Free Republic

U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison, D-Minn., shut the House down for 15 minutes Tuesday by forcing a roll call vote on his motion to adjourn in protest of tomorrow’s expected vote on a GOP measure to repeal President Obama’s health care law. Ellison called the GOP repeal measure – the 31st attempt to repeal “Obamacare” in whole or in part – “political theater at its worst.”

After sharing in-depth research and the perspective of Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN) on the controversial — and painful — topic of reparations, NewsOne readers processed that information in a survey that asked tough, pointed questions on the subject that has long haunted Black America. To conclude our series, we asked for the invaluable expert opinion of Dr. Ivory Toldson, associate professor at Howard University School of Education, senior research analyst for the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, and the editor-in-chief of the Journal of Negro Education, and Attorney Kia Baldwin Richardson, a criminal lawyer practicing in Louisiana. Their perspectives on reparations...

REPARATIONS PART II From the day he was sworn into office in 2006 with his hand placed on the Quran, Representative Keith Ellison (pictured left) (D-MN), the first Muslim American elected to the U.S. Congress, has exemplified political bravery. As previously reported by NewsOne, before entering into public service, he was an attorney with the law firm of Lindquist & Vennum, specializing in civil rights, employment, and criminal defense law. He was then appointed executive director of the Legal Rights Center in Minneapolis, a non-profit organization that specialized in representing clients living in poverty. Rep. Ellison is also a passionate...

House Democrats said Tuesday they will offer an amendment to push to overturn stand-your-ground self-defense laws in states like Florida. The amendment, which would withhold some grants from states that have such laws, will come as part of the House's debate on the Commerce Department spending bill. Emphasis added

Democrats in House of Reps. joined J Street in supporting Obama administration's attempt to force Israel into making painful concessions Seventy-four Democrats in the House of Representatives have joined the dovish J Street organization in supporting the Obama administration's attempt to force Israel into making painful concessions to the Palestinian Authority. “In our view, support for a two-state resolution is inseparable from such support for Israel, its special relationship with the United States, and its very survival as a democratic homeland for the Jewish people,” the letter said. Seven Jewish members signed the letter, including Reps. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.), John...

The co-chairmen of the Congressional Progressive Caucus called comments made by Rep. Allen West (R-Fla.) reminiscent of McCarthyism. West said Tuesday he heard a rumor that about 80 Democratic members of Congress were in the Communist Party. West declined to give names. Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.) and Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) compared West's comment to Sen. Joe McCarthy (R-Wis.) who in 1950 said he had a list of communists in government.

Robert Gibbs, under fire for his attack on the "professional left," sends over a statement walking it back, conceding it was "inartful," and clarifying that the views he expressed frustration about are not widely held: I watch too much cable, I admit. Day after day it gets frustrating. Yesterday I watched as someone called legislation to prevent teacher layoffs a bailout -- but I know that's not a view held by many, nor were the views I was frustrated about. So what I may have said inartfully, let me say this way -- since coming to office in January 2009,...

White House unloads anger over criticism from 'professional left’ By Sam Youngman - 08/10/10 06:00 AM ET The White House is simmering with anger at criticism from liberals who say President Obama is more concerned with deal-making than ideological purity. During an interview with The Hill in his West Wing office, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs blasted liberal naysayers, whom he said would never regard anything the president did as good enough. “I hear these people saying he’s like George Bush. Those people ought to be drug tested,” Gibbs said. “I mean, it’s crazy.” The press secretary dismissed the...

Rep. Keith Ellison's request to testify at Wednesday's House Committee on Homeland Security hearing on Islamic radicalization was denied by Rep. Peter King, the committee chairman. Ellison, the first Muslim elected to Congress, sent a letter to King on Monday asking that he could testify at Wednesday's hearing, which will address Al-Shabaab, a Somali terror group. King, a New York Republican, responded that Wednesday's hearing is an extension of the March hearing on Islamic radicalization where Ellison did testify. King wrote in a letter to Ellison that Al-Shabaab was a focus of the March hearing, and he asked that Ellison...

Congressman Begins 24-Hour Hunger Strike In Solidarity With Occupy DC Protesters 16th December 2011 A Congressman started a 24-hour hunger strike Thursday evening as a sign of solidarity with four Occupy DC protesters who have fasted for more than a week. Minnesota Democrat Keith Ellison announced on his Twitter page earlier today that he'll forgo food or drink for one day to support the demonstrators who haven't had a bite to eat since 8 December. 'started my 24 hour solidarity fast last night. May the DC vote and budgetary independence prevail!,' Ellison tweeted. Hungry: Congressman Keith Ellison on 24-hour fast...

