Since you guys plan to air it, I'm guessing there weren't as many fireworks as there could have been....

Sorry to disappoint you, Tommy. The knife fight took place in the parking lot after the taping.  Actually, It felt pretty heated to me on the set. I'm not interested in staging a shouting match and if someone walks out in anger, then the show's over.  If you can't check it out Sunday, we always stream the show at http://www.abcactionnews.com/content/segments/flashpoint/default.aspx
Let me know what you think.

His hair?

Is it any wonder why I no longer watch TV?

Funny thing Randy, this isn't TV, it's a blog.  I think this ought to be interesting.

CAIR is a terrorist supported and associated Hamas affiliate.
see: http://ibdeditorial.com/IBDArticles.aspx?id=273453355481549

Why are you bothering with them?

Didn't know about this until I saw the opener of your show.
Keller is pathetic, but your show deserves credit for doing the topic.
Now I know who Keller is - and can judge his supporters appropriately.
I also know what 'Flashpoint' is - and can keep an eye on it.

This "preacher", Bill Keller, is a racist and homophobic bigot.  Giving him an infomercial is like giving the KKK an infomercial.  There is a white-supremicist, antisemitic group called Christian Identity that is very similar in tone to this preacher.

Clear winner:  Ahmed Bedier.  Mr. Keller's speech is hateful.  Better evangelists promote their religion positively without denigrating others.  

freedom of speech     why are these people (islamic )taking away our freedom takin away our rights /changing our country / the man you have on your program has not denied the threats and statements by his islamic heads to kill americans ....none of them have stood up to show that they are differant from // they censor our country they sue the amercas for being different // check into how they changed the UK and now one country at a time /////

Why doesn't Mr. Bedier raise the money and have his own paid programming show? You know, opposing view, instead of removing another view? Think about it ...

I think Bill Keller is a disgusting man he gives Christians a bad name.  He is a close-minded brainwashed man and I feel sorry for him and his beliefs!!!!!  Everything he says is HIS interpretation.  He makes me sick!!!!

Sir,
    I just watched your show for the first time and I couldn't turn away.  I was riveted.
However, I don't think you were objective.  You were clearly biased toward the terrorists when all Bill Keller stated on his program were the facts.  I am not religious. I don't care for Christians or toilet paper haters (Muslims).  All I care about are the facts.  Mohammad WAS  a pedophile, look it up.  CAIR IS a terrorist organization, that is a fact. One more thing, why would you take the side of a group of people who hate toilet paper.  I spent a year all over the Middle East and did you know that the only toilet paper is in Israel?  Can you believe that?  How can you be in the year 2007 and not have toilet paper?  I think all religious people are weak minded, but I will support the Jews in Israel who have toilet paper and not the cavemen terrorists in the surrounding terrorist  countries.  Thank You for your time.  
                       -----------charles

    It's funny how people who don't read the Bible, love to debate with others who read and live the Bible everyday.  I think  Mr. Mclaughin was prejudice and took sides against Mr. Keller from the beginning.  If you go to these Islamic countries that were founded on Islam, you would lose your head or a limb if you spoke of another religion other than Islam. These people do not wait for the afterlife,  they judge and punish you in the here and now.  So why should a preacher who lives in a country that was founded on Christian beliefs, have to defend himself like this.  It's because of people like Mclaughlin who willingly omit the facts in order to be popular with the ever surging popualrity and power base of Islam.

As a Christian woman, I am apalled by the hateful venum spewed from Keller's mouth.  He reminds me of the old southern Christians who sang hymns in their pews in church on Sunday after donning their white hoods, burning crosses and lynching African Americans on Saturday.

Spreading hate and intolerance through the church is the opposite of Jesus' teachings.  I do not believe that Keller is a true Christian.  I think that he is an extremist bigot; a wolf in sheep's clothing.  God must be weeping over what is being said and done in His name.  

Ahmed Badier handled Keller's hate mongering better than I would have.

