MN-05: Bush Stood With Muslim Ally Of Ellison
The current GOP attack line on Keith Ellison, the Dem candidate who's on track to become the first Muslim member of Congress, is to insinuate he is sympathetic to terrorism because of his connections to Nihad Awad, the executive director of the Council of American-Islamic Relations (CAIR). But guess what? President Bush himself has stood with Awad, describing him and other Muslim leaders as "good folks standing with me," who are "appalled and outraged" by terrorism. In the photo below, taken on Sept. 17, 2001 and posted on the White House web site, you can see Awad standing to the President's right.
More on this after the jump.
The guilt-by-association insinuation that Ellison is sympathetic to terrorism is being made by the Minnesota state GOP and a chorus of right-wing bloggers aiming to sink Ellison's candidacy. In essence, they charge that because Awad appeared at a fundraiser for Ellison and donated $2,000 to his campaign, Ellison should be held accountable for his views, especially a comment Awad made in 1994 which Awad's foes like to interpret as indicating his support for Hamas (though Awad's defenders say the remark was taken out of context).
Following Ellison's primary victory, state GOP chairman Ron Carey sent a letter to Republicans statewide accusing Ellison of trying to hide his backing from "a self-identified supporter" of Hamas.
But President Bush himself has described Awad in sympathetic terms. On Sept. 17, 2001, he stood with Awad, and presented him and others as people of Islam who oppose terrorism. Standing with Awad, Bush said:Like the good folks standing with me, the American people were appalled and outraged at last Tuesday's attacks. And so were Muslims all across the world. Both Americans and Muslim friends and citizens, tax-paying citizens, and Muslims in nations were just appalled and could not believe what we saw on our TV screens...
The face of terror is not the true faith of Islam. That's not what Islam is all about. Islam is peace. These terrorists don't represent peace. They represent evil and war.
In other words, the person who's supposed to prove that Ellison has some sort of ties to terrorists was held up by Bush as someone who believes that terror isn't the "true faith of Islam."
Sadly, this isn't really even about MN-05. Ellison will win this district easily. It's about republicans doing their best to smear Minnesota Democrats in general.
There is a close governors race, a not so close senate race, and other congressional races where this will get the anrgry/racist/anti-muslim people out to vote. One of my co-workers who actually lives in Wisconsin was ranting about Ellison. They are getting people worked up with this rhetoric.
It won't matter in the fifth, but it might in the first or sixth or in the governor's race.
September 19, 2006 3:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think it is about the 5th. Ellison was a polarizing figure in the primary. The Republicans are using this to try to drive down turnout in the 5th district for Democrats. While that may not hurt Ellison, low turnout in the 5th would have a serious impact for Democrats in statewide races.
Ellison has to have a response, not to care about Republicans, but to unite Democrats.
Certainly this latest attack is rather childish on the GOP's part, but that's usually the case.
September 19, 2006 5:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
I agree with Eric. It's not about the 5th. Ellison won at BOTH the endorsing convention and in the primary. The Volvo voters aren't going to stay home because Ellison is on their ballot because they've got Klobuchar lawn signs in their front yards. If anything, it gets some African Americans to the polls who are much less likely to vote normally.
But it will be used outside the 5th to stoke up the Michelle Bachman types. I still don't think it does much to impact turnout. You think Sabo ever turned anybody out to vote?
September 19, 2006 6:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
I totally agree. My fear is that other Dems in Minnesota will run away from the controversy, rather than hit back with a united and OUTRAGED front. Punch that bully right in the nose!!
September 19, 2006 7:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
The story continues to get more and more bizzare. Republicans continue to feign all of this concern about Ellison and his *gasp* anti-semitism! They cannot seem to say "Ellison" without mentioning "Farrakhan" in the next sentence. Even the token right-wing columnist at the StarTribune, Katherine Kersten has been recruited in the effort.
Notice the last two sentences? "The question of the hour is this: Is Ellison's DFL also the party of [senatorial candidate]Amy Klobuchar and [gubernatorial candidate]Mike Hatch? We have six weeks to find out."
Clearly, this smear campaign is directed at the all of the DFL as much as at Ellison himself.
Meanwhile, Ellison was endorsed by the The American Jewish World Newspaper here in Minneapolis.
Ellison isn't anti-semitic. He is Black and a Muslim, and therefore, perfect fodder for republicans to stoke the racism and anti-muslim sentiment that sadly exists in this state.
