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Tactics of Gulen, bribe, trips, honors and so much more razzle dazzle

Tactics of Islam, Conquering America from Within
Fethullah Gulen's Missionaries Exposed
A great book by Dr. Aland D. Mizell
Soon to be part II

http://turkishinvitations.weebly.com/elected-officials-who-went-on-gulenist-turkey-trips.html

Last updated May 4, 2013

This list is not comprehensive and names are continually being added. While another page already lists Congressional trips; this page is for state legislators, governors, mayors and other state and local officials.

"To date, more than 6000 Americans have traveled to Turkey at the invitation of Hizmet institutes and have returned to support the activities of the Turkish immigrant circles." - Sophia Pandya & Nancy Gallagher in their 2012 book The Gulen Hizmet Movement and Its Transnational Activities

The standard Gulenist Turkey trip is 9-10 days long.

Alabama

Date: 2011; Sponsor: Turquoise Council of Americans and Eurasians (also involved:
Turkish American Chamber of Commerce of the Southeast U.S., Peace Valley Foundation, Istanbul Center); Source: June 3, 2012

• Sen. Cam Ward, R-Alabaster
• Sen. Gerald Dial, R-Lineville
• Sen. Clay Scofield, R-Arab
• Sen. Jabo Waggoner, R-Vestavia Hills
• Secretary of the Senate Pat Harris

Arizona

• Jannah Scott, advisor to Governor Janet Napolitano (Date: 2008; Source: Sep 22, 2008)
• State Representative David Lujan (Date: 2008; Source: Sep 22, 2008)
• State Representative Theresa Ulmer (Date: 2008; Source: Sep 22, 2008)
• State Senator Linda Grey (Date: 2008; Source: Sep 22, 2008)

Arkansas

• State Representative Karen Hopper R-District 81 (Date: July 2010; Sponsor: Raindrop Turkish House; Source: click here)

California

• State Senator Bob Huff R-District 29 (Date: 2011; Source: Nov 24, 2011)
• Congressman Bob Filner (Sponsor: Pacifica Institute; Dates: Dec 2010, Apr 2011; Source: May 11, 2012)
• Newport Beach Mayor Keith Curry (Sponsor: Pacifica Institute; Date: 2009; Source: Apr 3, 2010)
• Los Angeles County Sheriff Leroy D. Baca (Sponsor: Pacifica Institute)

Colorado

• State Legislator Cherylin Peniston (Sponsor: Multicultural Mosaic Foundation; Source: Apr 19, 2009)

Delaware

• 4 State Representatives, 1 State Senator; names unknown. Date: Aug 2012? Sponsors: ATFA DE (American Turkish Friendship Association Delaware); MAFTAA (Mid Atlantic Federation of Turkic American Associations). Source: MAFTAA website, post dated Aug 28, 2012.

Florida

• Jacksonville Sheriff John Rutherford (Sponsor: Amity Turkish Cultural Center; Source: May 11, 2010)
• State Representative Jennifer Carroll (Sponsor: Amity Turkish Cultural Center; Source: May 11, 2010)
• State Representative Gwyndolen Clarke-Reed (Sponsor: Turquoise Council of Americans and Eurasians; May 2012, source)

Georgia

• State Senator Jeff Mullis, R-Chickamauga (Source: Jan 3, 2012)

Date: May 13-21, 2012
Sponsor: Istanbul Center (Dr. Mustafa Sahin, guide)
Source: Istanbul Center website

• Senators Donzella James
• Senator Gloria Butler
• Senator Valencia Seay
• Senator Horacena Tate
• Senator Miriam Paris
• Senator Nan Orrock
• Representative Michele Henson

Idaho

Date: September 2011
Sponsor: Pacifica Institute
Source: Idaho Statesman

• Senate President Pro Tem Brent Hill R-District 27
• Sen. John McGee R-District 10
• Sen. Diane Bilyeu D-District 29
• Sen. Lee Heider R-District 24
• Rep. Janice McGeachin
• Sen. Curt McKenzie
• Rep. Donna Pence
• Sen. Joe Stegner
• Sen. Michelle Stennett
• Sen. John Tippetts

