Greg Gutfeld found a question for Jessica Tarlov on the October 22 edition of Fox News' The Five. They were discussing Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic U.S. Senate nominee in Michigan, and his campaign ad about faith. Mediaite reported the exchange:
“You want more Muslims in positions of power?”
Well, Greg, they are allowed to apply. We haven't installed a baptismal font at the entrance to the Senate.
Tarlov had praised El-Sayed's appeal to religious faith and his defense of the Constitution's protection of worship. She answered yes to Gutfeld and said Muslims are not all members of the Muslim Brotherhood. TV Insider's account records his reply:
“I’m aware of that. It’s a shame their leaders tend to be linked to things.”
Things. There is a word doing a remarkable amount of work. Name the person. Show the connection. Explain what it establishes. That would give viewers an allegation they could actually examine. A cloud over Muslim leaders in general is much easier to produce. No paperwork.
The argument began over whether El-Sayed's Republican opponent, Mike Rogers, should have to work so hard to beat him. Tarlov argued that Rogers was tied to Trump's decisions. Gutfeld objected to her account and called El-Sayed an imposter. This was a campaign argument, and his response to her defense of religious participation singled out Muslims.
There is plenty to argue about in a candidate's record. I also don't need a politician to be religious. But asking whether we want Muslims in power turns the religion itself into the alarming proposition. Tarlov didn't have to apologize for saying yes.
We recently covered Trump's explanation for calling El-Sayed Mohammad. Different microphone here. The same candidate's faith is being offered as a reason to recoil before anyone gets around to the job he's running for.
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