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Shami calls White's political ads 'racist'

by Associated Press

Posted on February 5, 2010 at 12:11 AM

Updated Friday, Feb 5 at 11:47 AM

******

McALLEN, Texas -- A hair-care magnate running for the Texas
Democratic gubernatorial nomination says ads from his opponent take
a backhanded swipe at his ethnic roots.
  
Farouk Shami, a Houston businessman who was born a Palestinian
outside Jerusalem, says former Houston Mayor Bill White makes a
"racist" remark by talking about being born in San Antonio.

Shami made the comment at an event in McAllen Thursday night.
Shami was making his second stop in the Rio Grande Valley following
an earlier event in Brownsville. A spokeswoman for the White
campaign called Shami's comment "ridiculous."

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yomomma said on February 5, 2010 at 1:23 AM

HuH?

harley2 said on February 5, 2010 at 2:12 AM

shami get out of town we call you what we want

dragondad02 said on February 5, 2010 at 2:31 AM

Hey,,,does he have a legal birth certificate?

raymon said on February 5, 2010 at 2:46 AM

A Palestinian is going to be the Governor of Texas? Somebody is smoking some good stuff!

pancho said on February 5, 2010 at 3:15 AM

I'm born in Houston. Can I be the next President?

cinders said on February 5, 2010 at 5:58 AM

So what, Jesus was born in Bethlehem. Shami is just looking for a "handicap.'which may just backfire on him.

daisymay said on February 5, 2010 at 6:03 AM

What a fool! LOL. He's obviously confused, doesn't understand the language, and maybe he should just go back home. What makes a hair dresser think he has the credentials to be a governor? LOL!

daisymay said on February 5, 2010 at 6:06 AM

OMG! I just realized. White's name is WHITE! And he's WHITE! Maybe he IS racist? Lmao!!!!! Wonder what his fellow palestinian friends think of this mess.

dubie said on February 5, 2010 at 6:50 AM

shami sounds like he sniffing too much of his hair care products

freddy_snakeskin said on February 5, 2010 at 7:36 AM

So, should Bill White keep his birthplace a secret so as not to offend anyone? Perhaps he should also change his name to Bill Caucasian...

tomb2 said on February 5, 2010 at 7:46 AM

GREAT!! Another whiney loser complaining about his ethnicniciity, GO BACK WHERE YOU CAME FROM. This goes out TO ANYONE who feels they have been "wronged". People, you are living in Texas. SEND THEM ALL BACK.

cshook8 said on February 5, 2010 at 8:10 AM

any person running for a political office should not be allowed to use the word racist and have to pass a minimum IQ test.

justdad said on February 5, 2010 at 8:36 AM

Remember the commercials for Pace Picante Sauce? "...Hmmmm "Made by the good folks in San Antonio, Texas"..."This stuff is made in (Palastine)!! Somebody get a rope"...Hey folks, it's only a joke! ..Just like Mr. Shami's statement. It would seem he took it the wrong way...Would it be racisit if Mr. Shami had been born in say New Jersy? or Wyoming? Whatever statement Mr. White made, most likely was to say that he, himself, was "from Texas" period.

rich3910 said on February 5, 2010 at 8:48 AM

Another muslim trying to change our country!

georgecastillojr said on February 5, 2010 at 8:53 AM

Keep it American

kurtaz said on February 5, 2010 at 9:14 AM

Farouk is showing his ignorance. Sh*t like this makes me laugh! LOL

harleyman said on February 5, 2010 at 9:41 AM

This is all a mute issue, as neighther candidate is going to win. Go Republicans.

countrywoman said on February 5, 2010 at 9:49 AM

WHAT!!!! I don't fully follow this........

daisymay said on February 5, 2010 at 9:52 AM

justdad, what are you talking about?? The commercial said "New York City!" and there was no rope comment.

1usa1 said on February 5, 2010 at 9:59 AM

He's already tossing race cards?? HA! This is going to get good!

justdad said on February 5, 2010 at 10:15 AM

I stand corrected, It was New York City, however the "rope" comment was made. Jeez, it was a joke! Political correctness asside, Mr. Shami needs to accept the staement for what it meant, absolutly not about race, but about being a native Texan.

msyellarose1 said on February 5, 2010 at 10:15 AM

What too him so long? I thought he would have been screaming racism long ago.

etexman said on February 5, 2010 at 10:19 AM

No wonder this guy does not come right out and say where he is from on his website. He doesn't want to tell you he is Palestinian. I also notice on his website he tells nothing about his family. Why is that? What is he hiding? Things that make you go hmmmm. As much as I hate Rick Perry, if it comes down between Shami and Perry I will have to vote for Perry. I am not voting for this nut! I think Shami is a sham!

justdad said on February 5, 2010 at 10:21 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgrGyR6EYbY Daisymay, CASE CLOSED!

alankey said on February 5, 2010 at 10:31 AM

I thought Palestine WAS in Texas? ;)

redbone said on February 5, 2010 at 10:32 AM

Shami is drinking some very good stuff.

houstonative78 said on February 5, 2010 at 10:38 AM

so how was the ad racist?

