D.C. Notes: Bumping Into the Ellisons

In front of the Capitol, we started to get into a cab at the same moment as a couple with two young children -- one of them in need of a diaper change, which it goes without saying takes priority over four under-caffeinated grown-ups. But wait -- there was something familiar about the man, who bears a striking resemblance to his brother, incoming Minnesota Congressman Keith Ellison.

Ellison's photo-op swearing-in with his hand on the Koran drew harsh criticism from Virginia Republican Virgil Goode, who said, "I fear that in the next century we will have many more Muslims in the United States if we do not adopt...strict immigration policies" -- remarks that the White House along with much of the Republican Party chose to let stand.

But Ellison's sister-in-law, Isabel Ellison, said the ceremony went beautifully all the same: "The weather was beautiful and that was the spirit of the day. We're so proud."