Breaking News...

Libertarian Republican was one of a number of on-line media to receive an early release of a commentary from left-libertarian journalist Dave Weigel at Esquire Magazine. Weigel resigned from the Washington Post two weeks ago. Weigel, a sometimes friend of Libertarian Republican blog, and a former writer for Reason, for the first time admits that he has somewhat of an admiration for Sarah Palin.

From Esquire:

Over the first churning forty-eight hours of this whole mess, I resisted — and then accepted — a new sympathy for a politician I'd never pretended to admire much: Sarah Palin. A political celebrity who raises money and appears on TV needs the media in a way that a reporter doesn't. But damn if I didn't feel sorry for the way every utterance Palin ever makes is taffy-pulled and inspected for lies. During the trial of a boy who hacked into Palin's private e-mail account, I debunked a rumor while appearing on MSNBC — where I am now a contributor — that she had "perjured" herself on the stand. She hadn't. She'd spoken correctly, if clumsily, about some of her old e-mails. Like I said: screwed, and then a new sympathy. (Of course, journalists would have had an easier time reaching me than Palin, who is notoriously difficult to get a comment from unless you happen to be a Fox News host.)

Hello Libertarian Republican readers:

You may have noticed an unusually high number of posts today. I apologize. There's just so much news out there. And I anticipate that the volume is only gonna get more and more in the coming weeks. We're less than 4 months from the election.

You'll probably see less and less issues-oriented posts here, and most certainly more pure politics through November. That means polls, candidate news, campaign videos, campaign press releases, ect...

I'd appreciate a little feedback. Are you all pleased with the balance of articles? And are you fine with the volume? We try to post 4 to 6 articles a day. I tend to think 8 to 10 is too much. Do you agree? Please take a second to answer the question on the poll on our sidebar. Thanks

From Jim Fryar, Real World Libertarian:

Charlie Crist and Marco Rubio have been in a neck and neck battle for the Florida Senate seat, with the Democrat way back out of contention. Crist has been slightly in the lead over Rubio, but the latest statement from Chris Mathews has changed the whole tenor of the campaign with his assertion that Crist will caucus with the Democrats.

Any Republicans who stuck to Crist must now reconsider their positions. As a matter of interest, I don't see much of this guy, so can anyone tell me if he is half cut or is this what he is always like.

(H/t Newsbusters)

JUST BREAKING...

From Eric Dondero:

Since Charlie Crist announced as an Independent back in May, Republican Marco Rubio has consistently polled slightly behind the Florida Governor. Now, for the first time, a major polling firm shows libertarian/Tea Party-favorite Rubio pulling ahead.

From Rasmussen:

The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Voters in Florida finds the two candidates neck-and-neck again this month, with Rubio earning 36% support and Crist, the state’s current Republican governor, capturing 34% of the vote. Prospective Democratic candidate Kendrick Meek remains a distant third, picking up 15%. Fourteen percent (14%) of the state’s voters remain undecided.

A month ago, Rubio, former speaker of the Florida House, and Crist were tied at 37% apiece. Meek, an African-American congressman from the North Miami area, again was at 15%.

For 2010, Libertarian Republicans are most enthusiastic about the Senate races of Rand Paul in Kentucky, Pat Toomey in Pennsylvania, Sharron Angle in Nevada, Mike Lee in Utah, and Marco Rubio in Florida. These candidates are officially endorsed by the Republican Liberty Caucus (rlc.org). With Rubio pulling ahead, the RLC and the overall Libertarian Republican movement could now have a full sweep of election victories for the US Senate.

Not too mention, this will be also be a complete sweep for the Tea Party.

Hey there, Wes Messamore here to share my most recent Jack Hunter-style Op Ed video, in which I take a look at the role government played in causing and exacerbating the Gulf Oil Spill.

Learn the facts and talking points you need to discuss this issue and explain why free markets are not to blame for the oil disaster and why more government regulation is certainly not the solution. Also learn why it's not such a good idea to keep calling for Obama to "do something." He's done enough.

Read the full text at Young Americans for Liberty.

\

"Moms always know when something is wrong"

(H/t Memeo)

"She is absolutely out there" even more uncompromising than Rick Perry

From Eric Dondero:

In June, Kathleen Glass, a Houston attorney won the Libertarian nomination for Governor. She beat 5 other candidates 3 to 1.

Already she's being compared to the insurgent rightwing candidacy of Debra Medina. And the Left and mainline Texas Democrats are aligning to criticize her.