Date: Spring 2011
Sponsor: Pacifica Institute
Source: Idaho Statesman

• Rep. Dennis Lake
• Sen. Edgar Malepeai
• Rep. John Rusche

Illinois

• Several lawmakers including State Senator Bill Brady (Date: 2008; Source Jun 16, 2009)
• State Senator James Meeks (Source: Mar 21, 2012 blog entry)
• State House Rep. Jack Franks (Source: Mar 21, 2012 blog entry)
• State Senator Pamela Althoff (R) (source)
• State Rep. Michael Madigan (D) (source)

Kentucky

• 1 State Senator; name unknown. Date: Aug 2012? Sponsors: ATFA DE (American Turkish Friendship Association Delaware); MAFTAA (Mid Atlantic Federation of Turkic American Associations). Source: MAFTAA website, post dated Aug 28, 2012.

Louisiana

• Baton Rouge Mayor Kip Holden (Sponsor: Atlas Foundation; Source: Apr 4, 2010)

Maine
Date: summer 2012 Sponsor: Council of Turkic American Associations (CTAA) Estimated trip value: $3300/person Source: Kennebec Journal, Feb 17, 2013

• State Senator Joseph Brannigan, D-Portland and spouse
• State Representative Dennis Keschl, R-Belgrade and spouse
• State Representative Jane Knapp, R-Gorham

Maryland

Date: Spring 2011
Sponsors: Maryland Turkish American Inhabitants (MARTI), Mid-Atlantic Federation of Turkic American Associations (MAFTAA)
Source: Baltimore Sun

• Delegate Gail Bates
• Maryland Secretary of State John P. McDonough
• Five Maryland legislators (names unknown)
• Senator James M. Robey

Minnesota

• State Senator Sandy Pappas (Summer 2010; Sponsor: Niagara Foundation; Source: Twin Cities Daily Planet)
• State Representative Jerry Newton (Sponsor: Niagara Foundation)

Missouri

• State Senator Harry Kennedy (Year: 2008; Sponsors: Turkish American Society of Missouri and BAKIAD; Sources: Missouri senate website; Kennedy's 2008 Capitol Report)

June 5 -16, 2008. Sponsors: Institute of Interfaith Dialog, Raindrop Turkish House, Source: Raindrop Turkish House website. Some attendees:

• Senator Jolie Justus
• Prosecutor Beth Murano, Kansas City
• Kansas City Council Women Melba Curls
• Jackson County Legislator Theresa Garza Ruiz

Nebraska

• State Senator Amanda McGill (read her testimonial in the Gulenist propaganda newspaper Today's Zaman, July 31, 2011)

New Hampshire

• State Representative Lenette Peterson (R) (source)
  
• State Representative Wyman E Shuler III (source1, source2) and spouse. May 22-June 1, 2012; Trip value: $9020.00; Sponsor: Council of Turkic American Associations (CTAA)

New Jersey

• State Senator Loretta Weinberg (source: Aug 1, 2011)
• Mayor of Borough of Closter Sophie Heymann (source)

New Mexico

Sponsor: Turquoise Council of Americans And Eurasians
Source: The Santa Fe New Mexican, June 1, 2011

Date: Fall 2010

• State Senator Jerry Ortiz y Pino
• Senate President pro-tem Tim Jennings, D-Roswell,
• State Senator George Muñoz, D-Gallup
• others (names unknown)

Date: 2011 (first half of year)

• State Sen. Jerry Ortiz y Pino, D-Albuquerque
• Rep. Debbie Rodella, D-Española
• other state legislators (names unknown)

Date: June 2011

• State Senator Dede Feldman, D-Albuquerque
• State Senator Cisco McSorley, D-Albuquerque

Date: unknown

• State Senator Eric Griego, D-Albuquerque

New York

• Honorable Assemblyman Kevin Cahill D-District 101("observations from his trips to Turkey;" Source: CTAA website)
• Other state legislators; names unknown. ("NY State Legislators made final presentations on their experiences from their recent trips to Turkey;" Source: CTAA website)
• Assembly Majority Leader Ron Canestrari (source: June 19, 2012) Date: prior to 2012. Sponsor: Turkish Cultural Center Albany

