Sen. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) sent well wishes to a potential political challenger on Tuesday in response to a barrage of abuse she faced for her faith.
Hang in there @deedra2018. Sorry you have to put up with this. Lots of wonderful people across AZ. You'll find them. https://t.co/uVfLaAfVV2
— Jeff Flake (@JeffFlake) July 19, 2017
Flake linked to a column in azcentral.com detailing a stream of anti-Muslim abuse that followed a Facebook post from Deedra Abboud, an attorney competing in Arizona’s Democratic primary to challenge Flake for his seat in 2018.
Abboud had posted a dedication to the Constitution, noting, “In their infinite wisdom, the Founding Fathers decreed that this nation would separate church and state, and in doing so protect both institutions. Government would be free from religious overreach, and religion would be free from government interference.”
In the comments below, Facebook users wrote things like “Fuck you Muslim bitch,” and “BAN ISLAM IN THE USA…WE HATE YOUR FILTHY DEATH CULT.”
Since then, the tenor seems to have balanced out somewhat, with many commenters wishing Abboud well and criticizing Islamophobia.
Flake has chaffed at some of President Donald Trump’s more flagrantly nativist actions. He was part of a small group of senators to speak out against the President’s first attempt to ban travel from several Muslim-majority countries, which was quickly tied up in a legal battle in the first weeks of his presidency.
Sigh. It’s not heroic in itself, or anything. Just simple decency really. But you almost want to put it up on the refrigerator anyway, like your young child’s efforts at art, because the circumstances make it a bit more meaningful.
Thank you for a little decency in partisan politics. The silence from all others is deafening.
Trump: I always knew that Flake sides with terrorists. He will never get Putin’s approval.
Nice first step. It may earn you a primary challenge. Next would be to stand up to the leadership of your own party.
It’s refreshing to see a glimmer of humanity, however fleeting, from a Republican.
It’s enough to get him kicked from the club, though…