September 20, 2006 12:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
A united front? As a female registered democrat, I have zero intentions of voting for Ellison. I think the democratic party is making a huge mistake cramming this guy down our throats and honestly, you people posting here are as guilty. To me, the idea of Ellinson being the best candidate is getting confused with the desire to send a black muslim to congress. I thought both Junge and Mike were much better candidates. I voted for Mike. I have met him. He is a wonderful man. Obviously Ellison won. But I have yet to find someone who can tell me why they voted for him versus giving me excuses for his questionable past. I have heard other women tell me that they were mad at what they felt the Republicans were doing to this guy. They voted for him to spite the Republicans. How silly is that. I also have heard the racist card overplayed. Especially in this blog. Why does everyone who makes a negative comment towards this guy automatically get labeled a racist? Race has nothing to do with why I dislike him. And, if you knew me, you would immediately understand how I couldn't be labeled racist. I think by throwing out the race card you lessen its meaning. Clearly the people who I have talked to that have questioned Ellison were not racist. Seriously, on one post someone is calling an Ellison basher a racist and in the next sentence is bashing the President and our Govenor. Am I to assume that if either the President or our Governor were black that you no longer would be giving an opinion you would be acting like a racist? This is politics. People sling mud - BOTH SIDES. Now I agree that some of the things said about Ellison are mean spirited but again, it is no different than any of the words I use to describe Bush. Back to my point... One of the reasons I hate the Republicans is because they want you to believe what they believe and think what they think. This is why I think the entire Ellison as a candidate stinks. I dont want the Democratic party cramming a candidate down my throat because of their own personal agenda of it being "cool" to have this candidate. Ellison is questionable. His resume is weak. Parking tickets are silly but forgetting to pay taxes is something different. To blame your wife for the error smells rotten. Still if this was his only issue, I would be fine. He also has been all over the place trying to describe his religious beliefs. I have a hard enough time being raised Catholic and trying to ignore obvious slights they have towards women. I am one of those that read the DaVinci code and loved what they said about the Catholic church. However, being a woman and endorsing a candidate whose religion treats women as third class citizens sends warning lights off. You can worship a tree frog for all I care but you better treat the female tree frog with the same respect you treat the male tree frog. So, I will not be voting for Ellison. I wont vote for Fine either. Call me a racist is you feel the need but believe me, you have no idea how stupid you will look doing it.
September 20, 2006 5:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
Cartwa's troll comments are problematic on many fronts. 1) When someone says they aren't playing the race card, they're playing the race card. Race isn't about "cards." We should be beyond it and we're not. Race is a big factor in this race. The idea of a black Muslim in Congress is very scary to people who are racists and it's scary to cartwa despite what (s)he says. 2.) There is no such thing as a "registered Democrat" in Minnesota. When cartwa registered to vote in MN, (s)he was not asked for her party affiliation. 3.) Ellison's record in the Minnesota Legislature is impeccable. Check out his web site in the MN Legislature to see what he's done. His resume is not weak. I've known him professionally for over 10 years...In the Legislature, he's been one of the most prolific authors of legislation: http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/members/members.asp?district=58B
As an attorney, his reputation is stellar. The world of criminal defense lawyers in Mpls is small and reputations travel quickly. I know. I am one. I've been supporting Keith from the beginning of his campaign not because he is a Muslim and not because he is African American. I support him because he has a message and a powerful voice with which to say it. I am saddened that race and religion have dominated the race, but I have faith that his voice will prevail and he will win. Nice work TPM. Looks like Bush got the money shot with Awad. What will Kerstens say?
September 20, 2006 7:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
I don't see how you can say he was crammed down anyone's throat when he won at both the endorsing convention and in the primary inspite of the fact that he was not the heir apparent to Sabo.
I have two reasons to vote for him: he is for an immediate withdrawal from Iraq and he is for universal health care. He will be the only Democrat on the ballot with the guts to take those positions. That alone is enough for my vote.
September 20, 2006 7:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
I believe the above comment can be filed under Concern Troll.
Perhaps you could direct me to the place were one can "register" as a Democrat in Minnesota. As you surely know, living in the Fifth District, there is no party registration in Minnesota.
(*oops, I see this was already pointed out in a separate post by noshrub.)
Well, you have now. I voted for him because he is the most progressive candidate. I don't know him, but the people that I have talked to that do have good things to say about him. His record as a legislator is impressive.
If by questionable past you point to some angry letters to the Minnesota Daily and poorly managed finances, I would submit that a good deal of the practicing bar in this state has a "questionable past". I know I do.
September 21, 2006 12:31 PM | Reply | Permalink