You and the muslim did a good job of ganging up on Keller. You'd be a credit to the muslims. I've never watched his program, but I do know that Jesus of the Bible, the true and living word of GOD says, no one comes to the Father except through me. I wonder why america tries to censer GOD's word all the time. Probably because we don't want to hear the truth. The way it seems to me Bendan, You could use a good dose of the truth.

Get to know Jesus by reading the Bible not by little bits and pieces you may have heard along lifes way.  Deny his gift of eternal life through Jesus if you like, but don't hate the people who are letting you know what God will do if you deny his gift.  Religion or beliefs or views don't save, only Jesus.  Being nice and tolerant doesn't save you either.  Satan can appear as an angel of light.  People judge but don't have final judgement, so why waste your time worrying about what people think or say, find out what God thinks and says by reading the Bible.  Brendan, are you just doing your job or are you glad Keller was there to say the things you wished you could say but might lose your job?  The Bible is clear everyone is not going to Heaven.  God does love everyone but he also judges everyone.  You are judged by either your own works which are all as filthy rags or by your belief in Jesus which makes you as white as snow.  Read the Holy Bible and you will find these statements in there context.

why does your liberal news station continue to ignore the real threat here in america?Muslims attacked us on 9/11 and they will do it again if we don't stand up to them.with that being said "what happened to our rights as americans" to be proud of our country,and religion.God has been taken out of our schools.But yet muslims are allowed to pray and have feet soaks when they come through door.When did we get so weak? maybe its this P C culture we live in! and the fact is muslims aren't all bad just most of them!!!!!!!
im a red blooded american that supports the war and the silencing of any terroist threats be it war or a terroist support group cair     go back to your own country if you don't like it here.Oh yeah your own people would murder you for no reason other than they don't like you,so the next time you get uncomfortable with what a american says remember 9/11 never again will you hurt us the same way.

  My goodness! It's hard to even know where to start. First of all, I am deeply ashamed for what is happening to our country. Because of the good will of Americans wanting to be kind and fair to everyone, the terrorists of the Middle East are slowly getting what they want. Slowly but surely, the core values upon which our great country was founded are falling apart. No longer is freedom of speech of any importance. Since when is America the kind of place that would pull Christian programming off the air because it offended some Muslims? There are bathhouses in some of the public schools in Michigan for Muslims to wash themselves for prayer, yet we're abolishing 'GOD' from The Pledge of Allegiance!
  Second of all, I am deeply ashamed of you, Brendan McLaughlin. How can  you possibly call yourself an American? Defending a person who wants to restrict our right to free speech simply because it goes against what he believes. It's utterly outrageous! Bill Keller is only sharing his views, and as he said, "If you don't want to hear what I believe or you don't like what I'm saying- that's what we have remotes for- change the channel." And you, Brendan, argued that if that was the case then we could have pornography on public broadcasting as well. Comparing the programming of 'Live Prayer with Bill Keller' and pornography? Now that's just tasteless.
  I have never been a loyal viewer of Bill Keller's program, but I support his right to free speech. Especially on Christianity, the religion on which our country was founded. Muslims were not involved in the establishing of America, they were however involved in the terrorists acts at the World Trade Center in 2001. I don't think we need to protect the Muslims from hearing about Christianity. If you don't like it, as Bill Keller said, "Change the channel." And as I, and many other fellow Americans would say, " If you don't like it, go back to your own country and you won't have to deal with it."
  After watching this flashpoint program, my husband called to speak with your news station and was hung up on at least three times, then was threatened and told that he had no right to call. He was told that his opinion as an American citizen didn't matter.
  I am outraged at the way your news station handled this story. Putting the feelings of Muslims ahead of Americans right to the freedom of speech. I am very happy to have found out exactly what type of station you are, and the type of reporters you hire. I will no longer support your station. However, I do intend to inform everyone I know and everyone I meet exactly where your news station (and its employees) stand on the issue of Americans rights vs. Muslim rights.
 

