The self-appointed censors in this society have struck again, attacking Texas Governor and presidential candidate George W. Bush for making statements seemingly favorable of the Nation of Islam on a Sunday news talk show.

Across the American political landscape Muslims of every description have often been made to appear as easy and open targets both domestically and internationally.

Even though some of the self-styled "terrorism experts" have been publicly discredited and forced to retract some of their false accusations against Muslims in various localities, like the proverbial "bad penny," they and their "Islamophobic" hate messages keep popping up in official, erstwhile "respectable" venues, as in testimony before Congressional committees.

On the other hand, whenever an Islamic spokesman is subjected to a fair examination by a mass-media outlet, those who would perennially bash Islam attack the news media outlet, reasoning that the news outlets are more susceptible to public intimidation. This is what happened in October 1998, when full-page advertisements were purchased to condemn NBC�s "Meet The Press" for interviewing the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan as a guest on that program. Now, following his appearance on "Fox-News Sunday" Governor Bush has been singled out.

"Is the Nation of Islam a faith-based organization?" program host Tony Snow asked Gov. Bush during an interview Jan. 30.

"I think it is. I think it�s based upon some universal principles," the Republican presidential front-runner replied. "It�s certainly not the religion I accepted. But I believe that the folks�the Muslims who accept, you know, love your neighbor like you�d like to be loved yourself, and whose hearts are set right to help a neighbor in need," he continued.

"So you wouldn�t mind having taxpayer money go to the Nation of Islam?" Mr. Snow interrupted. "Well, let�s make sure you understand something," Mr. Bush continued. "I don�t like taxpayer money to support any religion. What I like is taxpayers� money to support people who are seeking some kind of better answer to their lives. I don�t believe government ought to fund religion. I believe government can and should fund people who are trying to help, and programs that help change people�s lives."

Now comes Ira N. Forman, executive director of the National Jewish Democratic Council, who "excoriated (Governor) Bush for agreeing that under his charitable choice plan, the Nation of Islam would be able to provide various social services using tax dollars," according to a press release.

Sadly, Mr. Forman has either pre-judged the Nation of Islam without an examination of the practices of its God-fearing, self-respecting, law-abiding adherents or he is consciously a mischief maker.

In the same way as some whites, and even some American Jews in the past have quietly expressed their distaste for the "double standard" and "veiled censorship" that groups such as Mr. Forman�s have employed in condemning those who have given the Nation a balanced public evaluation, this latest attack should be similarly condemned and isolated for being just what it is: bigoted, divisive, and hypocritical.

The illogical conclusion to such irresponsible attacks by Muslim-bashers such as Mr. Forman, would be to elevate his sport to Olympic-medal-status, along with Frog-Jumping, and Watermelon-Seed-Spitting. Happily, however, such folly is not to be.