Calls from the McCain campaign inquiring about his "integrity and loyalty to this country"

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http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24472037/

updated 7:30 p.m. CT, Mon., May. 5, 2008

DEARBORN, Michigan - A group of Arab-American and Muslim leaders said Monday they want John McCain's campaign to apologize for cutting ties with an Lebanese-American businessman serving on the Republican presidential candidate's Michigan finance committee.

Ali Jawad, founder of the Lebanese American Heritage Club, was listed with five other finance committee members on an invitation to a $2,300-per-person (euro1,490) fundraising dinner McCain plans to attend Tuesday in Oakland County.

Jawad and his supporters said during a news conference that he was asked to resign from the committee after Michigan blogger Debbie Schlussel wrote that he had ties to the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. They said her comments they said were based on rumor and innuendo. snip

For his part, Jawad said he was not forced into resigning. He asked to be removed from the committee after receiving two calls from the McCain campaign inquiring about the allegations and questioning his "integrity and loyalty to this country."