Ellison is first Muslim elected to Congress

[almaty 19]

Democrat Keith Ellison comfortably won the race for the 5th District U.S. House seat, beating both the Independence Party and Republican candidates by around 30 points. Ellison campaigned heavily against the war in Iraq and has put environmental and health care issues at the top of his list of priorities. Ellison is the first Muslim to be elected to Congress.

Minneapolis — There was little election-night drama at Trocadero's nightclub in downtown Minneapolis, where the Ellison campaign celebrated his victory. The race was being called in his favor just minutes after the polls closed, just about the same time Ellison walked into the club.

By the time Ellison climbed on stage for a green-and-white balloon drop, the television screens on the walls were showing the results of the race.

"We had our ups. And we've had some downs, but mostly we've had the ups; isn't that right?" Ellison told the crowd.

Alan FineEllison won the DFL endorsement this spring. But soon after Ellison's history of unpaid parking tickets and unpaid back taxes became public. Some of his opponents for the primary criticized Ellison's mistakes.

Ellison won the DFL primary but found himself the target of aggressive criticism of Republican candidate Alan Fine. Late last week, Fine's campaign mailed out literature that attempted to link him to Louis Farrakan's Nation of Islam and claimed Ellison praises cop killers and gang members.

Ellison told his supporters that he wanted to take the high road during the campaign.

"I want you to know that in this campaign, that not only did I say or do no wrong to no opponent I ever had (applause). No one on our campaign staff did that. None of our donors did that. None of you did that," he said.

Ellison's other major opponent was Independence Party candidate Tammy Lee. Lee ran as a social progressive and fiscal moderate. She stressed balanced budgets as well as opposition to the war in Iraq. And Lee says she'll likely continue to push for fiscally responsible government.

Tammy Lee"Whether it's involved in party politics, or I go back into the business world. Whatever happens after tonight, it's the right agenda and it's the right message and I will continue to champion that cause," she said.

While the 5th District has long been considered a safe Democratic seat, the race has drawn attentionm for another reason: Ellison was raised Catholic, but converted to Islam after graduating from high school. He is the first Muslim ever elected to U.S. Congress. Some of Ellison's Muslim supporters say they hope he can help bridge some of the divide between Muslims and non-Muslims in America. But others, like Adeeba Al-Zaman, says there's more to Ellison than his religion.

"I'm not supporting him because he's a Muslim or because he's a minority. I'm supporting him because of his values and the issues that he stands for," he said.

Al-Zaman didn't vote for Ellison because she's from Philadelphia. But she's been following his campaign from afar, and decided to come to Minneapolis for the Ellison's victory party because she says she wanted to part of a historic moment.

"I'm just so proud of his image and his vision and his platform. So that's what I've been hearing. He's standing for these issues that I as a Philadelphian can support and as a Muslim woman can support. So that's why I'm here."

As Ellison leaves for Washington, he also leaves the state House seat he represented for two terms. He will be succeeded by political newcomer Augustine Willie Dominguez, a DFLer and Latino community activist.

[AnaAndDaniel 0]

i wish him well.

Daniel

:energetic:

[UmmSqueakster 54]

*shameless brag time* I was there

[one...two...tree 2,762]

"I want you to know that in this campaign, that not only did I say or do no wrong to no opponent I ever had (applause). No one on our campaign staff did that. None of our donors did that. None of you did that," he said.

Maybe he'll run for President someday?

[almaty 19]

amen brother steven..............

[Ban Hammer 13,335]

"I want you to know that in this campaign, that not only did I say or do no wrong to no opponent I ever had (applause). No one on our campaign staff did that. None of our donors did that. None of you did that," he said.

Maybe he'll run for President someday?

great idea.......

-in 1989, (he wrote) one column defended Louis Farrakhan against charges of antisemitism

-a 1990 article (of his) suggested the creation of a state for black residents

-In 1998 during his Minnesota State Legislature House campaign, as Keith Ellison-Muhhammad he said he had an affiliation with the Nation of Islam, and "rejected anti-Jewish attitudes".

-Ellison accepted thousands of dollars from Nihad Awad and other leaders of CAIR (Many conservatives and Jewish groups say CAIR is rooted in the Hamas movement and that its leaders also secretly support Hezbollah in Lebanon)

-his driver's license was suspended for failure to pay multiple tickets and fines. When asked how many times his license has been suspended, he said, "I don't know how many prior suspensions I've had; I don't keep count."

-Ellison also failed to pay all or part of his income taxes five separate years, forcing the state and IRS to put liens on his home. He later paid back-taxes in excess of $18,000

-In early 2006, the Minnesota State Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board reprimanded Ellison for unreported contributions, discrepancies in cash balances, and misclassified disbursements.

-a Minnesota woman who claims she had an on-and-off sexual relationship with Ellison for the past 12 years has filed for a restraining order against him.

sounds like the same old stuff to me

link

Edited November 8, 2006 by charlesandnessa