From Phillip Martin at the Burnt Orange Report (the top Democrat website for Texas), July 5:

Kathie Glass, like Debra Medina, is an honest and sincere person. However, she is absolutely out there -- her answer on how to address mental health issues (cut taxes, lower spending, secure our borders) was one of the most incredible stick-to-talking-points-when-you-don't-know-the-answer responses I've ever seen. She is even more of a state's rights, sovreignty person than Perry. Glass declared that education is "socialism."

Meanwhile, the Houston Chronicle reported on the recent debate between Glass and former Houston Mayor Bill White.

The League of Women Voters forum before about 275 people at the Kathleen C. Cailloux Theater in Kerrville gave Democrat Bill White and Libertarian Kathie Glass, both of Houston, the opportunity to make their case against Perry...

[Glass] opposes national healthcare and believes the state should block its implementation

In the evening forum, Glass stuck to the rules by not rebutting White, but he debated her statements several times. When Glass called for repealing the state public school sales tax, White said that would eliminate 42 percent of the funding for schools. Glass wanted to limited education to basics, while White said the state needs to create an educated work force for the future.

Glass also criticized Governor Perry for not making a tax cut permanent.

Glass was critical of Perry and the new state franchise tax. She said the last Legislature exempted businesses making less than $1 million a year, but she said that exemption goes away next year. She said Perry should have made sure the cut was permanent.

“If you’re a small business and you lose money, next year you’re going to get walloped by the franchise tax,” Glass said.

Note - Kathie Glass is married to longtime Libertarian/Republican benefactor and attorney Tom Glass.

From Eric Dondero:

Lex Green is the Libertarian Party candidate for Governor of Illinois. He was just featured in the Illinois Times out of Springfield. The Times quoted a Union official for State Bureaucrats. His response to Green's belt-tightening, fiscally conservative candidacy was predictable.

One of Green's proposals is to switch the state workers to a "private sector 401k plan."

From the Illinois Times, July 8:

Anders Lindall, spokesman for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 30, the union that represents most state employees, says switching would actually cost the state more in administrative costs and would worsen underfunding of the state’s pension system by removing new contributions from the system.

“Any candidate should acknowledge the fact that they’re advocating for a more costly system,” Lindall says. “Defined contributions would drive up costs to taxpayers.”

Green also says he would not pursue a tax increase to fix the state’s finances.

“There are two things I’m adamantly opposed to: taking out loans to pay for our spending and increasing taxes, especially at this time when the taxpayer is burdened by the double effects of a recession and continued inflation,” Green says.

But Lindall counters that a recession is the worst time to cut services.

“Over the past two years, the state has cut spending by more than 10 percent, with devastating effect,” he says.

Lindall helped organize a rally in Springfield in May of Teachers and other State Bureaucrats for Tax Increases. (From: Chicagoist).

Note - Green's wife Karen is a local Republican Precinctwoman. She's also a supporter of Sarah Palin.

http://www.electlex.com

More Radical Muslim violence against Children in Tampa Bay

From Eric Dondero:

22-year old Ottis Ryan barged into the Little Pioneers Daycare Center on Thursday in Pasco County, and threatened teachers and daycare students. He had two weapons, including a large hunters-type knife.

From TampaBay.com:

"Don't listen to God. He is not real. Listen to Allah," he yelled at [teacher] Singletary and other employees, according to Pasco County Sheriff's Office spokesman Kevin Doll. "Don't feed those crying babies. Let them die. It is time."

By the time a deputy arrived, Ryan was on his knees, as if praying...

Ironically, just last month, also in the Tampa Bay region, Yasser Mohamed Shahade was convicted of raping a 13-year old boy who had visited his Mosque. Shahade is a Muslim cleric.

("Muslim cleric pleads guilty to molesting Tampa boy" June 18 TampaBay.com)

Photo of Tampa Mosque where Shahade was a Cleric. H/t Jihad Watch.

"We are... at war with radical Islam and we could lose if we do not fully understand and fully confront the Muslim menace"

From Eric Dondero:

Meet Dr. Marvin Scott, Republican candidate for Congress, District 7 Indiana.

He is a Deacon at the Second Presbyterian Church in Indianapolis. He is a Sociology professor at Butler University. He's also a former adjunct professor at the University of Massachusetts and has taught at Boston Univ.

