Thursday, September 14, 2006

 

"They Multiply Like Rabbits"

If Keith Ellison has done nothing else in his decade-plus political career, he's flushed the inherent and barely-hidden racism of the Republican Party, both locally and nationally, right to the surface where everyone can see just how toxic and ugly it is. Hunter over at DailyKos catches Republicans at the TownHall forums talking amongst themselves about Ellison. Be amazed at how they drop the nice polite code-speak they must adopt when out in public amongst decent folk, in favor of saying what they really think. Not a pretty sight. UPDATE: Here's a report on Keith Ellison from someone who actually knows him and has worked with him:

From Lefter,Warmer
I notice that my old buddy, Keith Ellison won in Minnesota. That's good news.
I met Ellison in the mid-1990s when he was defending my friend Kieran, who'd been charged with felony assault after defending himself against a Nazi skinhead at an anti-Nazi demonstration. It was my understanding at the time that Ellison was a member of the Nation of Islam, and we had a few interesting conversations about Jewish and Black identity. He was sympathetic (as I've found many Black nationalists are) to anyone with a strong Jewish ethnic identity, and asked me if I was perplexed by the Jewish student who was testifying against Kieran. (I was - the kid seemed to feel that self-defense was just mean.)
Knowing him over the years, watching him defend young white guys who'd gotten into conflicts with neo-Nazis, I never found Ellison to be an anti-semite. In fact, because he took on at least two big felony assault cases during which he had to cross-examine pea-brained neo-Nazi boneheads, he probably knows more about anti-Semitism than most people want to. Despite this, and despite his voting record in the Minnesota stage legislature, I imagined that his involvement or association with the NOI would lead to accusations of anti-Semitism. Of course it did, but the accusations didn't stick. Plenty of other people have had the same kind of experience with Ellison that I've had, which is why they voted for him, and it's also probably why the American Jewish World, Minneapolis' mainstream Jewish newspaper, endorsed him in the primary....

Big ups to Minnesota for being out in front and choosing one of the few true progressives to run for congress as a Democrat.

'Nuff said. UPDATE #2: One quibble: Ellison's mosque isn't part of the Farrakhan-run group which he calls "The Nation of Islam". The original NoI renamed itself as "The World Community of Al-Islam in the West" in 1976 when it dropped the black-supremist dogma in favor of a more conventional interpretation of Islam, including a far more friendly stance towards Jews; Farrakhan was incensed by this and went on to create his own group in 1978, using the discarded "Nation of Islam" name. Ellison's mosque is Masjid An-Nur, and works with Jewish and Christian groups to perform good works in the local community. Will this matter to the racist Republicans who call Minneapolitans "trash"? Probably not. But it will matter to sane people.


Comments:
I especially liked the one about, ...Mohammed, who had sex with a nine year old when he was 56 years old, owned, traded, and promoted sexual slaves; and promoted for all Muslims for all time the practice of polygamy which subjugates women?

These are people who clearly have not read the Old Testament and are unaware of practices of the Church of Latter Day Saints which persist, in the shadows, even today. The Mormons call themselves Christians.

Nor to forget that Alabama and some other southern states still have marriage ages as low as 14.

A provision necessitated by the fact that so many children from good Christian homes were, un, multiplying like rabbits.
 
Ellison's good buddy: "It was my understanding at the time that Ellison was a member of the Nation of Islam.."

City Pages: "By his own admission, Ellison did not take the anti-Semitism charges seriously at first. He had never been a member of Farrakhan's Nation of Islam...

So your source confirms that his close friend Ellison is a bald faced liar....super.

Mind if I lift this piece? Thanks.
 
Oh, and BTW. Here's a clue...I suppose it never occurred to you brainiacs that there is nothing more natural for a member of the NOI than defending someone who attacks neo-Nazi's.

Black supremacists are pretty much diametrically opposed to white ones. (That means they don't like one another)

It'd be no surprise to find out that Br. Farakkan footed the legal bill out of his own pocket.
 
Doesn't bother Swiftee a bit that his fellow Republicans talk about members of Islam like subhumans.

What matters is what he imagines is a minor inconsistency about Ellison's religious affiliation. But the error appears to be on the part of Ellison's friend, who assumed that because Ellison was African American, he was a member of the Nation of Islam.

Lots of whites don't seem to be able to understand what would seem to be a simple fact: that not all African American Muslims belong to the Nation of Islam.

Do you even know where Ellison attends mosque, Swiftee?

See Swiftee flee
Flee, Swiftee flee.
 
WTF?!??! Did I read that right?

"But the error appears to be on the part of Ellison's friend, who assumed that because Ellison was African American, he was a member of the Nation of Islam."

Hang on Chuck, I'll go ask the source, who claims to be an intimate friend of Ellison, whos quote PW posted on your blog in support of Ellison if he is a narrow minded bigot...be right back..

Bwahahahahaha!
 
Oh, Swiftee!