Just finished watching the show & reading all of these "enlightened" comments. Once again we have another "christian" (showing a loving concern for others; humane; human; not brutal) evangelist condemning the rest of humanity to eternal Hell & Damnation & using the Bible to justify their own hate, bigotry, intolerance & xenophbia. Ones' interpretation of the Bible has a lot to do with ones' own personal prejudice & bias. Just when you think you've gotten rid of one Bible thumper (Jerry Falwell, James Kennedy) another one pops up to take their place. It's like trying to kill the many headed Hydra of Greek mythology (the stench from the Hydra's breath was enough to kill man or beast (in other versions it was a deadly venom). No wonder it's called Hate Speech. As far as Judith Gordon's comment (cheap shot) about CAIR being a terrorist funded organization & the link to an Investors Business Daily editorial just be aware of the source; which can also be said of Bill Keller.  Everybody has a right to their opinion but it should be founded in FACTS & not just faith or ignorance (that is why that particular period in European history was called THE ENLIGHTENMENT). I've include some articles & letters from the N.Y. Times for those who wish to be better informed:                                                                 N.Y. Times, August 16,2007                                                                          Two prominent Muslim American organizations took steps yesterday to reverse what they called a Justice Department effort to smear the entire Muslim community by naming some of its largest organizations as unindicted co-conspirators in a Texas terrorism trial.

The National Association of Muslim Lawyers, which is not named, sent a letter to Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales objecting to the list, which it said breached the department's own guidelines against releasing the names of unindicted co-conspirators and did not serve any clear law enforcement purpose.


The letter, also signed by the National Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys, said the ''overreaching list'' of more than 300 organizations and individuals would further cripple charitable donations to Muslim organizations and could ratchet up the discrimination faced by American Muslims since the Sept. 11 attacks.
      ''Most people don't understand what an unindicted co-conspirator is,'' said Parvez Ahmed, CAIR's board chairman, adding that the release of the list prompted death threats and hate mail against the council. ''They think that being related to a terrorism case means we are terrorists.''
      Those on the list have not been charged with anything, but they are concerned that the label of unindicted co-conspirator will forever taint them, particularly if the Holy Land group is convicted, and that they will have no legal recourse.
      The prosecution, while acknowledging that the list was unusually long, maintained that the names of the organizations would have come up in the trial anyway. Defense lawyers accused the Justice Department of using the list to create the aura of a vast conspiracy where none existed.
                                                                                                                   We Condemn Terror

Published: February 4, 2003

To the Editor:

In a Jan. 30 news article describing an attempt by pro-Israel activists to remove a Muslim representative from the New York City Human Rights Commission, you write that ''some experts on the Middle East have said that the Council on American Islamic Relations has links to terrorist groups.'' (The Muslim representative serves as legal counsel to CAIR.)

CAIR, a mainstream national Muslim organization, has issued statements condemning terrorism in all its forms.

We condemned the 9/11 attacks, suicide bombings in the Middle East, the killing of the journalist Daniel Pearl, church bombings in Pakistan, the murder of missionaries in Yemen, as well as other terrorist incidents perpetrated by those claiming to act in the name of Islam.

IBRAHIM HOOPER
Natl. Communications Dir., Council
on American Islamic Relations
Washington, Jan. 30, 2003

N.Y. Times, March 14,2007

The group, the Council on American-Islamic Relations, defines its mission as spreading the understanding of Islam and protecting civil liberties. Its officers appear frequently on television and are often quoted in newspapers, and its DIRECTOR HAS MET WITH PRESIDENT BUSH. (my capatilization)

Yet a debate rages behind the scenes in Washington about the group, commonly known as CAIR, its financing and its motives. A small band of critics have made a determined but unsuccessful effort to link it to Hamas and Hezbollah, which have been designated as terrorist organizations by the State Department, and have gone so far as calling the group an American front for the two.

