Keith Ellison, Muslim Congressman, Says 'Ground Zero Mosque' Foes Are Birther-Types, 'Proponents Of Religious Bigotry'

Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.), who himself constitutes half of the Muslim legislating force in the United States Congress, said Monday that the opposition to the Park51 Islamic cultural center project near Ground Zero was driven by Obama birthers and 'proponents of religious bigotry.'

During an interview with BBC, Ellison claimed that those spearheading the effort against the Park51 project were not adequately represented as families of 9/11 victims rejecting the proposal on emotional ground, and were rather anti-Obama, xenophobic types who wanted to suppress Islam throughout the country.

"The fact is that the real driver of this thing is not 9/11 families," Ellison said. "The real driver of it are people who openly proclaim that Barack Obama is not a citizen. The real organizers of this thing are people who are just proponents of religious bigotry. Nothing more, nothing less."

Ellison continued, connecting the current New York City movement to prevent the Park51 project to other anti-mosque operations around the nation.

"Around the country, this thing is emblematic of a larger issue," Ellison said. "There have been anti-mosque efforts in Kentucky, one gentleman who wants to burn a Qur'an in Florida, there have been efforts in Wisconsin and in the Chicago area and others."

Ellison went on to describe the seemingly growing anti-Muslim sentiment as the product of a small group of Islamophobic individuals, including many who used Fox News as a mouthpiece, who were working hard to "oppose Muslim engagement in American community life at every point."

Despite the current volatile nature of the "Ground Zero Mosque" debate, Ellison said that he had confidence that the American people would rise above the current trend of religious division flowing throughout the country

"I know we're going to come to our senses as we always do," Ellison said. "We've overcome momentous social barriers in the past and I think we are going to keep on doing that."

Comments

[Salvador Doggy]

08:57 PM on 09/11/2010

Hate springs eternal.

[No Turn Un-Stoned]

02:18 PM on 09/08/2010

DADT policy for all visual and verbal displays of ALL religions... equality.

[jeremyfive]

11:54 AM on 09/08/2010

That was well stated. Meet "America's Christless Christians" -- their bigotry has nothing whatsoever to do woth the careful teachings of Jesus Christ. These bigots just make it up as they go along.

[DeanWormer]

11:23 AM on 09/08/2010

So the guy from Minnesota declares that 70% of NYCers, most of them Dems, are bigots and birthers ?? Thanks for contributing to the conversation.

[jeremyfive]

11:57 AM on 09/08/2010

Those who don't see how the GOP has manufactured this for another Karl-Rove-type wedge issue are blind. They love to howl at minorities for votes--worked for gays, latins, immigrants, blacks (Willie Horton, anyone? Shirley Shirrad?), and darn it, the GOP is certain it will work with Muslims.

[Non Sibi]

02:07 PM on 09/08/2010

Actually, what he said was that this was spearheaded by the birthers, xenophobes and religious bigots.

I would add that the whatever the percentage of NYCers is, it is primarily sheeple, listening to the Fox drum beat and acting accordingly.

[MEDIABIZ]

04:01 PM on 09/08/2010

Guess you don't get to NYC much.

[tbone99]

11:08 AM on 09/08/2010

I don't know about the site being hallowed ground, but I think the furthering of religious understanding that would have come about by placing this Islamic centre here has long been forfeited.

If they want to actually demonstrate their sensitivity , compassion ,and spirituality , it would be a good idea to build it away from this area at this time in history.Context is everything

However , if whoever is pushing it wants to incite anti Moslem hate they are doing a good job of it , right before the election..

Reminds me of when OBL released a video praising Kerry during the 04 election and Bush , who was only even with him , gained a six point lead .

[OlongapoEd]

10:10 AM on 09/08/2010

It is painfullly naive (at best) to say "We ALL have a right to say as we please so long as we keep the debate legit." Those on the right prove *every day*, on this site and elsewhere, that they have absolutely no interest whatsoever in a "legitimate debate" or anything of the sort. They want total congtrol and they want it yesterday.

[Non Sibi]

02:10 PM on 09/08/2010

Fanned and faved for that.

I have long ago stopped expending the energy to respond to them with legitimate debate. Now, I primarily poke more holes in their Swiss cheese arguments.

[Muslimhumanist]

10:03 AM on 09/08/2010

Here are HP's current guidelines:

"We do not allow racism, sexism, homophobia, anti-Semitism, or other intolerance….We also do not allow false claims or misleading implications that any individual or group perpetuates hate or unlawful violence."

After reading post after post calling all Muslims inherently violent, justifying defecation on the Qur'an, attacking Ellison simply because he is a Muslim I think the guidelines might be modified to read:.
"We do not allow racism, sexism, homophobia, anti-Semitism, Islamophobia or other intolerance….We also do not allow false claims or misleading implications that any individual or group perpetuates hate or unlawful violence."

