So, It's The Muslims Fault His Marriage Went To Hell

[moe.ron]

Legislator faults Muslim group for marital ills
Congressman blames stress of living near office

Associated Press
Originally published October 5, 2003

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - North Carolina Rep. Cass Ballenger blames the breakup of his 50-year marriage partly on the stress of living near a leading American Muslim advocacy group that he and his wife worried was so close to the U.S. Capitol that "they could blow the place up."

The nine-term Republican lawmaker, in an interview with The Charlotte Observer published yesterday, called the Council on American-Islamic Relations - whose headquarters are across the street from his Capitol Hill home - a "fund-raising arm" for terrorist groups and said he reported CAIR to the FBI and the CIA.

Ballenger, 76, did not return calls to his home in Hickory, N.C., yesterday. His wife, Donna, told the Associated Press that the couple kept a close eye on CAIR since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and worried that the group's activities might jeopardize security on Capitol Hill.

"This gang across the street is questionable," she said yesterday.

Ibrahim Hooper, a spokesman for CAIR, which promotes Muslims' civil rights and sponsors interfaith gatherings, told the Observer that Ballenger's unsubstantiated remarks were bigoted.

"It's unworthy of an elected official at the national level," Hooper said. "You wonder what he's been doing in Congress if this is the kind of analysis he does: 'You're a Muslim, so you're guilty.'"

Ballenger made the comments during a telephone interview Wednesday with the Observer in which he discussed his legal separation from his wife, the newspaper said.

In addition to CAIR, he told the newspaper that another stress on the marriage was the 1995 decision by "holier-than-thou Republicans" in the House to ban gifts from lobbyists. The meals and theater tickets from lobbyists once meant "a social life for [congressional] wives," Ballenger said.

Ballenger's wife also said the move by "do-goody Republicans" to restrict the money spent on members of Congress and their spouses had helped turn Washington into a less desirable place to live. "Just a dinner now and then" would do no harm, she said.

In December, Ballenger also drew criticism when he said then-Rep. Cynthia A. McKinney, an African-American from Georgia known for her abrasive style, had stirred in him "a little bit of a segregationist feeling."

He later apologized.

Ballenger said in the latest interview that after the Sept. 11 attacks, his wife was anxious about all the activity at CAIR, including people unloading boxes late at night and women "wearing hoods," or headscarves, going in and out of the office building. "That's 2 1/2 blocks from the Capitol," he said, "and they could blow it up."

[Lady Pi Phi]

This man is disgusting!!! That's probably why his wife left him.

[breathesgelatin]

OH MY GOD!!!!!!!

I'm so embarassed. This guy is my congressional representative at home (I live in NC but go to school in VA).

Let me just say: He's an idiot. He's made really racist remarks regarding African Americans for years. My family has been trying to vote him out of office for ages.

What an embarassment. Cass Ballenger, eat my socks.

[CatStarESP4]

He's got some issues and is totally disturbed!

[KillarneyRose]

Originally posted by moe.ron
In addition to CAIR, he told the newspaper that another stress on the marriage was the 1995 decision by "holier-than-thou Republicans" in the House to ban gifts from lobbyists. The meals and theater tickets from lobbyists once meant "a social life for [congressional] wives," Ballenger said.

Ballenger's wife also said the move by "do-goody Republicans" to restrict the money spent on members of Congress and their spouses had helped turn Washington into a less desirable place to live. "Just a dinner now and then" would do no harm, she said.

They sound like two parasites to me. Like members of Congress don't make enough money to take their wives out to dinner and the theatre???

[bethany1982]

Marriage terrorists?

[swissmiss04]

Nine terms? Dude is probably senile. And if I were married to such an idiot (who can't keep his mouth shut) I'd be walking too. Ms. Donna is apparently a lot smarter than he took her for! Go girl!

P.S. As if this country isn't in enough of a financial crisis and here this guy goes p*ssin' and moanin that his wife doesn't get taken to dinner for free. At least they have money to eat!

[Hootie]

People like him give politicians a VERY bad name. He should be ashamed...as should his wife. Grow up! Seriously! 50 years of marriage and suddenly it's ended because of this? The marriage probably ended years ago! She probably played the part of trophy wife and raised thier ivy-league school children and then grew board. And he probably abused every privilage and put on a show that he was the upstanding American citizen.

[Optimist Prime]

[breathesgelatin]

Originally posted by Hootie
! She probably played the part of trophy wife and raised thier ivy-league school children and then grew board.

Trust me, I seriously doubt his kids went to Ivy League schools (if you know anything of my congressional district you'd know why). They probably struggled to get into Chapel Hill even with Daddy's influence (UNC is fairly easy in-state). At least if they inherited Mommy and Daddy's intellectual capacities, they wouldn't go anywhere but CVCC (local community college!!). Anyway let me assure that my family, in our extremely rural precinct, vote against him every time!! Unfortunately we can also count on two hands the number of the people in the precinct who vote like us (not because we're crazy vote-thieves but because we KNOW everyone lol).

My family hates on Cass all the time... We live at a semi-important rural crossroads and we pull down all his campaign posters.

[lifesaver]

I dont know whats more terrifying:
1) His comments, or
2) That people keep electing this fool.

People LOVE their congressman, but hate everyone elses.

I guess this theory does explain Senator Robert Byrd, huh? Phuckin' loon.

[breathesgelatin]

Originally posted by lifesaver
People LOVE their congressman, but hate everyone elses.

Not me!! I want to secede from the 10th district NC!!!