by Jerry Gordon

Below is the RNCC news release containing excerpts from the May 19th hearing on the ISA lease renewal versus Connolly’s comments at yesterday press conference at the Fairfax County Center. Looks like Connolly has been hoisted on his own petard-his own words. These sound bites will doubtless find their way into political flyers and campaign advertisements by Connolly’s GOP opponents. Read these excerpts. Again they make Connolly and his fellow Fairfax County Board of supervisors look both foolish and arrogant. What did the fictional character Forest Gump say: “stupid is as stupid does.”

For Immediate Release:
Contact: Press Office
June 24, 2008

Connolly Flip-Flops on Saudi School After Giving a Full-Throated Defense of “Terror High,” Connolly Now Calls for Investigation after Feeling Political Pressure

Washington - Gerry Connolly, the Democratic Chairman of the Board of Supervisors for Fairfax County and Democratic candidate for Virginia’s 11th Congressional District, suddenly reversed his position and turned on the Islamic Saudi Academy yesterday, as he asked for the State Department to investigate the school. The school has come under harsh criticism from the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, a panel appointed by the U.S. Congress, over the last year for the high potential of spreading anti-American teachings to its students. This past week, the head of the academy was arrested on obstruction of justice charges with regards to a child abuse case.

According to the Associated Press, Gerry Connolly supported the school just last month, when their lease was up for an extension:

“Protesters also criticized the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors for voting unanimously last month to extend the school’s lease. County officials conducted their own review of the textbooks and said they didn’t find any
serious problems.

“The board’s chairman Gerry Connolly, the Democratic nominee for Congress in Virginia’s 11th District offered a strong defense of the school and accused critics of slander during the meeting in which the lease was approved.” (AP, 06/17/2008)

At the meeting on May 19, 2008, Gerry Connolly specifically said, “I find no evidence, no grounds, to do anything but to renew the lease of an institution that has been a good neighbor.”

But now, Gerry Connolly is singing a different tune:

“Fairfax County leaders asked U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice yesterday to determine whether the county should continue leasing property to the Islamic Saudi Academy following controversy surrounding the school’s teachings.

“With unanimous support from the county’s Board of Supervisors, Chairman Gerald E. Connolly (D) sent a letter to Rice ‘formally requesting’ that the State Department provide direction regarding the county’s one-year lease renewal, approved last month, with the Saudi Arabian government for operation of the academy.” (Washington Post, June 24, 2008)

“Gerry Connolly’s change of heart seems to come at an opportune time,” said NRCC Press Secretary Ken Spain. “After giving a full-throated defenseof the school and accusing critics of ’slander’, it appears that Gerry Connolly is buckling under political pressure. Its hard to figure out what is worse, a public official who is incapable of standing by the courage of his convictions or one who has incredibly bad judgment.”

Gerry Connolly’s latest flip-flop on such an emotional issue shows that he is willing to do and say anything to get elected. Virginia’s voters shouldsee this as nothing more than a political stunt.

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