Ellison's mosque isn't part of the Farrakhan-run group which he calls "The Nation of Islam". The original NoI renamed itself as "The World Community of Al-Islam in the West" in 1976 when it dropped the black-supremist dogma in favor of a more conventional interpretation of Islam, including a far more friendly stance towards Jews; Farrakhan broke away from the renamed group and went on to create his own group in 1978, using the discarded "Nation of Islam" name.

Ellison's mosque is Masjid An-Nur, and works with Jewish and Christian groups to perform good works in the local community:

In 1996, Masjid An-Nur began to work with Jewish and Christian partners in an interfaith effort sponsored by the McKnight Foundation. The charge for the partners was to engage members of their various religious persuasions to volunteer in their local and city-wide communities to help individuals in need and those persons in transition from welfare to work. Thousands of individuals from various religious backgrounds answered the call to volunteer; many were one-time opportunities but more volunteered on a regular basis.

Poor Swiftee, wrong again. Do you know I'm bringing in folks from far and wide just to laugh at you and your bigotry and your ignorance? Just think of what sort of public example you're setting for your fellow Republicans -- or better yet, the fence-sitters who are likely to be horrified by you. Keep it up, you're a better recruiter for Democrats than I could ever be!
 
I find it very funny that someone can conclude, simply because they question a man's ethical standing, they are a racist. Surely you are smart enough to agree that whomever the Dems elected the Repubs would attack. But just because Ellison is black, those attacks are now called "racist"? Grow a brain and come up with something new. Ellison is a sketchy guy to hang your hat on. If you are too consumed with his rhetoric to see it, so be it. But, to actually question his past does not make ANYONE a racist. However, to call someone a racist simply because they disagree with a choice or a man's past makes you a huge IDIOT.
 
Yo Woman

The NOI changed their stance on hating jews? So, now they are good and Swiftee is a bigot? Do you use the brain god gave you? If the Nazi party was to annouce a "more friendly" stance towards Jews, would it be ok to then be a Nazi? Clearly you like Ellison. Fine. It is your right to Vote for him. However, how you can trash Swiftee simply because he is smart enough to believe everything he reads, is idiotic. If I was to use your logic I would then assume you are very young college GIRL, who has yet to get your feet wet in the real world. But, I wont go there. The Dems hanging their hat on Ellison is another questionable and STUPID call. They continue to back and endorse the wrong people. Next thing you know, they will be nominating H. Clinton for Prez. Ellison is a joke and you will be the punchline.
 
NOT believe...

Sorry Swiftee
 
Nothing like "concern trolls" spouting GOP talking points. Oh, and thanks for showing up here, "chuck e cheese": Your comments dovetail nicely with Swiftee's, and will help me show fence-sitters that Swiftee isn't a lone "bad apple", but is in fact a typical Republican operative.

By the way, "chuck e cheese": Got links to document your claims against Ellison? Aside from things that are either piddly (going after someone for parking tickets?!? In Minneapolis?!) or which have been repeatedly debunked? Of course you don't, otherwise you'd have posted them instead of reciting from your GOP talking-points sheet.

And please stop with the fake naifery -- you know full well that the Republicans have been playing the race card early and often in this race. You'd think that if they really thought that Ellison was "sketchy", that they'd have kept their lips zipped since March so as to ensure that the Democrats nominated him; only after he won the nomination would they have cut loose with the Smear Factor. But instead, they have been obsessed with Ellison. Truly, madly, and deeply obsessed with him. Go do a Google search of "ellison power line" or "ellison mde"; they've done their damndest to frighten Democratic backers away from him.

The Republican bloggers and other GOP operatives can't quite come out and say "Don't vote for him because he's BLACK!", so instead they do what you do and hint darkly -- without providing any actual proof -- of Alleged Really Bad Things.

Oh, and CEC: I see that you are either an idiot with horrible reading comprehension, or a GOP operative who refuses to admit the existence of facts that threaten your racist, bigoted world view. As I posted earlier, the old NoI no longer exists under that name; it dropped the black-supremist and anti-Jew nonsense and renamed itself in 1976 to show its change of heart. Farrakhan left TWCAIW in order to form his own group, which he then called by the old discarded name of NoI. Do you honestly think, CEC, that Jewish groups would work with The World Community of Al-Islam in the West if they were still the same outfit they were pre-1975?

Finally, if hanging out with Farrakhan is automatic grounds for being banned from public life, then the GOP's favorite Democrat, Joe Lieberman -- who cuddled up to Farrakhan in 2000, well after Keith Ellison and pretty much every national black leader worth mentioning had repudiated Farrakhan's views -- should be sent packing, don't you think?
 
OK, let me make sure I've got this straight because this is becoming damn amusing.

First of all, Ellison's good buddy in New York..they guy who has been keeping in touch through the years, is a narrow minded bigot who stereotyped Ellison because he's black.

NOW your saying that that the Nation of Islam that Keith Hakim...er, I mean Keith X Ellison um, Keith Ellison Muhammad was involved with wasn't FarraKKKhan's NOI?

Were there two Nation of Islam million man marches or was it some other FarraKKKhan that Ellison was working with as well?

