Posted on 11/07/2006 9:20:23 PM PST by Chicos_Bail_Bonds
MINNEAPOLIS, Nov 7 (Reuters) - Voters elected a black Democrat as the first Muslim in Congress on Tuesday after a race in which he advocated quick U.S. withdrawal from Iraq and made little mention of his faith.
Keith Ellison, a 43-year-old lawyer and state representative, defeated two rivals, television networks said, to succeed retiring Democrat Martin Sabo in a seat that has been held by Democrats since 1963.
Ellison, who converted to Islam as a 19-year-old college student in his native Detroit, won with the help of Muslims among a coalition of liberal, anti-war voters.
He advocates an immediate U.S. withdrawal from Iraq along with strongly liberal views. While Ellison did not often speak of his faith during the campaign, awareness of his candidacy drew interest from Muslims well beyond the district centered in Minneapolis.
A significant community of Somali immigrants in Minneapolis cast their first votes for him in the crowded September primary. Ellison also was the surprise choice of party regulars.
While Muslim-Americans make up less than 3 percent of the U.S. population and have largely been a non-factor in terms of political power, get-out-the-vote efforts in several Muslim communities could indicate they may become an emerging force.
Roughly 2 million Muslims are registered U.S. voters, and their ranks increased by tens of thousands in the weeks prior to Tuesday's mid-term elections, Muslim groups have said.
Since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks by Islamic militants, Muslim-Americans have become sensitized to what many feel is an erosion of their civil rights. U.S. foreign policy that targets Muslim countries also has generated a sense of urgency, experts said.
"(Americans) treat us differently after Sept. 11. My own father was attacked," said Ellison supporter Khadra Darsame, a 1995 immigrant from Somalia.
(Excerpt) Read more at alertnet.org ...
Keep close tabs on him.
Hope he gets along well with Rep. Elect Bachman....
I'm still trying to get used to Hispanic Congressmen. How am I going to get used to a Muslim Congressman?
I want to scrutinize his FEC campaign election reports for the list of donors. Follow the money!
This crumb has been covered by powerlineblog.com extensively. He's a terrorist supporter; Nihad Awad of the terrorist lobby CAIR raised huge money for him. He's also been associated with Louis Farrakhan and with street gangs.
In other words, a mainstream Pelosi democrat.
d.o.l.
Criminal Number 18F
The terrorist have won...
then again, I voted for Ahmad Hassaný (r) to try and upset Sheila Jackson Lee....
Congratulations to the burqa-wearing Minnesotans.
Expect him to demanding a reading from the Koran before each session. If he don't get it, somebody is going to get sued. Way to go Amerika!
"Voters elected a black Democrat as the first Muslim in Congress"
The beginning of the end.
The Nation of Islam is officially represented in Congress.
Farrakhan follower wins in Minnesota.
Do Jewish people have to move out of his district?
Bump for later
This guy is creepy, someone said earlier that someone should keep an eye on him, and boy are they correct.
Just a little to high strung and nuts for me
You are still trying to get used to Machachas?
And Congress can't be in session on Friday....
While my fate yet is mine, I place my faith in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel.
"The Nation of Islam is officially represented in Congress.
Farrakhan follower wins in Minnesota.
Do Jewish people have to move out of his district?"
The Republican that he ran against is Jewish. The election of this CAIR-supported POS truly is an abomination.
Only in America.....
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