I say this as someone who has flagged antisemitic, racist, homophobic and sexist comments and as a progressive who believes that all intolerance based on group affiliation needs to be challenged.

Peace/Salaams/Shalom

[Gneirre]

10:08 AM on 09/08/2010

AND THE REASON WHY I FANNED A WHILE AGO!!! BRAVO 10X'S!!!!

[Muslimhumanist]

10:23 AM on 09/08/2010

Thanks for the enthusiasm. I think, and hope, that if enough of us speak out we can do this. It would say something really positive about the HP community if--in the middle of this current wave of attacks on Muslims--we would explicitly declare Islamophobia as the moral equivalent of antisemitism, homophobia, sexism and racism.

I encourage like minded progressive to also speak out..

An early Eid Mubarak and Happy Rosh Hashanah to everyone.....

[Genep34]

10:37 AM on 09/08/2010

well said and fanned

[AdamX]

09:42 AM on 09/08/2010

When Keith decides he knows what is in the heart of every opponent to the Muslim center, HE, in fact, is being an extraordinary bigot.

[Genep34]

10:38 AM on 09/08/2010

nice try but no way

[Mattie]

10:49 AM on 09/08/2010

what other reasons could there be!

[Genep34]

09:40 AM on 09/08/2010

finally someone who is not afraid to speak the truth - the right-nuts are an embarrassment to this country as well as un American

[LucidPanther]

09:10 AM on 09/08/2010

The congressman is 100% correct. The self-described Christians who are fomenting religious bigotry, intolerance and hatred ( resulting in acts of hate crimes against innocent American Muslims ) are the same as the Taliban - two sides of the same coin.

It would be accurate to call these people the 'American Taliban'. They claim America is a Christian nation and would impose their own version of Sharia law on the rest of us called, "Dominionism". Many on the right - including Sarah Palin - are adherents to this ideology.

[RockyMissouri]

09:40 AM on 09/08/2010

Thank you....!

[MEDIABIZ]

10:55 AM on 09/08/2010

What makes you thing it is exclusively a Christian protest? You are wrong. There are many of us who are neither "Christians" nor Repubs nor "righties" who object to the location of this mosque. And if you want the definition of "dominionism" take a close look at Islam.

[LucidPanther]

12:12 PM on 09/08/2010

In a politico-religious context, dominionism (also called subjectionism) is the tendency among some conservative politically-active Christians, especially in the United States, to seek influence or control over secular civil government through political action. The goal is either a nation governed by Christians, or a nation governed by a conservative Christian understanding of biblical law.

[Non Sibi]

02:18 PM on 09/08/2010

So what you are saying is that it is a broad spectrum of individuals who don't believe in the First Amendment and the Constitution.

And LucidPanther is precisely correct in the definition of Dominionism.

Your efforts to change the subject don't really work on this site.

[artist-53]

08:33 AM on 09/08/2010

It's truly pathetic. When those that profess to be christian demand that their views be the way of the world. I can see that the hate tossers have been busy scouring the net for anything, in order to smear Rep. Keith Ellison. Typical, go for someones jugular, when your own bigotry won't hold up to reason.

You attack opposing views not point for point, but rather a campaign to attempt to brand Rep. Keith Ellison as something he clearly is not.

But that's the usual operative way in hateland. Double barrels of hate, dig up anything you can find, guilt by association, and there you have it. Individuals that are so eager to hate, and will go to great lengths to discredit anyone.

Your arguments of opposition to the Center cannot stand up on it's own merit, because there is none, so you go to the next level....smear, and guilt by association and ethnicity.

You guys must be having a field day as you all seem to be great at one thing, hate.

Must make you feel pretty special, knowing you can spread hate around quicker than the flue in winter time.

I'm quite tired of all the inflammatory remarks, your hypocrisies, and sense of entitlement to state your religion trumps all.

Where do get people get off thinking that you have cornered the market on anything but hate, separatism,ignorance and arrogance. Your small world views and paranoid thinking are disgusting. You're soulless, empty and classless fools

[MEDIABIZ]

10:51 AM on 09/08/2010

Muslims are multi-ethnic. They are not a unified ethnic group nor are they a race.

Islam is an intertwined religion and political ideology. It is not exclusively a religion.

[artist-53]

11:08 AM on 09/08/2010

I realize that . But you know, I had to make it , so those that hate could read it. As they lump everyone together.

I realize Muslims are Multi Ethnic, just as Catholics etc.are. But I figured I would go slow for some that may be reading this, have no clue.Hate usually isn't concerned with such matters. It's a grouping thing based on ignorance.No distinctions are made in their world.Haters are the least likely to understand the intricacies of various societies.As they just group everyone into one big pot of distrust.