North Carolina

Date: Oct 2011 Sponsor: Divan Center (source1, source2)

• House Speaker Thom Tillis (R) Oct 2011
• Rules Committee Chairman, Rep. Tim Moore (R-Cleveland)
• Rep. Chuck McGrady (R)
• Rep. Mitch Gillespie (R-Marion)
• 4 other NC House representatives, Republicans (names as yet unknown)

Oklahoma

• Chad Smith, Principal Chief of Cherokee Nation (Sponsor: Institute of Interfaith Dialog; Source: here)
• State Senator Sean Burrage D-District 2 (Sponsor: Institute of Interfaith Dialog; Source: here)
• Senator Gary Stanislawski R-District 35 (source)

Sponsor: Institute of Interfaith Dialog. Date: Dec 2008/Jan 2009. (source)

• Secretary of State Susan Savage
• Attorney General Drew Edmondson
• Director, Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control Darrell Weaver
• Deputy Director, Oklahoma Bureau of Investigation Tom Jordan

Pennsylvania

• State Senator Mike Brubaker (Sponsors: Turkish Cultural Center of Pennsylvania and Red Rose Intercultural and Educational Foundation; Guide Sait Onal; Source here)

South Carolina

Date: October 2011
Sponsor: South Carolina Dialogue Foundation and "unidentified sponsors in Turkey
Trip value: $7,047 per person
Source: Rick Brundrett, TheNerve.org, viewed here.

• State Senator Creighton Coleman, D-Fairfield
• State Senator Mike Fair, R-Greenville
• State Senator Brad Hutto, D-Orangeburg
• State Senator John Land, D-Clarendon
• State Senator Phil Leventis, D-Sumter
• State Senator John Matthews, D-Orangeburg
• State Senator Mike Rose, R-Dorchester
• State Senator Vince Sheheen, D-Kershaw

Tennessee
Source: NewsChannel5, Nashville, Apr 29, 2013
Date: 2012

• Rep. Harry Brooks (R) House Education Committee Chairman
• Rep. Joe Armstrong D-Knoxville
• Sen. Reginald Tate, D-Memphis
• Rep. Josh Evans, R-Greenbrier
• Rep. Gary Odom, D-Nashville

Accepted invitation to go on May 2013 trip:
Trip value: $4000 per person
Sponsor: Turquoise Council of Americans and Eurasians (providing funds) +
Turkish American Chamber of Commerce of the Southeast (sending invitations)
Rep. Harry Brooks is "helping to coordinate" this trip

• Rep. Mark White, R-Memphis
• Sen. Stacey Campfield, R-Knoxville
• Sen. Brian Kelsey, R-Germantown
• Rep. Vance Dennis, R-Savannah
• Rep. Roger Kane, R-Knoxville
• Rep. Antonio Parkinson, D-Memphis
• Rep. Joe Towns, D-Memphis
• Rep. Johnnie Turner, D-Memphis
• Rep. Terri Lynn Weaver, R-Lancaster
• Tennessee Safety Commissioner Bill Gibbons
• Tennessee Assistant Safety Commissioner David Purkey

Texas

• State Senator Rodney Ellis D-District 13 (source)
• State Representative Alma Allen D-District 131 (source)
• State Senator Troy Fraser, R-Horseshoe Bay (Sponsor: Turquoise Council; source)
• Austin Mayor Will Wynn (source)
• State Senator Leticia van de Putte
• State Rep. Mark Strama, D-Austin, and his wife (source)
• Meria Carstarphen, Superintendent of the Austin Independent School District, with 10 staff members (note: she is actually appointed by elected officials, not elected herself) (source 1; source 2)

Virginia

Date: May 2012
Sponsor: American Turkish Friendship Association
Source: May 5, 2012, Virginia Public Access Project

• Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Sharon S. Bulova (D)
• Senator Richard L Saslaw (D-Fairfax) (Value: $3700)
• Senator Barbara Ann Favola (D-Arlington) (Value: $3700)
• Delegate Robert H. Brink (D-Arlington) (Value: $1850)

