Posted on 07/15/2007 9:58:56 AM PDT by Xing Daorong
America's first Muslim congressman has provoked outrage by apparently comparing President George W Bush to Adolf Hitler and hinting that he might have been responsible for the September 11 attacks.
Addressing a gathering of atheists in his home state of Minnesota, Keith Ellison, a Democrat, compared the 9/11 atrocities to the destruction of the Reichstag, the German parliament, in 1933. This was probably burned down by the Nazis in order to justify Hitler's later seizure of emergency powers.
"It's almost like the Reichstag fire, kind of reminds me of that," Mr Ellison said. "After the Reichstag was burned, they blamed the Communists for it, and it put the leader [Hitler] of that country in a position where he could basically have authority to do whatever he wanted."
To applause from his audience of 300 members of Atheists for Human Rights, Mr Ellison said he would not accuse the Bush administration of planning 9/11 because "you know, that's how they put you in the nut-ball box - dismiss you".
Vice-President Dick Cheney's stance of refusing to answer some questions from Congress was "the very definition of totalitarianism, authoritarianism and dictatorship", he added.
Mr Ellison also raised eyebrows by telling his audience: "You'll always find this Muslim standing up for your right to be atheists all you want."
A convert to Islam who was previously linked to the extremist Nation of Islam, Mr Ellison, 42, has cultivated a moderate image since being elected last November, concentrating on issues such as health and education.
He is an outspoken critic of the war in Iraq. But he angered his own anti-war supporters by voting for a budget bill that aims to end the war over the next 18 months. His followers want an immediate withdrawal of US troops from Iraq.
After his speech was reported, Mr Ellison said he accepted that Osama bin Laden was responsible for 9/11. But his demagogic comments threaten to plunge him in controversy.
Mark Drake, of the Republican party in Minnesota, said: "To compare the democratically elected leader of the United States of America to Hitler is an absolute moral outrage which trivialises the horrors of Nazi Germany."
He just said what most Democrats think, but don’t have the guts to say.
Apparently this guy has a problem with perspective.
BTW - I was watching a show on TV yesterday about hunting escaped nazis. They claim that Syria is still hiding one of the worst nazi butchers that escaped.
Well with a Muslim, comparisons to Hitler might be a compliment?
Most, if not all Democrats are traitors.
If he thinks Bush is like Hitler, how come he’s not the biggest Bush fan in Congress?
Aloise Bruhner, I was watching the same show. :)
“Well with a Muslim, comparisons to Hitler might be a compliment?”
Nah. The libs’ constant comparison of Bush to Hitler is intended to marginalize Hitler’s crimes. After all, he was no worse than Bush. The Muslims are more than willing to play that game, and the libs will give them cover when they do.
Vice-President Dick Cheney's stance of refusing to answer some questions from Congress was "the very definition of totalitarianism, authoritarianism and dictatorship", he added.He's a regular Noah Webster, he is.
-—If he thinks Bush is like Hitler, how come he’s not the biggest Bush fan in Congress?-—
Because he’s just saying Bush is like Hitler.
No doubt Ellison has the inside line on this ~ just trying to protect his friends by distracting us.
Why do we even have a Muslim in Congress and why do we have one running for President. This is bizzare.
And I'll see your true colors shining through
I see your true colors and that's why you say that about W
so don't be afraid to let them show
your true colors...your true colors
are dark and hateful
UNlike Liberty's rainbow
Just wait until Hillary is in the WH! You ain't heard nothing yet!
Didn’t Hillary at one point say that she did not like the military?
I think everyone on all sides is aware how the anger has built up around politics and culture. I really don't know why this has happened although I certainly feel the anger. I, myself, am angry as hell. I know my own reasons, I just don't know why everybody has, in the last few years, found reasons -- from all sides -- to be so enraged.
One reason that we know this is happening is that the public conversation has become more and more intemperate.
It does seem to me that the pressure can not build too much more before we start seeing some serious violent acting out. I know when I hear this ba$tard Ellison say something like this or when I hear Rosie O'Donnell or Michael Moore...the anger in me is white-hot. Fortunately, I am not so young and don't keep guns and just am not the type to take it to the streets. But if the people who are packing and are a little more action-oriented than me are feeling the anger that I am feeling at these obscene assaults against our country and our culture, then I don't see how we are not moving into some very troubled times.
Hey Minnesota,thanks a lot for giving this prick a position in Congress to spew this crap.I would hope that more than a few of you now regret your vote.
...so Bush wants to exterminate the Jews? I thought this would make Muslims happy.
Well the Iranians don’t believe in the Holocaust - so that would mean that Hitler’s only crime was being too aggressive with his neighbors - something that Mohammed was guilty of. So I guess, Bush isn’t that bad.
Well he stopped just short of stating Bush did 9/11 but insinuated it nonetheless. I believe any member of Congress who states that our government did 9/11 is incapable of rational thought and is a traitor. Somehow - we should work towards removing that person from office.
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