Marvin Scott accused of Anti-Muslim bigotry

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Supporters of Democratic 7th District Congressman André Carson today accused his Republican opponent, Marvin Scott, of using anti-Muslim bigotry in his campaign.

The charges are similar to charges made more than a month ago, but they are also different because Scott can no longer attribute the anti-Muslim messages to supporters outside his campaign organization.

The new charges deal with a new website from the Scott campaign, drmarvinscottforcongress.com . It went online Monday.

The website lists the principles on which Marvin Scott bases his campaign; number 8 is "Fight Muslim extremism and protect freedom of religion." Click on it and you will find an image from 9/11 and ten reasons why radical Islam is a threat. They include "Islam commands homosexuals must be executed." "Islam allows husbands to hit their wives." And "Islam commands that drinkers and gamblers should be whipped."

24-Hour News 8's Jim Shella asked Carson campaign manager Matt Hammond if the Congressman believes any of the things that are listed on that website. "Oh, absolutely not," said Hammond who went on to call the website sad and disappointing.

André Carson is one of just two Muslims in Congress. During the primary a Scott supporter used anti-Muslim rhetoric in an invitation to a fundraiser. Another made an offensive posting regarding Allah on Scott's Facebook page. When we asked about it, Scott said he can't control what his supporters say. "And they come with many ideological notions about this," he said on May 17th. "If I had seen this I would have advised against it."

But Scott is longer distancing himself the Muslim bashing. Now he puts his name on it.

"It definitely seems like it's a wedge issue," says Hammond, "and he's trying to sort of color all of this campaign with fear."

Republican Party leaders we talked to about the website declined to comment on the record. One of them, however, pointed out that Scott was not the party favored candidate in the primary.

Scott campaign Spokesman Jerry Alexander said the Muslim comments are not intended to be a slam at André Carson.
He says, "It's just a position Marvin Scott takes."