Date: 2012
Sponsor: American Turkish Friendship Association
Source: Virginia Public Access Project

• State Senator Henry L Marsh, III (D) $4,875
• State Senator Frank W Wagner (R) $3,700
• Delegate Riley E Ingram (R) $1,850
• Delegate James P Massie, III (R) $1,850
• Delegate Joseph D Morrissey (D) $1,800

Date: unknown
Sponsor: American Turkish Friendship Association
Source: Feb 23, 2012

• City of Fairfax Police Department Chief Rick Rappoport

Date: 2011
Sponsor: American Turkish Friendship Association

• Delegate David L Bulova (D) + spouse Value: $3,000
• Delegate David Lawrence Englin (D) Value: $2,500
• State Senator David W Marsden (D) Value: $1,650

Date: 2010
Sponsor: American Turkish Friendship Association ("The organization spent more than $36,000 to take state officials on trips during the year, making it the largest donor of 2010." - Sun Gazette, Feb 7, 2011)
Trip value: $5000 (per person)
Source: Richmond Times-Dispatch; Sun Gazette

• Sen. Janet D. Howell (D) with spouse
• Del. Kenneth R. Plum (D)
• Del. James M. Scott (D)
• Sen. Mary Margaret Whipple (D-31st) with spouse Tom
• State Sen. Patsy Ticer (D-30th)
• Del. Adam Ebbin (D-49th) (declared value $2,500)
• Delegate Betsy Brooks Carr (D) (declared value $2,500)
• Delegate Mark D Sickles (D) (declared value $2,500)
• State Senator Patricia S Ticer (D) (declared value $2,500)
• State Senator John C Watkins (R) (declared value $2,500)
• Delegate Vivian E Watts (D) (declared value $2,500)
• State Senator J Chapman Petersen (D) (declared value $1,650)

West Virginia

• Delegate John Ellem, R-Wood (source) June 2012; Sponsor: Mid-Atlantic Federation of Turkic American Associations (MAFTAA)

Gulen politicians and the trips keep on rolling.......

Below is just a small example of the money spent by Gulen Lobbying front groups: Council of Turkic American Associations, Istanbul Center, Maryland institute for Dialogue, Rumi Forum, Pacifica Institute and maniy many more.  This is all public record that must be reported by members of Congress.  The amount of trips, awards to these politicians is staggering, we could feed many poor families in Turkey with this.  However, as many would say it is American money they are using via taxes intended for public education siphoned off and money laundered through their various front groups.  Some politicians are very naive about the Gulen Movement and just believe they are a bunch of nice guys promoting dialogue and others are finding out every day about the dangers of the Turkish Lobbying aka the Gulen Movement.
You can find updated information on Legistorm.com

http://turkishinvitations.weebly.com/congressional-turkey-trips.html

March 19, 2011 last updated June 21, 2011
by C.A.S.I.L.I.P.S. - Citizens Against Special Interest Lobbying in Public Schools

Summary

- based on information from Legistorm website, accessed June 20, 2011
- search covered period 01/01/2000 - 06/20/2011

Sponsor of Congressional Travel	Total value	# Trips	# Dem	# Rep
Council of Turkic American Associations	$26,660	9	7	2
Institute of Interfaith Dialog for World Peace	$26,160	10	2	8
Istanbul Center	$5,171	1	1	0
Maryland Institute for Dialogue	$20,995	8	4	4
Mid-Atlantic Federation of Turkic American Associations (MAFTAA)	$35,513	13	13	0
Pacifica Institute	$16,840	7	4	3
Rumi Forum for Interfaith Dialogue	$76,390	24	10	14
Turkish American Federation of Midwest	$46,718	17	15	2
Turkish Confederation of Businessmen and Industrialists (TUSKON)	$30,682	9	5	3
Turkish Cultural Center New York	$29,990	11	6	5
Turquoise Council of Americans and Eurasians	$67,378	19	4	15
Total	$382,497	128	71	56

Here are details for each sponsor:

