WASHINGTON, July 27, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization, today called on Republican presidential candidate Gov. Scott Walker (WI) to drop a foreign policy adviser who once recommended using nuclear weapons on a number of Muslim-majority nations and for the deportation of undocumented immigrants "of Middle Eastern descent."

In a 2001 commentary published in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Kevin Hermening called for "the immediate and unequivocal deportation of every illegal alien and immigrant, with a focus on removing those of Middle Eastern descent" and for "a massive military response that includes the destruction of the capitals of Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Sudan and Yemen." He wrote that every military response, including "nuclear weapons," should be considered.

When asked about the extremist views expressed in the commentary, a Walker campaign spokeswoman stood by Hermening.

SEE: As Hermening's Role in Walker Campaign Grows, His Views Draw Scrutiny
http://tinyurl.com/osj6mjb

"It is disturbing that a person put forward as a key foreign policy adviser for a presidential campaign holds and defends such extremist views, and it is equally disturbing to hear campaign officials defend that individual and dismiss criticism of his genocidal rhetoric," said CAIR Government Affairs Manager Robert McCaw.

Last week, CAIR called on Walker and other GOP presidential candidates to decline invitations to a "national security forum" in New Hampshire sponsored by an anti-Muslim hate group and featuring conspiracy theorist John Guandolo, who claims the CIA director is a "secret Muslim."

SEE: CAIR Calls on GOP Presidential Candidates to Decline Invite to Hate Group's N. H. Event
http://tinyurl.com/qhnz3mk  

Last month, CAIR similarly called on Sen. Ted Cruz's presidential campaign to drop Kevin Kookogey as campaign chairman for Tennessee after he smeared a Muslim woman state government appointee and because of Kookogey's longstanding support for anti-Muslim and Islamophobic causes.

CAIR Urges Presidential Candidate Ted Cruz to Drop Anti-Muslim Tennessee Campaign Chair
http://tinyurl.com/oo4eq9s  

In March, CAIR joined a coalition of leading American Muslim civil liberties, human rights, faith, and cultural organizations in a letter to another GOP presidential candidate, former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, asking that his Right to Rise PAC remove Jordan Sekulow from his position as senior adviser to the PAC because of his long history of supporting anti-Muslim legislation.

SEE: National Muslim Groups Call on Jeb Bush to Drop Anti-Muslim Activist as PAC Advisor
http://tinyurl.com/overef4   

In January, CAIR issued an open letter to potential Republican presidential candidates urging them to reject Islamophobia and to reach out to American Muslim voters.

SEE: CAIR Letter Urges GOP Presidential Candidates to Engage Muslim Voters, Reject Islamophobia
http://tinyurl.com/pdz2b5n
SEE ALSO: Islamophobia in the 2016 Presidential Election
http://tinyurl.com/pmaz5sz  

CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

CONTACT: CAIR Government Affairs Manager Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR Communications Coordinator Nabeelah Naeem, 202-488-8787, 202-341-4171, nnaeem@cair.com

SOURCE Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)

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