Voter Alert? From Family Action in Orlando

[Cheshire Cat]

One attorney in Rifqa case sues another, Orlando's John Stemberger
September 7, 2010|By Rene Stutzman, Orlando Sentinel
A Muslim attorney on one side of the Rifqa Bary dispute has filed a $10 million defamation lawsuit against Orlando attorney John Stemberger, an activist Christian attorney who worked for the other side.

The suit was filed by Omar Tarazi in federal court in Columbus, Ohio, Friday. It names Stemberger , who leads the conservative Florida Family Policy Council.




Also being sued is a blogger from elsewhere, Pamela Oshry, who writes under the name Pamela Geller at the website Atlas Shrugged and penned scathing anti-Muslim posts after Rifqa ran away from home in July 2009, saying she was afraid her Muslim parents would kill her for converting to Christianity.

Tarazi represented Rifqa's parents in Columbus juvenile court as they battled for months but lost their attempt to win back their daughter. She turned 18 last month.

Stemberger represented Rifqa for several weeks in Florida, after she ran away but before a state circuit judge in Orlando ordered her returned to Ohio.

In the suit, Tarazi accuses Stemberger of falsely claiming on Fox News that Tarazi was associated with a Columbus-area mosque that had ties to terrorists. It also says Stemberger defamed Tarazi by saying Rifqa's parents fired qualified court-appointed Ohio attorneys to use only one – Tarazi – who was paid by a pro-Muslim group in Ohio, the Council on American-Islamic Relations or CAIR.

Tarazi was paid by no one, according to the suit.

Stemberger on Tuesday called the suit "ridiculous and frivilous."

"This is just an attempt at grandstanding after a loss," he said.

Stemberger acknowledged but would not discuss an investigation by the Florida Bar into possible ethics violations by him for statements he made about the case.

Oshry published web posts that falsely said Tarazi had joined Hamas, a Palestinian terrorist organization, and received payments from " 'criminal' organizations with 'ties' to terrorists," according to the suit.

She did not respond to an email Tuesday afternoon, seeking comment.

Rene Stutzman can be reached at rstutzman@orlandosentinel.com or 407-650-6394.

For full story click link:  http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2010-09-07/news/os-rifqa-federal-suit-20100907_1_rifqa-bary-suit-web-posts

[Jax native]

sheclown, Thanks for posting the flyer as I had no idea what it said, and CC thanks again for all your research. It has been so helpful when you give us background facts when a name or organization shows up.
  I'm less inclined to think Kimberly Daniels set this up.....i think this group is the type who would send these nasty, hateful mailer to any districts in FL where HRO is an issue.  I see Kimberly Daniels using every single penny she has on Herself.............She used the 30K Rummels gave her in february and March on Sunday's ad.
  It disgusts me how many people are buying this snake oil disguised as being the litmus test for being a real "Christian".   The hate, anger, disgust and utter nonsense these people say while being wrapped around a Bible never ceases to amaze me negativity. 

[Cheshire Cat]

I can understand Jax native except that most are unaware that Daniels has a statewide network of pastors of which she is a leading personality that are hooked up with all of these efforts.  I have seen it first hand in a meeting where they were all discussing issues of how to get around church and politics laws and what to do about the "gays". 

I think facts are important when the issue impacts our community politically, socially and morally.  People need to get a handle on why things happen politically they way they do in Jacksonville and in this case Florida.  Corrine Browns gerrymandered district includes many of the places this organization list as strongholds. 

[sheclown]

Gloria, is there any statement on the flyer saying it is a political advertisement and that it is "paid for" by this organization?

I don't know, but I'll ask.

[Ralph W]

We got the same flyer.
On the address page is this "Paid electioneering communication paid for by the Florida Family Action PAC, 4853 South Orange Ave., Orlando, Florida 32806"

[I-10east]

This is basically an anti-LGBT 'quick picks' through the mail.

[Cheshire Cat]

We got the same flyer.
On the address page is this "Paid electioneering communication paid for by the Florida Family Action PAC, 4853 South Orange Ave., Orlando, Florida 32806"

Thanks Ralph. 

[Jimmy]

And, ironically, they also helped get our message out by listing the group that we've endorsed.  For the most part.

John Stemberger came to Jacksonville a lot in 2012 to attend City Council and Committee meetings.  He and Ginger Soud are close.  He's the Florida version of Tony Perkins.  He makes his money on hate.

If anything, they probably took the "data" from the Raymond Johnson candidate survey and added some details.  All birds of a feather, if you ask me...

[Debbie Thompson]

I agree with you, Jimmy.  They've probably noticed that and the one next week won't have "your" list on it.  One of my friends said "thank for the list. Now I know who to vote FOR. I'll tear that off and throw the rest away."