Egypt and the Muslim Brotherhood: the Left consistently gets things wrong

In early 2011, Ian Black, the Middle East Editor of the left-wing (UK) Guardian wrote on the Muslim Brotherhood:

Like other Islamist movements, its popularity is based on a reputation for not being corrupt and charity work in clinics, nurseries and after-school tutoring. Volunteers fill gaps left by a state that has seen illiteracy rise

and services fail as liberal economic reforms enriched businesses close to the regime. . . .

Nowadays it eschews violence and is attacked by al-Qaida for urging young Muslims to vote in elections instead of taking up jihad. [Emph. added]

 Now, in 2013, this group, which was supposed to focus on "charity" and to "eschew violence," has ripped Egypt apart with violence that has left 900 dead in just the last four days.

For his part, Pres. Obama is still siding with the Muslim Brotherhood.

RELATED: Back in 2002, Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) praised Osama bin Laden's charity work in similar terms:

We've got to ask, why is this man [Bin Laden] so popular around the world... He's been out in these countries for decades, building schools, building roads, building infrastructure, building day-care facilities, building health care facilities, and the people are extremely grateful.

As far as I know, no reporter ever asked her to explain why Islamist extremists, given their view of women's rights, would be "building day-care facilities."