houstonative78 said on February 5, 2010 at 10:38 AM

Shami = cry baby....

houstonative78 said on February 5, 2010 at 10:39 AM

take a cue from Obama....dont pull the racist card if your going for office. especially in TEXAS....

justdad said on February 5, 2010 at 10:57 AM

Who said the add was racist? The ad was clever, it made Pace what it is today. There was a series of these adds. I said it was a joke, just like Mr. Shami using the "race card".

dttr18 said on February 5, 2010 at 11:04 AM

Harleyman...please, please, please pick up a dictionary. mute??? neighther???

firedog said on February 5, 2010 at 11:11 AM

fight organized crime, re-elect no one.....

txoutlaw001 said on February 5, 2010 at 11:46 AM

wasn't born in Texas ,,but got here as soon as I could

surefoot1 said on February 5, 2010 at 12:11 PM

Wonder why this story only shown on KHOU?

firerescue91 said on February 5, 2010 at 1:21 PM

I wonder how long it will take quanell to jump on this? haha

1usa1 said on February 5, 2010 at 2:30 PM

This is the same guy that was wearing a scarf at an MLK Day event with: "Palestine" and "Jerusalem is ours" printed on it.

newslover said on February 5, 2010 at 2:39 PM

Last thing we need is a Muslim running Texas!

jjdoxy said on February 5, 2010 at 2:58 PM

So he was born in San Antonio? So what? If they would all stick to the issues, we voters would be a lot better off.

springbranchguy said on February 5, 2010 at 3:06 PM

Honestly Shami, you don't have a chance in hell! Drop out and donate what's left of the $10M you gave your own campaign to a worthy charity!

redwine said on February 5, 2010 at 3:27 PM

A hair dresser for governor? How can he take advantage of that. We need a home grown lawyer for governor to get the most out of his position.

surefoot1 said on February 5, 2010 at 3:32 PM

Anyone would be a 100% improvement over who is running it now. (Except Kay)

jkb451960 said on February 5, 2010 at 5:09 PM

Fouruk that! That boy aint from around here! And he will never win! Go Republicans!!!

cwilly01 said on February 5, 2010 at 7:44 PM

We cannot have a Governor from another country..... Simple as that. And we will not have one in this election.

jokeroo said on February 5, 2010 at 7:48 PM

Political Dissent is not racisum (although Shami thinks it is). Light travels faster than sound. That's why Shami appears bright until you hear him speak.

retiredtexan said on February 5, 2010 at 9:53 PM

The same idiots that voted for Obama just may vote for Shami,look out. Obama is not a citizen either and look what office he holds. I may add neither will get my vote.

icstupidpeople said on February 5, 2010 at 9:57 PM

I wonder.. i just wonder.. could Bill White go to Farouk Shami's country and run for office???? Where the hell do these foreigners get the nerve to come to OUR country and complain about ANYTHING?? Oh yeah, how silly of me.. we allow it. The fact that a foreign born person can come here and run for ANY kind of government office astonishes me! Would ANY of these other countries let Americans run for office or care if Americans were offended by them? Go back to making millions off of your hair spray and be glad you were even allowed in this country to make your money to begin with, you whiny loser! We don't want YOU as our governor.. this is TEXAS, not California!

snoopdawg said on February 6, 2010 at 12:06 AM

here we go again with the disgruntled jumping on the band wagon waving the racist card. i wonder how much could actually be accomplished if people would stop picking and distorting every statement made and making it a racist thing. get a life, probably, a job, too!

karoakequeen said on February 6, 2010 at 1:20 AM

SHAMI SHAMI SHAME SHAME ON YOU. You're just a whinny cry baby You can't brag that you're a native TEXAN but BILL WHITE can and you just can't stand it so you say he's a racist. BULL. Take your curling iron flatiron and stick it where the sun don't shine.

smile1 said on February 6, 2010 at 2:21 AM

He's grabbing for straws.

smile1 said on February 6, 2010 at 2:24 AM

Harleyman...it's "moot" and "neither". Darn I hate it that I'm so OCD or whatever it is that makes you crazy.

smile1 said on February 6, 2010 at 2:26 AM

Um. Bill White IS Caucasian. Big whoop. I'm SO for him that I am a Twitter. hahaah.

reverandjimmy said on February 13, 2010 at 3:39 PM

Going back to this "racist" ad from his opponent is both ignorant and hypocrtical from Shami from his recent statements that he works Hispanics because white people dont want to work!Did he know that in Texas that hispanics are the majority not the minority anymore?If hes so worried about White being racist why be racist yourself being that the majority of the United States is for equality?Its funny how far we havent come its kinda reversed racism we can fire Imus for his statement that wasnt racist it was sexist who was a ENTERTAINER but Chris Rock or Carlos Mancia can go on TV and pick on White people huh? Now we have a person that is running for political office who can make racist statements about white americans and who is still running and people still support him.Talk about adding fuel to the fire.Wheres the people that got Imus fired huh?How bout it Obama get him fired, that is a racist statement but thats ok just white people they dont deserve equality or fairness.