I would hope that there is no equivalency right now between the various organizations that your side has been talking about.

I mean, it is not a profound finding to say that a person can be an al-Qaeda terrorist with blue eyes.

But anyone listening to your questioning overseas, whether they are watching al-Jazeera or BBC or whatever they are watching, they would somehow think there were in this committee, in this Congress, on this side of the aisle who somehow suggest that terrorism is linked to a person's race, or gender, or height, is just wrong.

there are too many mosques in this country

This committee cannot live in denial... There is no equivalency of threat between al-Qaeda and neo-Nazis.

Muslim community leaders and religious leaders must play a more visible role in discrediting and providing alternatives to violent Islamist ideology.

I found it shocking and sad that the mainstream media accepted CAIR's accusations as if it were a legitimate organization.

Today's hearing will address this dangerous trend.

I am well aware that the announcement of these hearings has generated considerable controversy and opposition.

To back down would be a craven surrender to political correctness and an abdication of what I believe to be the main responsibility of this committee--to protect America from a terrorist attack.

Let me make it clear today, that I remain convinced that these hearings must go forward, and they will.