Institute of Interfaith Dialog for World Peace

Congressman/Approver	Party	State	Traveler/Staffer	Dates	Cost
Carter, Rep. John	Rep	TX	Alsup, Christopher William (Chris)	08/07/09-08/15/09	$2,680.00
Carter, Rep. John	Rep	TX	Stalnaker, Ryan D.	08/07/09-08/15/09	$2,680.00
Conaway, Rep. Mike	Rep	TX	Balzano, Paul N.	08/07/09-08/20/09	$2,680.00
Conaway, Rep. Mike	Rep	TX	Graves, Scott C.	08/07/09-08/15/09	$2,680.00
Hall, Rep. Ralph	Rep	TX	Schell, Christopher R. (Chris)	08/07/09-08/21/09	$2,250.00
Heinrich, Rep. Martin	Dem	NM	Samp, Anthony Pasquale (Tony)	08/07/09-08/15/09	$2,680.00
Johnson, Rep. Sam	Rep	TX	Williams, Mark Ramon	08/08/09-08/15/09	$2,680.00
Johnson, Rep. Sam	Rep	TX	Ray, Lindsey	08/07/09-08/15/09	$2,670.00
Oberstar, Rep. Jim	Dem	MN	Cronin, Mary C.	08/22/09-08/30/09	$2,480.00
Roskam, Rep. Peter	Rep	IL	Johnson, Brigitta A.	08/07/09-08/15/09	$2,680.00

Maryland Institute for Dialog

Congressman/Approver	Party	State	Traveler/Staffer	Dates	Cost
Brady, Rep. Bob	Dem	PA	Barcliff, Nicole E.	08/04/07-08/11/07	$2,550.00
Baird, Rep. Brian	Dem	WA	Austin, Lisa Ann td>	08/04/07-08/11/07	$2,550.00
Cohen, Rep. Steve	Dem	TN	Cooks, Shirley W.	08/04/07-08/11/07	$2,745.00
Campbell, Rep. John Bayard Taylor	Rep	CA	Kaplan, Caitlin Horton	08/04/07-08/11/07	$2,550.00
Baldwin, Rep. Tammy Green	Dem	TWi	Murat, William M. (Bill)	08/04/07-08/11/07	$2,725.00
Foxx, Rep. Virginia	Rep	NC	Poole, William Todd (Todd)	08/04/07-08/11/07	$2,550.00
Whitfield, Rep. Ed	Rep	KY	Robertson, James E.	08/04/07-08/11/07	$2,775.00
Bachus, Rep. Spencer	Rep	AL	Staley, Michael Christopher	08/04/07-08/11/07	$2,550.00

Mid-Atlantic Federation of Turkic American Associations - MAFTAA

Congressman/Approver	Party	State	Traveler/Staffer	Dates	Cost
Butterfield, Rep. G.K.	Dem	NC	Lilley, Laurence E. (Lee)	04/22/11-05/01/11	$2,930.00
Chandler, Rep. Ben	Dem	KY	Krimm, Jennifer	04/22/11-04/28/11	$2,930.00
Connolly, Rep. Gerry	Dem	VA	Walkinshaw, James R.	04/22/11-05/01/11	$2,930.00
Critz, Rep. Mark	Dem	PA	Mazonkey, Matthew Stephen (Matt)	11/05/10-11/12/10	$2,679.00
Hagan, Sen. Kay	Dem	NC	Peña, Roger J.	11/05/10-11/13/10	$2,159.00
Kissell, Rep. Larry	Dem	NC	Pfister, Zachary S. (Zach)	04/22/11-05/01/11	$2,930.00
McIntyre, Rep. Mike	Dem	NC	Helms, Kaitlin	04/22/11-05/01/11	$2,930.00
Moran, Rep. Jim	Dem	VA	Durrer, Austin John	11/05/10-11/12/10	$2,679.00
Moran, Rep. Jim	Dem	VA	Garofalo, Thomas M. (Tom)	11/05/10-11/12/10	$2,679.00
Nye, Rep. Glenn	Dem	VA	Ross, Daniel E. (Dan)	11/05/10-11/13/10	$2,509.00
Price, Rep. David	Dem	NC	Hildebrand, Asher Deva	04/22/11-05/01/11	$2,930.00
Shuler, Rep. Heath	Dem	NC	Fishman, Julie M.	11/05/10-11/13/10	$2,679.00
Webb, Sen. Jim	Dem	VA	Reagan, Paul J.	11/05/10-11/13/10	$2,549.00

