Keith Ellison may become Congress’s first Muslim

[Veiled Princess 1]

Keith Ellison may become Congress’s first Muslim

By Aaron Blake

With a fast-growing U.S. population estimated around 5 million, Muslims are increasing their voice in local and national politics every year. But thus far they haven’t had one of their own in a national position of power in Congress, the Cabinet or the Supreme Court.

He didn’t know it at the time, but Keith Ellison took a large step toward changing that earlier this month when he won the Democratic endorsement for the seat of retiring Rep. Martin Sabo (D-Minn.) in one of the safest Democratic districts in the country.

Ellison, a black Muslim, still faces a September primary challenge that could feature Sabo’s chief of staff, a former state Democratic party chairman. But he has already gotten closer than any other Muslim candidate in recent years and would be the first Muslim in Congress, according to several national Muslim groups.

He said that he’s not running on his religion and hasn’t thought much about what it would mean to be the first but that he sees the positives that could come from it. He would also be the first black congressman from Minnesota.

Ellison, who supports abortion rights, is calling for an immediate withdrawal of troops in Iraq because, he said, Iraqis and Americans both want them out and the war has cost too much. He disagrees with the route the House has taken on illegal immigration — turning “hardworking immigrants into felons” — and added that he supports a path to citizenship.

“I think it’s time for the United States to see a moderate Muslim voice, to see a face of Islam that is just like everybody else’s face,” Ellison said. “Perhaps it would be good for somebody who is Muslim to be in Congress, so that Muslims would feel like they are part of the body politic and that other Americans would know that we’re here to make a contribution to this country.”

Ellison is a 42-year-old two-term state representative who took the endorsement from a crowded field in surprisingly swift fashion at the 5th District’s Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party convention May 6. The district covers Minneapolis and some nearby suburbs.

Two other primary candidates skipped the convention, and Sabo Chief of Staff Mike Erlandson, whom the congressman endorsed, withdrew from the convention after being heckled and hasn’t yet said whether he’ll run in the primary. His campaign did not return phone calls.

David Schultz, a Minnesota politics expert at Hamline University in St. Paul, said Erlandson is Ellison’s top competition but will have a tough time making up lost ground.

“His strength has always been among the party leadership, if he had any strength whatsoever,” Schultz said. “And if you couldn’t get the endorsement with the party leadership, I don’t think he’s going to get it among the rank and file.”

According to the American Muslim Alliance, which supports Muslim candidates and educates Muslims about politics, four Muslims ran for Congress in 2004 — two for the Senate and two for the House. One was a Libertarian, and the other three lost in the primaries.

Overall, about 100 Muslims ran for public office in 2004, with close to half winning. One of them, a black Muslim Democratic state senator in North Carolina, is the highest-ranking Muslim elected official.

At least two others Muslims have run for the House this year, both in Texas. Republican Ahmad Hassan is a long shot running against Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas) in her Houston district, and Republican Amir Omar lost a primary in the Dallas district.

Agha Saeed, chairman of the American Muslim Alliance, said getting a Muslim in Congress would be a step forward, but he emphasized that it must not be tokenism and should be part of a larger shift toward inclusion of Muslims in American politics and life.

“One person is not going to make any change, unless that victory for the individual marks the beginning of a new attitude and a new approach,” Saeed said.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) is at the forefront of Muslim get-out-the-vote efforts nationwide. Spokesman Corey Saylor said CAIR put together substantial efforts in Ohio and Florida in 2004 and will broaden its scope in the upcoming midterms.

He said most of the progress in getting candidates elected has been on the local level but an Ellison victory would be a breakthrough.

“I think it would be huge, no questions asked — particularly for a community that feels very much like its presence in the United States is being questioned,” Saylor said. “This would be a tremendous assertion of the fact that we’re Americans and we’re just as interested in public service as anyone else, and here’s the proof — we have somebody in Congress.”

Saylor attributed the fact that there have been no Muslims in Congress to two things: The Muslim political movement in America is in its infancy, with the first groups having started less than two decades ago, and the lasting effects of Sept. 11 and the negative perceptions about Muslims that have resulted.

Ellison, who converted to Islam when he was 19 years old at Wayne State University in Detroit, said he doesn’t think district voters are afraid to vote for a Muslim, as long as they know he’s concerned about their welfare.

“My faith informs me. My faith helps me to remember to be gentle, kind, considerate, fair, respectful,” he said. “But I don’t make my faith something that other people have to deal with.”

The Hill

[I'm Gone 60]

See that's the way for your people to get things done the right way. You need to elect enough people to counteract the Israel influence on Congress.