A Minnesota congressman has proposed federal legislation that would impose his state's type of voter registration – which leads the nation in voter fraud cases – on the other 49 states, according to critics who have launched online campaigns to make people aware of the dangers of Rep. Keith Ellison's H.R. 3316 and its companion H.R. 3317. "Our votes control trillions of public dollars, yet Ellison would have us believe nobody would ever steal them. We can trust everybody, right?" said a commentary posted on the Election Integrity Watch site. "Would you keep your money in a bank that allowed...

Rep. Keith Ellison, D-Minn., introduced a bill in Congress Wednesday that would prohibit all states from requiring photo identification at the polls. “The Voter Access Protection Act” comes at a time when states across the nation, including Minnesota, have moved to establish photo ID laws as a protection against voter fraud. Legislatures in 20 states introduced such a bill in 2011, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. “This legislation would prohibit one of the most pernicious forms of voter suppression, requiring a strict photo identification card at the polls,” said the bill’s co-author, Rep. Gwen Moore, D-Wis., in...

The House of Representatives passed a bi-partisan resolution Tuesday night reaffirming “In God We Trust” as the official motto of the United States. The 396-9 vote came at the request of Rep. Randy Forbes (R-VA) – in part over President Obama’s refusal to correct remarks he made that misstated the motto as “E pluribus unum” instead of “In God We Trust.”Lawmakers voting against “In God We Trust” include Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Rep. Gary Ackerman (D-NY), Rep. Justin Amash (R-Mich), Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA), Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO), Rep. Mike Honda (D-CA), Rep. Hank Johnson (D-GA), Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA),...

Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) tells MSNBC regulations create jobs because a business will have to hire people to help them comply with the new requirement. "I think the answer is no," Ellison said when asked if he believes regulations kill jobs. "And here is why: When we talked about increasing fuel efficiency standards, the industry responded, and they need engineers and designers and manufacturers, and they need actually more people to help respond to the new requirement."

Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) tells MSNBC regulations create jobs because a business will have to hire people to help them comply with the new requirement. "I think the answer is no," Ellison said when asked if he believes regulations kill jobs. "And here is why: When we talked about increasing fuel efficiency standards, the industry responded, and they need engineers and designers and manufacturers, and they need actually more people to help respond to the new requirement." "I believe if the government says, look, we have got to reduce our carbon footprint, you will kick into gear a whole number...

The Occupy Wall Street rally may not be growing, but press coverage of it is. Even some members of Congress, like Rep. Keith Ellison, D-Minn, are endorsing it. Last night on the O’Reilly factor, Gretchen Carlson warned: “It would be dangerous for any politician to align themselves with this group. It’s dangerous if it continues to become more violent.” (Hat Tip: Alex Alvarez at Mediaite.) Fortunately, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi dismissed them as “astroturf.” Oh wait, no, that’s what she said of the Tea Parties. These were her sentiments about the Occupy Wall Street folks:

Minneapolis, Minnesota (CNN) –Prior to 2006, few people even knew that then-Minnesota state legislator Keith Ellison was a Muslim. Because of his English name, he said, no one thought to ask. But five years ago, when he ran for a seat in the United States House of Representatives - a race he would go on to win - word of his religious affiliation began to spread. “When I started running for Congress it actually took me by surprise that so many people were fascinated with me being the first Muslim in Congress,” said Ellison, a Democrat now serving his third...

What’s stranger than a man posing as a Syrian lesbian blogger? Two men posing as lesbian bloggers and being unmasked when the “Syrian” staged his/her own abduction. The emergence of a second male imposter posing as a lesbian is the latest twist in the strange case of the “Gay Girl In Damascus,” a supposed Syrian lesbian blogger named Amina Arraf, who was the subject of headlines around the world last week after she was believed to have been abducted by two masked men.....

Use this Facebook link to cast your vote between 6am and midnight EST, Today, June 15: Facebook Cars For Good The DC Chapter of Free Republic asks that you vote for the Aleethia Foundation on Wednesday, June 15. Your vote will help Aleethia to be awarded a new Toyota vehicle which will provide wheelchair accessible transportation for service members. It is a helpful, cost- effective way for Aleethia to further assist newly wounded, injured and ill service members. The Aleethia Foundation is proud to announce that it has been selected as a finalist in the “TOYOTA 100 CARS FOR...

Last week, U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison, D-Minn., sent out tweets urging his nearly 16,000 followers to write to the Syrian ambassador regarding Amina Abdallah Arraf, whom he described as an American blogger "detained and held by Syrian authority." She "needs you," he said in one of his tweets. "Call for her immediate release . . . Do it now." At the time, a "Free Amina" Facebook page had garnered more than 13,000 supporters. But apparently, there was no Amina Abdallah Arraf. News reports now say she’s a fictional character on the "Gay Girl in Damascus Blog," reportedly written by 40-year-old...