribune ) reported last week that Nelson "did not know" about Bedier's affiliation with CAIR, and returned a $500 campaign contribution from him "because the campaign learned of some highly controversial statements about Israel attributed to him. The statements aren't reflective of Sen. Nelson's long-held views and support of Israel."
But, in fact, as the Miami Herald's Marc Caputo reported on Monday, Bedier never even wrote such a check.
This article appears in Nov 10-16, 2011.