Report: Pro-Hagel ‘Friends of Hamas’ Group Doesn’t Seem To Actually Exist

[DonViejo]

Source: TPM

IGOR BOBIC 12:08 PM EST, THURSDAY FEBRUARY 14, 2013

A report published last week by the right-wing site Breitbart News claimed that defense secretary nominee Chuck Hagel's confirmation was in question because of his purported connection to a certain terror group named "Friends of Hamas." Since then, Republican lawmakers and conservatives have been pushing the report as evidence of Hagel's anti-Israel views. The only problem, as Slate's Dave Weigel thoroughly explains, is that the group doesn't seem to exist:

Here's the problem: There's no proof that "Friends of Hamas" actually exists. At best, it's an organization so secret that nobody in government has thought to mention its existence. At worst, it's as fake as Manti Te'o's girlfriend. The Treasury Department, which designates sponsors of terror, has done so to many charities tied to Hamas. "Friends of Hamas" is not among them. The State Department doesn't designate it, either. And a bit less holistically, a Lexis search for the group reveals absolutely nothing. I've been unable to find any Senate staffer who knows where the "Friends" rumor came from, and Dave Reaboi, communications director for the (generally conservative) Center for Security Policy, shared my confusion about the alleged group. "Looking back to the 1990s, there were several groups (some affiliated with Holy Land Foundation, some not) that functioned as fund-raisers," he said in an e-mail. "I wouldn't put it past these people to refer to it this way in private, but I doubt highly that they'd actually call a legit group 'Friends of Hamas.'"

Read more: http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/report-pro-hagel-friends-of-hamas-group-doesnt

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Link to Breitbart "report":
http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Peace/2013/02/07/Hagel-Friends-of-Hamas-WH

Link to Weigel's report:
http://www.slate.com/blogs/weigel/2013/02/14/_friends_of_hamas_the_scary_sounding_pro_hagel_group_that_doesn_t_actually.html

[yellowcanine]

1. Breitbart News made it up? Well slap me with a wet noodle.

More codswallop from the rabid right.

[Jack Rabbit]

12. Yes that does deserve an award, doesn't it?

[center]

[/center]

[yellowcanine]

16. That's a classic line from a classic movie.....

[TwilightGardener]

2. Just one of many made-up smears against him. His "sin" in the Senate was in not

knee-jerk demonizing whomever the GOP, neocons or AIPAC wanted demonized--Dick Lugar was the same way, and is now gone. They take the best parts of these men, their thoughtfulness and fairness in foreign policy and national security, and turn it against them now, inventing support for terror groups as if Hagel was a traitor. A traitor who happens to sit on the President's Intelligence Advisory Board and Defense Policy Board, no less.

[progressoid]

3. Republicans crowing over a non-existent story.

I'm shocked.

[MynameisBlarney]

4. LOL

That's too damn funny!

[Cracklin Charlie]

9. It even sounds like a made-up organization.

Imagine that.

[MynameisBlarney]

13. Subtlety...

is not in their repertoire.

[another_liberal]

5. Can you say . . .

Can you say, "Swift Boat?" These people will do whatever it takes to destroy anyone who doesn't genuflect to Bibi Netanyahu every chance they get.

Is this really what America has allowed itself to become? I sincerely hope not.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

6. Breitbart news?

I thought that fucker was dead.

[xxqqqzme]

17. His dubious accomplishments, in life,

were all lies. Doesn't surprise me the practice continues under his name.

[dsharp88]

7. Yet another right-wing hoax to frighten the weak and gullible. nt

[riverbendviewgal]

8. It's Joe McCarthy at it again

Nothing to back the accusations on...and this is a Congress that allows it?

May America survive this.

[marble falls]

11. Survive Breitbart? Pffft! On our heads with our eyes closed.

[Comrade Grumpy]

10. It's Hagel vs. the Republican/Zionist tag team.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

14. The bloated, rotting corpse of Andrew Breitbart strikes again.

Sheesh, even from beyond the grave he's still Sherodding people.

[EastKYLiberal]

15. The people responsible for this fabrication should be imprisoned...

Interfering with the confirmation of the Secretary of Defense is a danger to national security.

[timdog44]

18. In the dictionary.

Under the word liars. #1-Republicans #2-Republicans #3-Republicans #4-People who don't tell the truth

[Berlum]

19. Scuzzbucket lying Republicans against America's Armed Services

The freaking Republican chickenhawks make up lies so America will be freaking defenseless. What massive evil a-holery.

[calimary]

20. Oh. The breitbart angle raises its ugly head again. Instant disregard.

The first word after "breitbart" is "IGNORE!"