As opposed to those, like yourself, that are aware. It was purely an elementary and incorrect level which this subject might have to be broached. Otherwise, how would they get it. I don't usually try to reinforce ignorance, but some times, you have to enter those brains at a very small opening. Or else , the subject and concept doesn't fit in. And they miss it entirely.

My apologies to those that do understand that diversity is a very diverse thing.

[Chris1962]

08:28 AM on 09/08/2010

>>>Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.), who himself constitutes half of the Muslim legislating force in the United States Congress, said Monday that the opposition to the Park51 Islamic cultural center project near Ground Zero was driven by Obama birthers and 'proponents of religious bigotry.'>>>

This hate-spewer's hypocrisy is fascinating.

[TWhitley]

09:17 AM on 09/08/2010

You are ill-informed to call Rep. Ellison anything but a fair-minded, intelligent person. There is nothing in his record or his personality that would justify your ignorant words.

[PWM]

09:19 AM on 09/08/2010

How so?

[Muslimhumanist]

08:17 AM on 09/08/2010

This comment of mine calling out a poster for referring to Keith Ellison as Keith Ellison Ata was scrubbed...

"Are there moderators here? Calling a sitting Muslim Congressman a terrorist is a direct violation of the abuse policy....”

The original statement remains...

Equating Ellison with a terrorist just because he is Muslim is hate speech or else hate speech has no meaning...

Peace/Salaams/Shalom

[OlongapoEd]

10:13 AM on 09/08/2010

Those on the right are clearly allowed to get away with a whole lotta hogwash, on this site and in US society in general. Too many people are unnecessarily squeamish about identifying those on the right for what they are.

[patience1]

08:08 AM on 09/08/2010

Islam has been in this country since slavery time since about 30 % of slaves were Muslim. They live here along with other without any problem. Nowadays people make a living out there bashing Islam. Islam is undermicroscope. Forget about crime and homicide tha killed in thousand in this country, forget about We has more people in the prison than other country in the world. forget about all the problem we have right now, people so obsessed with blaming Islam, scare people that they will take over the country is laughable. People should just leave people 's religion alone. Go find a hobby!!

[Chris1962]

08:38 AM on 09/08/2010

>>>Islam has been in this country since slavery time since about 30 % of slaves were Muslim. They live here along with other without any problem.>>>

Well, we have a problem now, because RADICAL Islamists are conducting a holy war from "the inside," as clearly articulated in the manifesto that was entered into evidence in the Holy Land Foundation trial. My favorite paragraph: http://crimeblog.dallasnews.com/assets_c/2009/05/3-85%20excerpt-42947.html

Learn something and start waking up: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPWHrbKqSrM When a self-described "moderate" makes statements that are NOT moderate, Americans have every right and responsibility to question that person. Launching into a Kumbaya auto-meltdown, and screaming "bigot," does nothing but help conceal and empower the bad guys. Type "Abdul Rahman al-Amoudi" and learn somethig about self-defined "moderate" imams who are anything but.

[TWhitley]

09:21 AM on 09/08/2010

You are irrational. Radical Muslims have indeed declared war on the West, but Rep. Ellison is anything BUT radical. He is correct that the opposition to the Park51 community center is founded on xenophobia and fear. No shred of evidence stands to support such opposition. That is, unless you count irrationality as evidence.

[Mattie]

10:50 AM on 09/08/2010

you believe in terror babies don't you...

[MEDIABIZ]

11:26 AM on 09/08/2010

Muslims have been active in the slave trade for centuries, and continue today.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_slave_trade

http://www.geocities.com/CollegePark/Classroom/9912/easterntrade.html

http://www.domini.org/openbook/sud80210.htm

This last one shows even today Islam perpetuates slavery...

Extract

Elikia M'bokolo, April 1998, Le Monde diplomatique. Quote:"The African continent was bled of its human resources via all possible routes. Across the Sahara, through the Red Sea, from the Indian Ocean ports and across the Atlantic. At least ten centuries of slavery for the benefit of the Muslim countries (from the ninth to the nineteenth)." He continues: "Four million slaves exported via the Red Sea, another four million through the Swahili ports of the Indian Ocean, perhaps as many as nine million along the trans-Saharan caravan route, and eleven to twenty million (depending on the author) across the Atlantic Ocean"[28]

[dancucich]

07:45 PM on 09/08/2010

yep!! you nailed them with facts- wish i could fan you again.

[Macus]

08:04 AM on 09/08/2010

Thank you congressman for your blunt and courageous statement. You are absolutely right, this is nothing but religious bigotry and hate for our President cloaked in sensitivity.

[PWM]

09:20 AM on 09/08/2010

Of course, There are bigot groups across the nation who are doing all in their power to make life difficult for Muslims, justifying their hatred with 9/11 etc.