Clash of standards.

The Islamic Mufti of Australia - speaking from Egypt - has suggested that he might contest the seat in parliament presently held by the Premier of New South Wales, Morris Iemma.
The Mufti - who seems to suffer from verbal diarrhora most of the time - may have been surprised when the Premier welcomed the challenge.
The Mufti has since back tracked. He is now saying that a Muslim may be the candidate - not necessarily him.
Iemma has pounced on the offer, suggesting that Al Hilaly has demonstrated by his various utterances that he dislikes Australia and he specially dislikes Australians. It would be an ideal opportunity to test his support if he stands at the March 24 poll.
The Mufti is unlikely to rise to that challenge. The seat of Lakemba is solidly Labor and Iemma has a huge voting margin. The Mufti must be aware that a sizeable portion of the Australian Muslim community considers him an embarrassment and strongly disagrees with his views. If he stands - and if the voting response is a miserable trickle of fundmentalists - then he is finished as a leader in this country.
Even his supporters seem lukewarm. Al Hilaly has done more than any other person to drive a wedge between Islam and mainstream Australia. He has sat astride his high horse and made proclamations that do not necessarily have the support of Muslims generally. Now he has talked himself into a corner and must either lose face - or face the acid test at the ballot box.