His Principles:

Defend the Constitution; Restore and Protect Free Enterprise & Job Creation; Repeal the Health Care Law; Eliminate the Deficit & Reduce the National Debt; Secure our Borders & Restore the Rule of Law to Immigration; Reduce Taxes; Establish Term Limits

But it's his views on Radical Islam that are garnering Dr. Scott the greatest attention.

Islam allows men to beat their wives, execution of homosexuals and seeks to ban alcohol and gambling

From Scott's campaign website dr.marvinscottforcongress.com:

Every American has, and should have, the right to worship in the way they personally see fit. America stands for honoring and protecting that God given right. No such thought or law exists in any Muslim country on the face of the earth. If Muslim law were to be imposed in our country, freedom of religion would disappear here as it has in Muslim countries around the globe. Islam advocates the eventual elimination of all Christians and Jews. We are threatened by past and current deadly acts committed in the name of Islam. We are threatened by those who want Shariah or Muslim law to be honored and to eventually replace our law. Women are cruelly and regularly subjugated to second class status by many practicing Muslims. Honor killings of women are widespread in the Muslim world and happen in our country too. Omar M. Ahmad, founder of CAIR (the Counsil on American Islamic Relations) said: “Islam isn’t in America to be equal to any other faith, but to become dominant”. Many Muslims are respectful and model citizens, but many are not. Radical elements of Islam are funding and building mosques across America and they use our laws to protect themselves while advocating the overthrow of our laws and our way of life in their mosques and online. Attacks against America and Americans here and in other parts of the world can not and should not be ignored or explained away. We are forced to be, based on their acts and statements, at war with radical Islam and we could lose if we do not fully understand and fully confront the Muslim menace. I will not be intimidated and I will not be fooled. I will stand against the immediate and real threat of radical Islam to all Americans and to our country.

At another section of Scott's website he points out that:

"Islam commands homosexuals must be executed. Islam allows husbands to hit their wives. And Islam commands that drinkers and gamblers should be whipped."

André Carson (photo - right) is the first-term Democrat who represents this District. He is a Muslim. Carson's supporters are calling Scott a "bigot" for criticizing Radical Islam. Matt Hammond, a spokesman for Carson's campaign criticized Scott while himself using an interesting choice of words. He was quoted by WISH TV "Marvin Scott accused of Anti-Muslim bigotry":

"he's trying to sort of color all of this campaign with fear."

Spending will Shrink, Taxes Cut, and Cap & Trade will be Dead

From Eric Dondero:

The normally cynical Café Hayek website has now joined the ranks of libertarians rooting for Republican victories in November. This is a major change, for libertarian economics websites, are typically very skeptical and sometimes downright scornful of the Republican Party.

From Russ Roberts, Cafe' Hayek, July 2 "Failure" on recent Job Numbers:

the success of the Republicans this fall will make a difference in the following sense.

I think many Republicans and Democrats will campaign on an explicit promise to repeal Obamacare. They may or may not succeed but there is a chance it will happen. Cap and trade will be dead. Government spending isn’t going to shrink dramatically but it will shrink relative to recent levels. There will be proposals to cut taxes, particularly corporate taxes as a way to stimulate job growth. There will be more gridlock, which is good.

And not only will Republicans do very well in November. Democrats will move to the center and away from Obama’s agenda to keep their jobs. They may not keep their promises. But that will eventually cost some of them.

Dems now in full Panic mode

by Eric Dondero

We caught a taste of this last week here at Libertarian Republican. We had a super guest on our show "Libertarian Politics Live" - Nevada Republican Senate nominee Sharron Angle. The show made news on at least two fronts; Angle's pledge to help form a "Liberty Caucus," of like-minded GOPers in the Senate upone election, and the official on-air announcement of the Republican Liberty Caucus endorsement of Angle, by RLC National Chairman Dave Nalle.

What did the Washington Post choose to report on instead? A throwaway comment by Angle in response to a caller's question, on the Birther issue.

"An obsessive, hour-by-hour focus... of Republican extremism"

Jonathan Martin of Politico reveals the Dem strategy for November:

With polls showing voters deeply concerned about the economy and government spending and souring on Democrats, Obama and his party are seizing on gaffe after GOP gaffe, intent on making the election anything but a referendum on the majority.

That means an obsessive, hour-by-hour focus on a micro-message—grasping every opportunity to shift attention away from their unpopular or tepidly-supported policies and toward anything that smacks of Republican extremism.

Of course, turn a non-issue, Angle's line on the Birther issue on our show, into a supposed "gaffe."

