Lessons Learned From Boris Johnson's Victory Over "Red" Ken Livingston (Updated)

From One Jerusalem:

Why Radical UK Muslims Are So Unhappy With Boris

As you have probably heard, "Red" Ken Livingstone the anti-semitic, anti-American Mayor of London has been retired by Boris Johnson. The Left-wing media and the Livingstone campaign have tried to convince the world that Boris is a light-weight. They, of course, did not mention his editorship of one of the UK's leading intellectual magazines, his authorship of many books, and his successful representation of a London neighborhood in the Parliament.

Radical Muslims took another course in trying to defeat Boris. They described him as a real threat to their radical ways. Read this marvelous piece by Paul Goodman, member of Parliament, and you will understand why Boris Johnson is an effective opponent of Muslims who seek to undermine British society.

In that piece, Paul Goodman writes about some of the lessons learned from that election:

First, there’s no such thing as the Muslim block vote, to be delivered up to suitably grateful candidates by key special interest groups...

Second, Muslims’ concerns as voters are much the same as other people’s – safer streets, better transport, transparency, value for money. Muslims want to practice their religion...

Third, a candidate can endure attacks by the MAB, the BMI, Muslims 4 Ken – and other separatists – rise above them, build a broad coalition, and win. He or she doesn’t have to – as Livingstone did – collaborate in the building-up of extremism...

Now, all we need to do is convince US politicians of this. Last year, 3 politicians in particular were pursuing an anti-profiling agenda:

Representative Keith Ellison (D-MN) has been named to the House Judiciary Committee. Ellison said in a statement: “I look forward to pursuing a progressive agenda in the committee, including the restoration of American citizen’s civil liberties that have come under increasing attack over the past six years.”

The American citizens Ellison, the nation’s first Muslim congressman, has in mind are likely Muslims who charge that they have been subjected to unjust scrutiny and inconvenience in the aftermath of 9/11. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) shares this view: she has announced her intention to “correct the Patriot Act,” and wants to criminalize scrutiny of Muslims at airports and elsewhere: “Since September 11, many Muslim Americans have been subjected to searches at airports and other locations based upon their religion and national origin. We must make it illegal.” Helping make it illegal with Ellison on the House Judiciary Committee will be John Conyers (D-MI), the new chairman of that committee. “The policies of the Bush administration,” he has declared, “have sent a wave of fear through our immigrant communities and targeted our Arab and Muslim neighbors.”

Do either Clinton, Obama or McCain have what it takes to follow the lesson and footsteps of Boris Johnson?

UPDATE: Dave Hill, a writer for The Guardian has a blog, London: Mayor & More, that tracks the Mayoralty campaign--and has a number of posts about new London mayor Boris Johnston. He left a comment to this post:

Ken Livingstone is unpopular with many - though not all - Jews in London, but you are wrong to describe him as anti-semitic.

It's irrelevant that it was One Jerusalem that used that description and not. The issue is whether Livingtone held Israel to a different, higher standard. To those that think he does, that he does not take into account the context of what is happening, Livingstone's comments reveal an agenda, and to them that agenda is best described as anti-Semitism.

In any case, if you are interested in what the new mayor is up to, take a look at Mr. Hill's blog.

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