Posted on 09/13/2006 11:48:16 AM PDT by VU4G10
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- State lawmaker Keith Ellison didn't let questions about his past slow down his campaign to become the first Muslim in Congress. On Tuesday, voters responded to his liberal message calling for peace, withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq and universal health care. He beat three contenders in the Democratic primary in a Minneapolis-area district long dominated by his party.
"You're not on your own," Ellison told supporters at an Egyptian restaurant in a speech that had the call-and-response of a revival meeting. "We are with you. We do these things together, y'all, and we don't let nobody break us apart."
Ellison, a 43-year-old criminal defense lawyer who converted to Islam as a college student, overcame questions about late parking tickets, overdue taxes and his past ties to the Nation of Islam. He has since denounced black Muslim leader Louis Farrakhan and was endorsed by a Minneapolis Jewish newspaper. He has also pledged to improve his personal record-keeping.
Ellison courted the liberal wing of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party by comparing himself to the late Sen. Paul Wellstone - and many voters responded. Others clearly relished the chance to elect a minority to Congress from Minnesota for the first time; Ellison is black.
Somali voters - many voting for the first time - appeared energized by Ellison's candidacy. Election official Hashi Abdi said he had to tell several people to leave their Ellison signs outside the polling area.
"A lot of the Muslim community have a lot of sympathy for this guy," Abdi said.
Though Ellison was the party's endorsed candidate, the lure of the safely Democratic seat drew plenty of challengers willing to test him. In the end, though, he handily beat his closest rival, Mike Erlandson, by about 10 points. Erlandson is a former chief of staff to the incumbent, retiring U.S. Rep. Martin Sabo, and had Sabo's support.
Ellison will be a heavy favorite in the November election, when he will face Republican Alan Fine and the Independence Party's Tammy Lee. In the 2004 election, about seven in 10 voters backed Sabo and Democrat John Kerry for president.
Over 80% of Somali immigrants in Minnesota identify their religion as Islam.
Good God! An islamic! Oh, no! Please say no!
"The Enemy Within"
Third world immigration.
Why not? We had communists in Congress during the Cold War years.
I'll bet he's a blast.
So when is a terrorist going to drive a car bomb into Ralph's Pretty Good Grocery in Lake Wobegon because Ralph sells pork products?
I'd hate to be the one that has to give Sheriff Marge from "Fargo" a female circumcision.
I will remain Locked and Loaded.
A Muslim Democrat. Somehow, that isn't all that surprising.
More AP incompetence. The "Egyptian rstaurant" the author cites is the Blue Nile restaurant on Franklin Avenue. It's Ethiopian, not Egyptian.
More convergence of the libs and muzzies.
I read that Ellison voted in favor of a pro gay marriage group.
His Wahabi supervisors aren't going to like that.
-Eric
Why would anyone convert to islam? I don't get it.
Now THAT is funny.
Kudos to the first person to guess correctly.
Given the conversions of inmates to Islam while in prison, it makes me wonder about the how and why of his choice to convert. And does a 'former' Nation of Islam member ever really sever completely ties to the Nation and Farrakhan? First Democratic Muslim Congressman? Let's hope Ellison is not the first.
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