And similarly turn Michael Steele's mis-statement on Afghanistan into a humongous "gaffe." And make sure that all the leftwing bloggers play it up to the Max, and link to all the stories on it, so it gets top billing at Memeorandum.

Of course, this also explains why every little statement by Kentucky Senate candidate Rand Paul is splattered all over the leftwing blogs. The latest Paul scandal: He advocates an "Underground Fence" for Border security. Proof of his "fringe kookiness," no doubt.

Problem is most Americans are not political junkies, and will not care a wit about the RNC Chair, or some Blog Talk Radio interview with a Nevada Senate candidate.

They do care about their neighbor losing his/her job, the closing of stores on Main street and at the local Mall, and unemployment numbers at 9.5%.

Which, of course, explains precisely why entrenched Democrat incumbents like Russ Feingold in Wisconsin, Patty Murray in Washington State, and Barbara Boxer are in serious trouble for reelection. Why, Pat Toomey has pulled comfortably ahead of Sestak in Pennsylvania. And why even in heavily Blue Maryland, Republican Bob Ehrlich now leads for Governor.

The philosophical icon of the Tea Party

From Eric Dondero:

Major piece in the UK Independent "Friedrich Hayek: Darling of the right is reborn in the USA" July 3. It features Glenn Beck as the modern promulgator of Hayekian philosophy. It also mentions Rand Paul as a Republican candidate carrying the Hayekian free market flag.

Excerpt:

In a renaissance laced with ironies, a political treatise penned in the aftermath of the Great Depression is waved around on Fox News as if it is a holy book, and its Austrian-born author, dead for 18 years, has been anointed Philosopher King of the right-wing Tea Party movement that is sweeping the grassroots of the Republican Party.

"Like Mike Tyson in his prime," says Fox host Glenn Beck, Hayek delivered "a right hook to socialism in Western Europe and in the United States." From beyond the grave, he expects the economist to deliver a right hook to Barack Obama, too

On the same Fox programme in which Glenn Beck proselytised Hayek's tome, he also waved a copy of 'Atlas Shrugged', the 1957 novel by Ayn Rand, the Russian-American philosopher who is another darling of the libertarian right. This book, too, has found its way back into the charts. In it, Rand fantasises a "strike" by America's most productive capitalists and creative scientists, driven away by government interventions that restrict their businesses and redistribute their wealth, a strike that leads to the collapse of society. Alan Greenspan, the deregulating chairman of the US Federal Reserve, was a Rand devotee.

"Ominous Parallels" indeed

From the Editors:

One of the longest standing and most respected conservative journals Human Events, recently uncovered some shocking information on Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan. She repeatedly cited a 20th century European Marxist-turned-Nazi Werner Sombert in her college thesis paper. And the references were not academic, but rather supportive and even hopeful. From HE:

In the introduction to her 1981 thesis, Kagan addresses a question famously asked by Sombart: Warum gibt es in den Vereinigten Staaten keinen Sozialismus? -- "Why is there no socialism in the United States?"

[She wrote] "In the first two decades of the twentieth century the American socialist movement, whose very existence Sombart refused to consider, grew if not by leaps and bounds at least by inches."

Even before he embraced National Socialism, Sombart's socialist theories reflected an anti-Semitic tendency that identified Jews with capitalism, a theme explored in his 1911 book, Die Juden und das Wirtschaftsleben ("The Jews and Economics").

For the "Total Ordering of Life"

Perhaps even more alarming, according to HE, one of Sombert's books was titled ""Deutscher Sozialismus," which advocated the "total ordering of life.""

Robert Byrd & the fascist KKK = zero mainstream media coverage.

Obama & Black Nationalists = zero mainstream media coverage.

and now...

Kagan and her citing of Marxist/National Socialist Werner Sombart in her college thesis paper = zero mainstream media coverage.

Any surprises here?

From Eric Dondero:

In an odd twist, a prominent local elected official - Republican - is now managining a State Rep. campaign of a Libertarian Party candidte.

From the Daily Item, July 5:

SELINSGROVE — Borough Manager John Bickhart has taken on a new endeavor as campaign manager for Erik Viker, the Libertarian Party candidate in the 85th Legislative District.

Viker is in the second year of a four-year term as a Borough Council member, but Bickhart denies any conflict in aiding his campaign to replace retiring state Rep. Russell H. Fairchild, a Republican from Lewisburg.

"It's what I do on my private time," Bickhart said.

A former Democrat who's now a registered Republican, Bickhart has switched back and forth several times depending on the candidate he's favored.