In the latest confrontation yesterday, CAIR held a panel discussion on Islam and the West in a Capitol meeting room despite demands by House Republicans that Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat, not allow the event. The Republicans called its members ''terrorist apologists.''

There were no charges linked to CAIR in any of the cases involved, and law enforcement officials said that in the current climate, any hint of suspicious behavior would have resulted in a racketeering charge.


CAIR and its supporters say its accusers are a small band of people who hate Muslims and deal in half-truths. Ms. Boxer's decision to revoke the Sacramento commendation provoked an outcry from organizations that vouch for the group's advocacy, including the American Civil Liberties Union and the California Council of Churches.

''They have been a leading organization that has advocated for civil rights and civil liberties in the face of fear and intolerance, in the face of religious and ethnic profiling,'' said Maya Harris, the executive director of the A.C.L.U. of Northern California.

Government officials in Washington said they were not aware of any criminal investigation of the group. More than one described the standards used by critics to link CAIR to terrorism as akin to McCarthyism, essentially guilt by association.

''Of all the groups, there is probably more suspicion about CAIR, but when you ask people for cold hard facts, you get blank stares,'' said Michael Rolince, a retired F.B.I. official who directed counterterrorism in the Washington field office from 2002 to 2005.

Outreach to all Muslims via groups they support is an important aspect of ensuring that extremists cannot get a foothold here as they have in Europe, Mr. Rolince said.

When the Southern California chapter threw itself a birthday party last November, nearly 2,000 people packed the Anaheim Hilton's ballroom to hear guests of honor praise the organization, including J. Stephen Tidwell, the director of the F.B.I.'s Los Angeles office.

''I am very excited to be here,'' Mr. Tidwell told a reporter covering the fund-raiser for an Arab-American television news channel, calling CAIR ''an important bridge for the F.B.I. into the Muslim, Arab-American community.''

I didn't see this program yesterday as I was in my church freely worshipping my God.  This is in response to Megan who states she is a Christian while spewing venom against Bill Keller.  Also as a Christian woman, she should know that we, as Christians, do not have the right to judge one another.  Only God knows what is in Bill Keller's heart and God will judge whether or not he is a Christian.  I personally think we are under attack by the radical Muslims and are being held captive in our own country.  There is only one true God and his name is not allah.

Unbelievable that this ex-con jackass is back on the air.

i think bill keller should have the flashpoint time slot, the truth would be so refreshing...

I watched the show and found the first segment with the evangelist and the Muslim representative a brave presentation for you to air.  I find it wonderful that two opposing views can be presented on the air in our community and our country.  It is ironic that such views cannot be expressed in those countries where Islam is the state religion.  My God loves all humankind and I haven't found anyone yet that is in a position to judge who goes where in an afterlife.  Thanks Brendan for insuring that Sunday mornings have a constant source of relevant, interesting and courageous programming.  Finally, as one with ALS, I applaud you and all your colleagues and your station for running the MDA Telethon each year.  My God blesses each one of you.

To Betty,

"Also as a Christian woman, she should know that we, as Christians, do not have the right to judge one another."

So...are you saying that is it okay to promote hate and bigotry against anyone as long as the human beings we are judging aren't Christians?  My understanding of God's teachings is that we should love one another.  We should love our neighbor.

If Bill Keller is indeed a true Christian, he will seek forgiveness from God, the Muslim community, and anyone else that he has inflicted his intolerance and bigotry upon.

Extremists attacked us on 9-11 and extremists in the Whitehouse are trying to stomp on the U.S. Constitution.  The U.S. Constitution and the Separation of Church and State have protected us from becoming a Theocracy instead of a Democracy.  Freedom of religion is something we should protect and respect.  

Yes, as a Christian woman, I do not promote hate against any other race or religion.

I have not been formally intoduced to Ahmed Badier but I would welcome the opportunity to shake his hand and show him that Christians and Muslims can live together in peace and friendship.

