"Is your name Mohamad?": barred from Bush dinner
Bush probably knew Mohamad wouldn't contribute to his " re-election" fund ....
Arab waiter barred from Bush dinner
Gary Younge in New York
Friday December 12, 2003
The Guardian
An Arab-American waiter who reported for work at a presidential fundraiser last Friday was sent home because the US secret service believed he posed a security risk.
Mohamad Pharoan, a Syrian-born Muslim who entered the US in 1992 and became a citizen in 1996, was supposed to serve lunch at a banquet where George Bush raised $1m (£575,000) for his re-election campaign. He was escorted from the Hyatt Regency hotel in Baltimore, where he has worked for seven years, after just one question from a manager: "Is your name Mohamad?"
After initially denying involvement, the secret service admitted it was responsible for sending Mr Pharoan home. The decision was not taken because he was Arab or Muslim, it said. A spokesman said: "The problems stemmed from confusion over a work schedule."
Mr Pharoan said the rota had been distributed a week in advance and his name had been supplied to the authorities for background checks.
Arab waiter barred from Bush dinner
Gary Younge in New York
Friday December 12, 2003
The Guardian
An Arab-American waiter who reported for work at a presidential fundraiser last Friday was sent home because the US secret service believed he posed a security risk.
Mohamad Pharoan, a Syrian-born Muslim who entered the US in 1992 and became a citizen in 1996, was supposed to serve lunch at a banquet where George Bush raised $1m (£575,000) for his re-election campaign. He was escorted from the Hyatt Regency hotel in Baltimore, where he has worked for seven years, after just one question from a manager: "Is your name Mohamad?"
After initially denying involvement, the secret service admitted it was responsible for sending Mr Pharoan home. The decision was not taken because he was Arab or Muslim, it said. A spokesman said: "The problems stemmed from confusion over a work schedule."
Mr Pharoan said the rota had been distributed a week in advance and his name had been supplied to the authorities for background checks.
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