Illinois gov slammed for Nation of Islam appointment

Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich was thrust back into the spotlight Wednesday, when a Nation of Islam activist claimed the governor knew about her affiliation to Louis Farrakhan, the Nation of Islam leader known for his attacks on Jews, gays and other groups, before appointing her to the state's hate crimes commission earlier this year.

Sister Claudette Muhammad, blasted Blagojevich for saying he did not know her or realize she was an official in the Nation of Islam before appointing her to the anti-discrimination panel.

"You and I spoke. We took pictures. ... I have written to you numerous times, all the letters of which were on our Nation of Islam stationery," Muhammad wrote to Blagojevich in a March 2 letter obtained by the Chicago Tribune.

Five Jewish members of the commission resigned from the body in protest of Muhammad's appointment. At the time, Blagojevich said he didn't know anything about Muhammad until learning of her from news reports, and eventually tried to calm the furor by saying he had begun talks with leaders of different groups to look for common ground on racial and religious issues.

But Abby Ottenhoff, a spokeswoman in the governor's office, would not say Wednesday who Blagojevich met with or how many meetings had taken place, nor could she say what he learned from the meetings.

Ottenhoff would not even say whether Blagojevich is looking for replacements for the commission members who resigned.

Ottenhoff also refused to discuss how Muhammad came to be chosen for the Gov.'s Commission on Discrimination and Hate Crimes, other than to say she was recommended by a variety of sources and the governor's staff reviewed them before approving her appointment.

Routine meeting

She said Blagojevich does not remember meeting Muhammad because he meets with thousands of people a year. She said it is routine for people to talk to him, shake his hand and have their photos taken with him after events.

Blagojevich appointed Muhammad, the chief of protocol for the Nation of Islam, to the commission in August. She was under the radar until inviting commissioners to attend a speech last month by Farrakhan, which included references to "Hollywood Jews" promoting homosexuality and "other filth."

Opponents argue she does not belong on the commission unless she repudiates Farrakhan. Muhammad says his remarks may be "perceived by some as anti-Semitic," but says she respects Farrakhan. She also says she is devoted to promoting fairness for all people.

No contact

At a March 10 appearance, Blagojevich said he planned to bring black, Jewish and gay leaders together to talk about underlying divisions revealed by the dispute over his appointment.

Some prominent leaders in those groups said Wednesday they had not been contacted by the governor's office and didn't know of anyone else who had been.

But Rep. Larry McKeon, a gay lawmaker, said he believes the governor is making good on his promise, but he would say little more. "I've offered assistance with this, but they haven't followed up on it," the Chicago Democrat said.

Ira Youdovin, executive vice president of the Chicago Board of Rabbis, said he has heard from others that they had been contacted by the governor's office, but he could provide no details.