 

Betty Campell said: "I personally think we are under attack by the radical Muslims and are being held captive in our own country."

How can you believe that you are being "held captive" in our own country, if you were comfortably in your church, as you said above, "freely worshipping [your] God"? The U.S. has a predominantly Christian population by a HUGE majority (80-90 percent, figures vary based on polling), yet many such as you go about with the artificial "persecution" complex. It is hard to consider oneself as religiously "persecuted" when you are surrounded by a huge majority who practice your own faith.

You are correct in that a relative handful of delinquents in what is the fastest growing religion in the world are "radical" and mean to harm Western civilization, but Mr. Ahmed Bedier is not one of them. Most Muslims want the same things we who were raised as Christians do--to raise our children, to educate them and prepare them for life as adults; to live, work, and make a living in peace; and to find enjoyment with our friends, family, neighbors, and worship communities.

People like Mr. Bill Keller would rather disrupt this peacefulness by tainting the whole bushel with a few bad apples in the Muslim community. If his over-generalizing assertions were correct, by his logic, would ALL Christians be abortion-clinic-bombing, physician-murdering terrorists like Eric Rudolph? I don't think so, and I feel decent, peace-loving Christians would agree.

As Megan points out, let's learn to live together and walk with our brothers and sisters in peace and friendship, in spite and in fact, because of our rich, complex theological differences. It's what Jesus Christ would want us to do.

    In response to Mr. Geoffrey C Gibbons sarcastic statement of "another christian  showing love and kindness towards others"  is another example of people ignoring the facts and saying what they feel.  I think we forget the things we see on TV and here in the news everyday regarding Muslims who call America and our President Satan.  These people people will not stop until this country is under their feet and being naive about this fact will bring us to the same situation we had to endure during 9/11.  The FBI and CIA knew that something was coming, but sat around until it was too late. They did not want to seem like bigots or be accused of racial profiling so these so called "peaceful people"  were allowed to carry out their mission.  I fail to see why everyone who has commented against Bill Keller, calling him a "hate monger" and a "bigot"  has not mention one hateful saying or act that these "So-called" peaceful Muslims stands for.  If these people are so peaceful, and diverse, how come they continue to talk "hatred and death" to America?  Why do they teach their young boys and girls to blow themselves up while killing innocent people in the process.   How come people are not protesting against Islamic religion for not having openly gay and *** members?  No one is trying to change the Muslim faith and what they believe, but everyone wants the Christians to change their faith to suit the rest of the world.   Now Mr. Gibbons, who is Irish-Catholic, wants to talk about  love concering others, has forgotten about the love Catholics and Protestants showed each other in Ireland when both religions continuously bombed each other and killed alot of innocent people to make their statement. These "peaceful"  Muslims  have terrorized Engalnd and the rest of the world and have made good on their threats to attack the United States.  Several attempts to cause harm in the United States  by these "loving and peaceful " people have been thwarted by law enforcement thanks to good intel.  I would challlenge anyone not to go by what you have heard others say  about the Bible, but read the Bible for YOURSELF and you will see that Bill Keller was only standing up for what the Bible says and not just his interpretaion of the Bible.  In regards to Megan's comments about being a christian and judging Bill Keller.  Megan needs to be very careful what she says about God's servant.  Jesus Christ came preaching the truth and was called a devil and a mad man.  She should know that Jesus was verbally persecuted and killed for speaking the truth during a sinful time when people did not want to here the truth. They did not realize who he was until it was too late.  The same is true in this day and time.  The people of this country will not realize the truth Bill Keller is preaching until it is too late. Jesus said in the book of John 15:20 "The servant is not greater than his Lord.  If they have hated and persecuted me they will also hate you"!  This Censorship will not stop with Bill Keller, but will continue to spread accross America Thanks to loyal and objective Americans like Mr. Mclaughlin!   I thank Bill Keller for being the man who stands up for what he believes and not bowing down to the ridicule he faced on a show that is clearly anti-Christian and pro- Muslim.  He did not try to appease the Muslims or Mr. Mclaughlin!!