I need to be sure because you two morons are responsible for the single largest "hit" parade my crummy little blog has ever seen..and I want to make sure that I reprint every single one of your increasingly asinine quotes and claims correctly and in context.
 
Facts? Show me ONE jewish group currently working with Ellison's Temple of Hate.

Sadly, I can show you multiple sites that actually show "Facts" on how Bush was behind 9/11. The internet is a house of fools and you are their Queen.

"fake naifery" --- Love that. Your Daddy's money on your college education is well spent!
 
Chuck E. Cheese says, "I find it very funny that someone can conclude, simply because they question a man's ethical standing, they are a racist."

Now that we have you laughing, do you also find it funny to question whether a person is racist because they refuse to condemn trashy, openly racist remarks while pretending to have high ethical standards to apply to others?

Chuck E. Cheese says, "The NOI changed their stance on hating jews? So, now they are good and Swiftee is a bigot? "

Unfortunately you seem to be incapable of reading. What PW posted says that Ellison's mosque split from the Nation of Islam a very long time ago.

Swiftee's problem is that the word "involved" to him means what he wants it to mean. When Donald Rumsfeld shakes Saddam's hand or when Bob Dole promises Saddam there won't be a war because he's such a good customer, they aren't involved with Saddam. But when Ellison participates in an event, he is not only involved, he agrees with everything the event organizer believes.

The real story here is that Swiftee was caught in yet another bit of stupidity, namely not knowing that Ellison's branch of Islam split from the Nation of Islam decades ago, and won't admit it.

Flee, Swiftee,
Swiftly flee.
Avoid, dodge, twist and spin.
And so wrap round you the snares of sin.
Like the spider-entrapped fly,
Bind yourself to the lie.
 
What you have is a case of moral illness, soul sickness, ethical blindness that leads you to tell lies without shame while failing to condemn the extremists in your own party.
 
Please keep posting, "tom" (or are you Swiftee or CEC?). As I've mentioned before, I'm showing all of your comments to fence-sitters out there so they can see what sort of people make up the Republican base.

People who try to falsely claim that David Duke is not and was never a KKK member aren't the sort of people of whom most Americans approve, yet they make up a large chunk of the GOP base.

(Oh, and "chuck e cheese": Now that Swiftee's embarrassed himself by backing David Duke, will you come back to apologize for doubting me when I called him a racist? Of course not, because you are a moral idiot.)
 
Oh, and if you want to read about Swiftee's trying to pretend that David Duke wasn't and isn't a KKK member, just go check out the comments for the thread linked here.
 
Oh, and "chuck e cheese" who refuses to admit when I have him bested (such as on the issue of Masjd An-Nur's working with Jewish and Christian groups) --

Chew on this, while you're contemplating your best friend Swiftee's racism:

At Masjid An-Nur there is a dedication to interfaith dialogue and partnership.

* In 1996, Masjid An-Nur began to work with Jewish and Christian partners in an interfaith effort sponsored by the McKnight Foundation. The charge for the partners was to engage members of their various religious persuasions to volunteer in their local and city-wide communities to help individuals in need and those persons in transition from welfare to work.
Thousands of individuals from various religious backgrounds answered the call to volunteer; many were one-time opportunities but more volunteered on a regular basis.



* Masjid An-Nur has established a monthly food distribution program that serves over 1,000 families annually. They also operate a hot meals program, clothing distributions several times a year; (partnering with Al-Shifa Clinic of the Islamic Center of MN) provides referrals for medical services provided by volunteering medical professionals (including pediatricians, internal medicine, dentists, pharmacists, etc) for persons lacking insurance; and (partnering with Al-Birr Social Family Counseling Service) provides free individual and family counseling..



* Masjid An-Nur has embraced a program envisioned by Imam W. D. Mohammed called "The Mosque-Cares Project". The object of this project is to provide a nucleus for the growth and development of the Muslim American Neighborhood. The Mosque-Cares Project calls for the establishment of Mosque and school; Community Employment Services; Food Shelves; Hungry Kitchens; Reduced Price and Free Clothing; Dormitories for the Homeless; Islamic Health and Fitness Centers; etc. Masjid An-Nur has begun to incorporate the various aspects of The Mosque Cares Project in its Community Outreach Programs



* Masjid An-Nur currently has two multi-unit apartment buildings to help provide affordable, safe housing. Their goal to add additional units to help meet the growing need for housing.



* Masjid An-Nur recently completed a successful computerized academic program with Summit Academy. The object was to work with a cohort of 25 youngsters. following them through their high-school careers; insuring they master the State of MN mandated standardized testing requirements for high school graduation. .This program achieved a 95% success rate. Masjid An-Nur has plans to introduce similar academic programs when our renovation/expansion project is completed.


And here we have Masjid An-Nur working with Temple Israel and The Basilica of St. Mary, among other local religious organizations, to sponsor the 2006 Interfaith Conference.

Now this would be enough for someone who wasn't part of the Republican base. But I know that it won't be for you.
 
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