He found common ground with Viker, who says the two-party political system creates conflict.

Bickhart concedes that Viker has an uphill battle running as a Libertarian against Republican Fred Keller and Democrat Trey Casimir, but views the effort as worthwhile.

Over 20 Libertarian Party members in addition to Viker, serve in elected/appointed public office in Pennsylvania, including a County Commissioner in Erie.

Editor's Note - this website does not endorse any Libertarian Party candidates running in races where a Republican is on the ballot.

From Eric Dondero:

Christopher Peters, MD is the Libertarian candidate for Iowa State Senate - District 15. There is no Republican in the race.

Christopher contacted Libertarian Republican and provided us with the following information:

I am a thoracic and vascular surgeon, a small business owner, and most importantly, a husband and father of three sons. Like many Iowans, I am increasingly concerned about the size of government, resulting in the erosion of our liberties and the
jeopardization of our economic prosperity. I believe that most Iowans believe in the fundamental principles espoused in the founding documents of our nation and our state, and are frustrated that our political leaders and institutions have failed to live up to those ideals.

As a parent, I believe that the foundation of moral behavior begins not in the school, but in the home. Likewise, I believe that good governance does not begin in Washington, D.C., but in our state, our counties, and in our communities. We cannot look beyond our state borders for help in confronting the challenges we face within them. The principle of self government is plainly stated; that we should govern ourselves. Government is not the solution; we are the solution.

If we citizens of Iowa can reestablish our state government in accordance with the principles of our national and state constitutions, we can be assured of our inalienable rights to liberty and prosperity. Iowa can reform itself to better serve its citizens, to serve as a model for other state governments, and can enjoy sustainable economic growth in harmony with its resources.

I made the decision to enter the race for the Iowa State Senate in District 15 for one simple reason: to use my candidacy as an opportunity to raise issues related to the preservation of liberty and prosperity. Like many Iowans, I am concerned about the increasing size and scope of government, and the deleterious effects that growth has had, and will continue to have, resulting in the gradual erosion of our personal freedoms and economic well-being.

As always, if there is no Republican in the race, and a Libertarian is on the ballot, we here at Libertarian Republican strongly urge our fellow Republicans to Vote Libertarian! (Of course, we hope the Libertarian will "caucus" with the GOP once elected.)

Sidenote; the Iowa Libertarian Party holds three elected offices - Davenport City Council, Cedar Falls City Council, and Mayor of the Town of Roland.

peters4iowa2010.com

Neglects to link to the Show

From Eric Dondero:

Sheer idiocy. That's the only way to describe this hit piece by the Washington Post on Sharron Angle, as a result of our interview with her the other night on "Libertarian Politics Live."

The title of the article is "Sharron Angle confirms she's not a Birther." It's by Emi Kolawole. It appeared in the Politics & Policy section.

In an interview with Hot Air's Ed Morrissey, Nevada Republican Senate candidate Sharron Angle firmly denies being a "birther," a term used to describe those who believe that President Obama was not born in the United States. Morrissey reports:

Earlier today, I spoke exclusively to Sharron Angle, the Republican nominee to challenge Harry Reid for the Senate seat in Nevada. In the past few days, rumors have swirled that Angle is a crypto-Birther. I asked her "flat out" whether she believed Barack Obama was born somewhere other than Hawaii, and she replied, "No. Is that flat-out enough for you?"

This is in stark contrast to remarks Angle made Thursday night in an interview on the radio show Libertarian Politics Live. During the interview, Angle was asked, point-blank, if she believed the president was "a legitimate president or a naturalized born citizen." Angle replied saying, "You know I think our Supreme Court has pretty much made that decision." An Angle spokesman denied that Angle was a birther or had ducked the question.

Angle's response also serves to rebut earlier reports that the endorsement of her campaign by the Declaration Alliance could serve as proof that she was among the birthers' ranks. A search for the endorsement on Angle's website turns up cached results but no active pages.

Talk about a stretch. Associating Sharron Angle with the Birther movement because she didn't come right out immediately and say that she believes Obama was born in the U.S., but instead simply said it was not a relevent issue since the Courts already ruled on it. And of all the newsworthy topics to pull out of the interview, for example, Angle's vow to help form a "Liberty Caucus" in the Senate with Marco Rubio, Rand Paul, Tom Coburn and Jim DeMint, instead the Post chose this throwaway topic to highlight.

And sorry, we're not linking to this Washington Post article. Despite the entire article being based on our interview, WaPo did not bother to link to Libertarian Republican in their story, nor to the show.