Brendan,  
   Sir, do you really want me to run down the long list of U.S. Congressmen who have stated on the Senate floor that CAIR is a terrorist organization?  Do you really want me to list the many former CAIR workers that are presently in jail due to ties to Hamas and other terrorist organizations?  If you really want me to, I will.  I would rather you research it for yourself.  I have legitimate sources for my contentions like Senate transcripts, and arrest and conviction papers.  What are your sources?  I will gladly change my mind if you present me with the evidence, for again, I am not religious at all.  I only care about the truth and the truth is I haven't seen any evidence that shows that CAIR is not a terrorist organization.  Thank you.

Judith Gordon said:
CAIR is a terrorist supported and associated Hamas affiliate.
see: http://ibdeditorial.com/IBDArticles.aspx?id=273453355481549

Why are you bothering with them?
September 2, 2007 9:09 AM

Judy, your assumptions are totally invalid, bigoted, and disgusting.

disgusted viewer said:
 My goodness! It's hard to even know where to start. First of all, I am deeply ashamed for what is happening to our country. Because of the good will of Americans wanting to be kind and fair to everyone, the terrorists of the Middle East are slowly getting what they want. Slowly but surely, the core values upon which our great country was founded are falling apart. No longer is freedom of speech of any importance. Since when is America the kind of place that would pull Christian programming off the air because it offended some Muslims? There are bathhouses in some of the public schools in Michigan for Muslims to wash themselves for prayer, yet we're abolishing 'GOD' from The Pledge of Allegiance!
 Second of all, I am deeply ashamed of you, Brendan McLaughlin. How can  you possibly call yourself an American? Defending a person who wants to restrict our right to free speech simply because it goes against what he believes. It's utterly outrageous! Bill Keller is only sharing his views, and as he said, "If you don't want to hear what I believe or you don't like what I'm saying- that's what we have remotes for- change the channel." And you, Brendan, argued that if that was the case then we could have pornography on public broadcasting as well. Comparing the programming of 'Live Prayer with Bill Keller' and pornography? Now that's just tasteless.
 I have never been a loyal viewer of Bill Keller's program, but I support his right to free speech. Especially on Christianity, the religion on which our country was founded. Muslims were not involved in the establishing of America, they were however involved in the terrorists acts at the World Trade Center in 2001. I don't think we need to protect the Muslims from hearing about Christianity. If you don't like it, as Bill Keller said, "Change the channel." And as I, and many other fellow Americans would say, " If you don't like it, go back to your own country and you won't have to deal with it."
 After watching this flashpoint program, my husband called to speak with your news station and was hung up on at least three times, then was threatened and told that he had no right to call. He was told that his opinion as an American citizen didn't matter.
 I am outraged at the way your news station handled this story. Putting the feelings of Muslims ahead of Americans right to the freedom of speech. I am very happy to have found out exactly what type of station you are, and the type of reporters you hire. I will no longer support your station. However, I do intend to inform everyone I know and everyone I meet exactly where your news station (and its employees) stand on the issue of Americans rights vs. Muslim rights.
September 2, 2007 1:20 PM

HEY DISGUSTED VIEWER...IF THIS IS HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT THE SHOW, WHY DID YOU TUNE ANYWAY? CHANGE THE CHANNEL IF YOU DON'T LIKE WHAT YOU SEE. BY THE WAY, THIS IS AMERICA THE MELTING POT RICH IN DIVERSTY. IF YOU CAN NOT ACCEPT OTHERS FOR WHO THEY ARE, MAYBE YOU SHOULD MOVE TO ANOTHER COUNTRY.

All this talk about all Muslims being associated with terrorist makes me sick to my stomach. Sometimes I see Christians being terrorists themselves such as David Corrish, or Jim Jones. Go to this website and you will see just a example of what I am saying.
www.godhatesfags.com