Pacifica Institute / West America Turkic Council

Congressman/Approver	Party	State	Traveler/Staffer	Dates	Cost
Coffman, Rep. Mike	Rep	CO	Mandelson, Paul Winslow	04/22/11-05/01/11	$2,452.00
Young, Rep. Don	Rep	AK	Raabe, Aprille C.	04/22/11-05/01/11	$2,452.00
Young, Rep. Don	Rep	AK	Suslavich, Jason R.	04/22/11-05/01/11	$2,452.00
Bass, Rep. Karen	Dem	CA	Wood, Jennifer Punsalan (Jenny)	04/22/11-05/01/11	$2,452.00
Filner, Rep. Bob	Dem	CA	Filner, Rep. Bob	04/15/11-04/24/11	$3,700.00
Grijalva, Rep. Raúl	Dem	AZ	Guerrero, Bertha Alisia	04/15/11-04/24/11	$2,452.00
Filner, Rep. Bob	Dem	CA	Filner, Rep. Bob	12/22/10-12/31/10	$880.00

Rumi Forum

Congressman/Approver	Party	State	Traveler/Staffer	Dates	Cost
Berry, Rep. Marion	Dem	AR	Causey, Christopher Chad (Chad)	05/24/08-06/01/08	$3,020.00
Boehner, Rep. John	Rep	OH	Herrle, Cynthia Anne (Cindy)	08/15/08-08/23/08	$3,400.00
Coleman, Sen. Norm	Rep	MN	Navarro, Ana M.	08/16/05-08/23/05	$2,410.00
Davis, Rep. Susan A.	Dem	CA	Hazard, William Daniel (Daniel)	05/24/08-06/01/08	$3,020.00
Davis, Rep. Tom	Rep	VA	Bennett, Aimee Brooke (Brooke)	08/15/08-08/23/08	$3,400.00
Fallin, Rep. Mary	Rep	OK	Weatherford, Austin Blake	08/15/08-08/23/08	$3,400.00
Fallin, Rep. Mary	Rep	OK	Weintz, Alexander H. (Alex)	08/15/08-08/23/08	$3,400.00
Grijalva, Rep. Raúl	Dem	AZ	Montano, Gloria I.	05/24/08-06/01/08	$3,020.00
Hensarling, Rep. Jeb	Rep	TX	Buchanan, Michael Dee (Dee)	08/16/08-08/23/08	$3,430.00
Jones, Rep. Walter B.	Rep	NC	Downs, Glen Alan	08/16/08-08/23/08	$3,400.00
Kind, Rep. Ron	Dem	WI	Spaziani, Kathryn J. (Kate)	05/24/08-06/01/08	$3,020.00
King, Rep. Pete Rep	Rep	NY	Gundersen, Kevin	08/16/08-08/23/08	$3,350.00
Lucas, Rep. Frank D.	Rep	OK	Scott, Margaret Nicole (Nicole)	08/15/08-08/23/08	$3,400.00
McCollum, Rep. Betty	Dem	MN	McCollum, Rep. Betty	05/24/08-06/01/08	$3,020.00
McCollum, Rep. Betty	Dem	MN	Rashid, Lina Choudhry	05/24/08-06/01/08	$3,020.00
Meeks, Rep. Gregory	Dem	NY	Williams, Jihad Saleh (Saleh)	05/24/08-06/01/08	$3,020.00
Rogers, Rep. Mike	Rep	MI	Keiser, Andrew Justin (Andy)	05/24/08-06/01/08	$3,020.00
Royce, Rep. Ed	Rep	CA	Strupp, Hunter McLane	05/24/08-06/01/08	$3,020.00
Schmidt, Rep. Jean	Rep	OH	Bennett, Barry Patrick	08/15/08-08/23/08	$3,400.00
Tancredo, Rep. Tom	Rep	CO	Houlton, Tyler Q.	05/24/08-06/01/08	$3,020.00
Thompson, Rep. Bennie	Dem	MS	Pluviose-Fenton, Veronique	08/15/08-08/23/08	$3,390.00
Thompson, Rep. Bennie	Dem	MS	Salayandia-Darmanin, Marisela (Marisela)	08/15/08-08/23/08	$3,390.00
Udall, Rep. Mark Emery	Dem	CO	Salazar, Alan	05/24/08-06/01/08	$3,020.00
Whitfield, Rep. Ed	Rep	KY	Sparkman, John Stephen	08/15/08-08/23/08	$3,400.00

