Muslim Brotherhood's role in Egypt's future?
Egyptian anti-government demonstrators and members of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood movement pray in front of Egyptian soldiers at Cairo's Tahrir square. (PHOTO CREDIT: PATRICK BAZ/AFP/Getty Images)
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
As the drama in Egypt unfolds - there are growing questions about what role the Muslim Brotherhood should play.
You see, the group has a split image. Some see it as a hostile Islamic group that includes dangerous fundamentalists. Others say it's merely another opposition group in Egypt - that should play a role in whatever comes next.
The Brotherhood has been banned in Egypt for decades, but still has a following. It is the largest and most organized opposition movement. In a 2005 parliamentary election, its candidates - running as Independents - won 20% of the seats.
The Muslim Brotherhood has been part of recent meetings about political reform in Egypt.
Its leaders insist they are not seeking power... saying they want to participate, but not dominate. The group also says it rejects a religious state.
But not everyone believes them - and for good reason. Critics point to proclamations of violence and connect the Brotherhood to terrorist groups like Hamas.
They say the Brotherhood doesn't believe in equality between Muslims and Christians... or between men and women.
The Jerusalem Post reports on a 1995 book called "Jihad is the Way" - written by a former head of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt.
The book details the group's goal of a global Islamic conquest. It suggests jihad is not only meant to fend off enemies, but to establish an Islamic state, strengthen the religion and spread it around the world.
It's easy to understand why some aren't so trusting of them.
Here’s my question to you: What role should the Muslim Brotherhood play in Egypt's future?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Health care law destined for scrap heap?
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
Except for some judges, the Republicans and some Democrats, President Barack Obama's health care reform law is very popular.
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Consider this:
A top Republican says the House is likely to vote next week to block funding for the president's signature law.
House Majority Leader Eric Cantor says it's expected to be an amendment during House debate on cutting at least $32 billion from the government's budget.
Although it's unlikely such a measure would make it through the Democratic-controlled Senate, it could still set the stage for another partisan showdown over health care. And it's not just Republicans who are questioning the scope of the health care law.
A group of moderate Senate Democrats is considering rolling back the individual mandate that requires everyone buy health insurance.
They haven't decided yet whether they'll propose legislation; but if they do team up with Republicans on this one, it could be a major embarrassment for the president.
Many of these moderate Democrats are up for re-election next year and represent states that Obama lost in 2008.
The controversial individual mandate has also been shot down by some judges. Most recently, a Florida federal judge ruled that the individual mandate is unconstitutional and that the whole health care law should be thrown out.
This could very well set up a Supreme Court challenge over health care, not to mention the two dozen other court challenges pending across the country.
Here’s my question to you: Is President Obama's health care law destined for the scrap heap?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
@jackcafferty on Twitter
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