Rep. Peter King, chairman of he House homeland security committee, defended his controversial hearing on Muslim radicalization Thursday.
   King, a New York Republican, told House colleagues that backing down "would be acraven surrender to political correctness and an abdication of what Ibelieve to be the main responsibility of this committee-- to protectAmerica from a terrorist attack."
   King, who arrived at 8:45 am did not take questions from the media,which filled the galley as the House members prepared to hold the hearing.Opponents have protested the hearings this past week, comparingKing's hearing to Joe McCarthy's anti-Communist witch hunts. King said in his opening statement thathe would not be deterred and those testifying are family members ofradicalized Muslims.
   "Despite what passes for conventional wisdom in certain circles, there is nothing radical or un-American in holding these hearings," Kind said. "Indeed, Congressional investigation of Muslim American radicalization is the logical response to the repeated and urgent warnings which the Obama Administration has been making in recent months."