It is baffling that while the Rumi Forum spent at least $73,980 (and the actual value of these trips may be greater than the declared value) to pay for trips of Congressional staffers and one Congresswoman in the year 2008, nevertheless it declared on its 2008 IRS Form 990 $0 in expenses for "Payments of travel or entertainment expenses for any federal, state or local public officials." Even supposing that perhaps Congressional staffers are not legally classified by the IRS as "public officials," Congresswoman Betty McCollum certainly was. The Rumi Forum also declared $0 in "lobbying" expenses.

Does the IRS truly accept that all these Congressional trips are not lobbying, but rather just "educational"? Not to mention all the other activities that politicians are invited to - seminars, conferences, dinners,...

Mitch Ceasar, Florida Democratic Chairman is new Lobbyist for Gulen Schools in Florida

 



Mysterious Muslim Charter School Hires Broward Democrat Chairman As Lobbyist

 

Mitch Ceasar is taking a chance with the wealthy retired Jews in Florida that are in his district and that did admire him.  Israel and Jews don't exactly have a great relationship with Turkey.  Here is hoping that politician Mitch Caesar is really sticking to the Gulen Movement with fees $$$.

A proposed Broward charter school with ties to Fethullah Gulen, the mysterious Islamic cleric, hired Broward

 

Democrat Chairman Mitchell Ceasar as its lobbyist before the Broward County School Board. Known as “Gulen

 

Schools”, followers of Gulen have built thousands of charter schools all over the world. Last May, CBS News 60

 

 Minutes television program documented the growing Gulen school movement in the United States. 60 Minutes

 

said Gulen, living in seclusion in the Poconos mountains,appears only via video webcasts. Gulen, a Turkish

 

citizen, was accused of treason by calling for an Islamic coup of the Turkish government. The report

 

 

mentioned classified emails released by Wikileaks which disclosed some in the Turkish government see Gulen

 

as“political leader such as Iran’s Ayatollah Khomeini.”

The 60 Minutes report covered accusations that Gulen schools abuse U.S. immigration laws by bringing in t

 

housands of Turkish citizens to teach math and science at the charter schools. An official with a Texas charter

 

school group called the claim not sure” saying Turkish citizens are brought over because of a lack of

 

“qualified” American teachers. But 60 Minutes found that visa applications for Gulen teachers listed them as

 

 

“English teachers.

” Oops! Some American teachers claim Gulen teachers are forced to give a portion of their salaries back to the

 

Gulen movement.

Paging the Broward Teachers Union!

Dating back to 2007, Gulen followers, under the name of Riverside Science Inc., have been trying to open a

 

charter school in Broward County.

Their first try, Riverside Science Academy, failed after school officials were unable to secure a lease. Just

 

before the start of the 2012-13 school year, the group’s second try, “Broward Math And Science School”, was

 

denied the right to open a Margate campus. CBS 4 News reported, “The district said each school failed to

 

submit documentation of certain provisions they had to meet before the July 20th  deadline. The schools in

 

question were given several reminders of the deadline and notified that ‘Failure to provide the required

 

documents within the specific timeframe terminated the charter agreement.’”

So like any other business seeking government influence, Riverside Science Inc. decided they needed a

 

lobbyist. According to Broward Schools lobbyist records, the group hired Mitch Ceasar in December 2012.

Caesar, a Plantation attorney, is also the chairman of the Broward Democrat Executive Committee.

Sure, local Republicans and Tea Party groups will be quick to blast Caesar for helping the controversial Gulen

 

followers. However, even liberals may find fault with the Gulen schools.