Edited October 15, 2006 by mdyoung

[UmmSqueakster 54]

Just a little self centered moment - I live in the district next to the 5th, worship at the same masjid as and have met Br. Keith on several occasions

One thing that has been fantastic about this campaign is how it has brought together people of various backgrounds and faiths. The Minnesota Jewish community supports him, christian leaders have been out there for him, and the Muslim community does as well. A ton of Somalis have registered to vote and voted for the first time in the primaries for Keith. He's energized a lot of people.

Sure, he'll be the first muslim in congress, but more than that, he'll do a kick butt job representing the 5th, especially those in the 5th who don't feel contected to politics.

See that's the way for your people to get things done the right way. You need to elect enough people to counteract the Israel influence on Congress.

Methinks you haven't read his position in this issue.

[Sofiyya 1,687]

Performance and results are what impress me. I'll wait to see how he does, if he wins.

[I'm Gone 60]

Methinks you haven't read his position in this issue.

A person can say anything in campaign literature, but wouldn't you rather have a moderate Muslim than another Israel puppet?

[UmmSqueakster 54]

A person can say anything in campaign literature, but wouldn't you rather have a moderate Muslim than another Israel puppet?

I'm not a one issue voter While the Israel/Palestine issue is certainly one I look at, it's not the deciding factor for me.

It's the assumption that "oh, he's muslim, the only important issue is Israel" that irks me. One issue campaigns in general irk me.

And the assumption that it's "your people," which means that theres an "our people" and that we're not "everyone's people." A representative should do his best to represent all the people in his district. Keith isn't being elected to represent american muslims. He's being elected to represent the people of the 5th district of Minnesota, be they black, white, hispanic or asian, immigrant or born american, muslim, jew, christian, hindu, buddhist, or no faith at all.

Edited October 15, 2006 by rahma

[Sofiyya 1,687]

Well said, Rahma!

[Together4ever 1]

A person can say anything in campaign literature, but wouldn't you rather have a moderate Muslim than another Israel puppet?

I'm not a one issue voter While the Israel/Palestine issue is certainly one I look at, it's not the deciding factor for me.

It's the assumption that "oh, he's muslim, the only important issue is Israel" that irks me. One issue campaigns in general irk me.

And the assumption that it's "your people," which means that theres an "our people" and that we're not "everyone's people." A representative should do his best to represent all the people in his district. Keith isn't being elected to represent american muslims. He's being elected to represent the people of the 5th district of Minnesota, be they black, white, hispanic or asian, immigrant or born american, muslim, jew, christian, hindu, buddhist, or no faith at all.

Rahma, thank you for stating this. Eloquently put.

[Veiled Princess 1]

I honestly wouldn't vote for this guy myself... nothing to do with religion but because of his stance on some important issues for me. For instance, from what I've read, he supports gay marriage and the "rights" of women to kill babies. I also saw on an interview that he used to be a strong supporter of the NOI... I wouldn't vote for a klan member either

Mainly what I found interesting about the article is that he would be the first muslim in congress but I don't think anyone should rush out and vote for someone because they share the same religion in name.

[I'm Gone 60]

A person can say anything in campaign literature, but wouldn't you rather have a moderate Muslim than another Israel puppet?

I'm not a one issue voter While the Israel/Palestine issue is certainly one I look at, it's not the deciding factor for me.

It's the assumption that "oh, he's muslim, the only important issue is Israel" that irks me. One issue campaigns in general irk me.

Then what else would be important to you?

[Sofiyya 1,687]

I honestly wouldn't vote for this guy myself... nothing to do with religion but because of his stance on some important issues for me. For instance, from what I've read, he supports gay marriage and the "rights" of women to kill babies. I also saw on an interview that he used to be a strong supporter of the NOI... I wouldn't vote for a klan member either

Mainly what I found interesting about the article is that he would be the first muslim in congress but I don't think anyone should rush out and vote for someone because they share the same religion in name.

Also well said. I can't vote for or against him, but it's ALWAYS smart to check out their positions and not just vote in the affirmative because of race or religion and the like.

Edited October 15, 2006 by szsz

[Veiled Princess 1]

Then what else would be important to you?

Asked because Isreal is the only thing muslims around the world are concerned with??

[UmmSqueakster 54]

Then what else would be important to you?

Civil rights, civil liberties, economic positions, several foreign policy positions, support for the poor, Iraq, healthcare, unemployment, immigration, federal spending, taxes, the deficit, schools, universities, student loans, social security, military spending, just to name a few.

Edited October 15, 2006 by rahma

[Sofiyya 1,687]

I'm Palestinian and Israel isn't my first priority.

[I'm Gone 60]

Then what else would be important to you?

Asked because Isreal is the only thing muslims around the world are concerned with??

Well always saying Israel is shafting your people, so I would think you would have support of your people higher on your list than tax cuts or funding for education.

Edited October 15, 2006 by mdyoung