Former Club for Growth President Pat Toomey, has a decent lead in the race for US Senate in Pennsylvania. This will be a GOP pick-up.

From Rasmussen (via Hedgehog):

US SENATE – PENNSYLVANIA (Rasmussen)
Pat Toomey (R) 45%
Joe Sestak (D) 39%

Polls in May tended to show Toomey and Sestak virtually tied. Sestak has been the subject of intense speculation over dealing with the White House to drop out of the race, post-Specter switch.

Warum gibt es in den Vereinigten Staaten keinen Sozialismus?

From Eric Dondero:

It seems that Elena Kagan in her earlier years, was fascinated by a notorious anti-Capitalist Jew hater, German Marxist turned National Socialist. (As if there's much of a difference?)

Human Events has the scoop.

Headline: "SHOCKING: Kagan's Princeton Thesis Cited German Socialist Who Endorsed Nazis"

HE explains:

Elena Kagan's senior thesis at Princeton University, recounting the history of socialist politics in New York City, cited the theories of an influential German Marxist who notoriously switched allegiances to Nazism after Adolf Hitler attained power.

Werner Sombart was widely recognized as an academic proponent of Marxism and was once praised by Karl Marx's colleague Friedrich Engels as the only German professor who understood Marx's Das Kapital. During World War I, however, Sombart endorsed Germany's "heroic" war against the "capitalist spirit" represented by England. In 1934, Sombart published Deutscher Sozialismus, which advocated the "total ordering of life" as an expression of the German Volksgeist, or "national spirit."

In the introduction to her 1981 thesis, Kagan addresses a question famously asked by Sombart: Warum gibt es in den Vereinigten Staaten keinen Sozialismus? -- "Why is there no socialism in the United States?"

HE provides further background. Ironically, Sombart was a bitter foe of libertarian economist Frederich Hayek.

Even before he embraced National Socialism, [Werner] Sombart's socialist theories reflected an anti-Semitic tendency that identified Jews with capitalism, a theme explored in his 1911 book, Die Juden und das Wirtschaftsleben ("The Jews and Economics," which was published in a 1913 English translation titled, The Jews and Modern Capitalism). In his 1915 book Handler und Helden ("Merchants and Heroes"), Sombart praised the "heroic" German character, contrasting them with "Trading Peoples," especially Jews, whose "commercial" habits Sombart depicted as prevailing among the English.

The influence of Sombart, who died in 1942 at age 78, was scornfully cited in Friedrich Hayek's famous 1944 book The Road to Serfdom. In Chapter 12 of that book -- "The Socialist Roots of Nazism" -- Hayek said that Sombart "had done as much as any man to spread socialist ideas and anticapitalist resentment of varying shades throughout Germany."

From Eric Dondero:

The London Daily Mail is reporting on the attempted killing of actress Afshan Azad. She played Padma Patil in the latter Harry Potter movies. However, the Mail neglects to mention the religious affiliation of the father and son who are accused of the assault.

From the Daily Mail, July 2:

A Harry Potter actress has fled her home after her father and brother allegedly threatened to kill her.

Afshan Azad, 22, who has appeared in four of the blockbuster movies as Padma Patil, is now believed to be staying with friends in London.

Her father Abdul Azad, 54, and brother Ashraf Azad, 28, both of Longsight in Manchester (photo of downtown Manchester), were arrested and charged.

Both are accused of threatening to kill her.

Ashraf Azad is also accused of assaulting his sister causing her actual bodily harm.

They appeared at Manchester Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday and the case was adjourned until July 12 for committal proceedings to crown court.

They had been in custody until this week’s court appearance when they were bailed.
As part of their bail conditions, they have to abide by an 11pm to 6am curfew and must not travel to London or contact an unnamed man.

Miss Azad lived with her father, mother Nilofar and her three brothers.

Meanwhile there are increasing reports of outrage by Potter fans.

But Infidel Bloggers Alliance asks:

Will Harry Potter fans begin to recognize in radical Islam the face of Voldemort and the Death Eaters? Or will the PC/MC indoctrination they have received all their lives corral their natural, spontaneous outrage into the safe confines of "cultural relativism"?

UPDATE!!

CNN confirms family is Muslim

Just breaking from CNN:

Abdul Azad, 54, and his son Ashraf, 28, are accused of attacking actress Afshan Azad earlier this month because of her relationship with a Hindu man, a spokesman for the Crown Prosecution Service said. The family is Muslim.