The New York Times reported on State of Georgia audits which found Gulen charter schools funneled money

 

and contracts to other Gulen followers. “The audit, released Tuesday by the Fulton County Schools near

 

Atlanta, found the schools made purchases like T-shirts, teacher training and video production services from

 

organizations with connections to school officials or Gulen followers. Those included more than $500,000 in

 

contracts since January 2010 with the Grace Institute, a foundation whose board has included school

leaders. In some cases the awards skirted bidding requirements, the audit said.”

Why is Mitch Caesar so eager to help followers of a shadowy Muslim cleric funnel taxpayer dollars to Turkey

 

and who knows where? Broward school dollars should be spent in

Broward, not in the Poconos mountains or Turkey.

http://dailybroward.com/tag/gulen-school/

 

New Gulenist operated charter charter school in Chicago is pushed by Alderman Cardenas of the 12 Ward, naughty politiicans!!!!

Alderman Cardenas of the 12 ward of Chicago is pushing the new Gulen operated Charter School which happens to be on a Toxic Waste Site.  Cardenas joins the list of Gulen Politicians while the good community of McKinley Park fights the sneaking in of another Horizon Science Academy

In an ongoing investigation by Substance News of Chicago Alderman George Cardenas (12thWard) rushing to push through a zoning change of an industrial site to charter school, it is has been found that 2245 W. Pershing Rd is an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) Program site (EPA ID Number 1000900874) . The EPA designation of TRI identifies facilities that release toxic chemicals to the air, water, and land in reportable quantities under SARA Title III, Section 313. The source of this database is the U.S. EPA.

TRI -- The physical location where toxic chemicals are manufactured, processed, or otherwise used. (Certain data in TRI_FACILITY were submitted on EPA Form R or Form A, Part I, Section 4, 'Facility Identification'. See specific 'Data Source' for each column.)
http://oaspub.epa.gov/...

“Ald. George Cardenas (12th), whose ward includes the proposed McKinley Park charter, was hesitant to talk about the controversy for fear of alienating Emanuel. “I don’t want to have conflict. It doesn’t help anybody,” he said. “I support the school and I’m going to find out what’s going on. I will work with the administration to assuage any concerns they would have.”

"Concept Schools NFP", is a charter school operator that is trying to have zoning at 2245 W. Pershing changed so a former industrial building, now a a abandoned vacant warehouse, can become the "Horizon Science Charter School Academy" for the start of the new 2013 -2014 school year. The zoning change will allow a charter school with an enrollment of 750 children: 18 classrooms, 4 science/computer laboratory rooms, a library, a cafeteria (with kitchen).

What is even more disturbing to the fact the site of a future school is labeled as toxic. Is the fact that there are at least 3 dozen sites within a one mile radius of the future charter school that are also label toxic by this environmental assessment. In a zoning hearing held just a few days earlier the public was reassured by Alderman Cardenas that this site was safe for children. Both Alderman Cardenas and Salim Ucan, vice president of Concept Charter Schools that all the proper procedures and studies were followed to secure this location as a school for over 400 K-8 students by September 2013.

Not only is there now a clear danger to the children and staff that will be forced to be work and learn in toxic site but Alderman Cardenas through his attorney is now refusing to provide the 1000 signatures that he testified to eth Zoning Committee on April 30, 2013 that were collected in support of the proposed McKinley Park charter school. The Mr. Ucan stated during the public proceedings that he had more than 1,000 signatures supporting the opening of the school. Yet when Alderman Cardenas’ office was contacted to provide proof of the signatures Jessica L. Cummings, Esq. Director of Communications & Policy on May 3, 2013 refused to provide the documents using a legal argument that the documents were not required to be provided to the public.

Read entire story here, and toxiology reports of the purposed Gulen operated charter school that Alderman George Cardenas is trying to push through. 

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/05/05/1206999/-Chicago-Charter-School-EPA-Toxic-Site

Now about the Mckinley community that doesn’t want the Gulen Charter school in their neighborhood, showed up at school meeting

http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20130508/mckinley-park/mckinley-park-charter-school-proposal-faces-opposition