Posted on 02/13/2007 8:09:35 PM PST by NapkinUser
Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) believes it is his right as a Muslim to be sworn into Congress with the Quran. But apparently, the freshman lawmaker doesn’t believe it’s Rep. Tom Tancredo’s (R-Colo.) right to smoke a cigar in his congressional office.
Ellison’s office called the Capitol Hill Police on Tancredo last Wednesday night as Tancredo was in his office smoking a cigar. The lawmakers have neighboring offices on the first floor of the Longworth House Office Building.
Tancredo was still stunned a day later. “It’s very bizarre,” said Tancredo, who has never met Ellison. “Seemed to me not a good way to say hello.”
And let’s face it. Calling the cops on a colleague takes the cake for the nerviest behavior so far among members of this year’s freshman class of Congress.
This is how it all went down. On Wednesday evening, around 6 p.m., Tancredo was preparing for his trip to Mississippi. And as he so often does, he was unwinding with a cigar.
Soon enough, however, a police officer walked in to check on the smoke. The officer told Tancredo that the officer came because he was required to do so and not because the officer wanted to. The officer had already told Ellison that Tancredo was permitted to smoke in his office. The visit was more a formality.
Tancredo said he would not stop smoking in his office. “Heck, no!” he said. “If he [Ellison] would have [had] the courtesy to say something I’m sure I would have been more accommodating to his wishes.”
To help keep his office free of impurities, Tancredo has three air purifiers. And he has no plans to meet Ellison anytime soon. “I’m sure we will, but I’m not going to make a point [of it],” the presidential hopeful said, adding that he supported Ellison’s right to be sworn in with the Quran.
Ellison’s press secretary, Rick Jauert, made the call to the Superintendent’s office when he noticed the smoke. “I called because the smoke was coming through the walls,” Jauert said, adding that the Superintendent’s office referred him to the Capitol Police.
Jauert said he then informed his boss what he had done. He said “fine,” Jauert said. “He’s complained of the smoke before.”
What would you have wanted him to do? Pacify Ellison? Beg him not to be offended? What?
As long as the smoke doesn't come into MY space...good on ya!!!
Thank God. We've got enough RINOs in the Grand Old Party.
this has to rank as one of the silliest ever posts at FR
The man was smoking in his own office. Have you ever seen a Congressional office? They are very large, they are suites of offices, actually. They are larger than most people's homes.
Tancredo can do anything legal he damned well feels like doing and doesn't have to worry about concensus [sic].
Yep...they are porous, old buildings. Smoke travels freely.
Are you kidding me, he is what you call a florescent muslim, just like the florescent gays, they make a profession of egging people on...to 'offend them.'
Imbeciles.
"I don't care if people smoke...but the minute it crosses MY life...it's outta here."
You must live in the country and have a horse and buggy along with all your neighbors. Since if you live in an area where there are vehicles emitting, then you are exposed to carcenogins inspite of your fanatical fear of tobacco smoke.
So which is it? Do you reside in a rural horse and buggy society? Or a city with vehicles emitting carcenogins?
I ask because if you drive a car, or expose yourself to any vehicles, then you are being subjected to known carcenogins.
So if you think you are safe because you get tobacco smoke "outta here," then you are making a spectacle of yourself. Since to live in your bubble, you must get "outta here" every single carcenogin known to man. Otherwise, just going after tobacco smokers, well, you're simply living in a fantasy world.
Goodluck escaping the carcenogins.
LOL... you know, you might get an ounce of sympathy from me if you didn't want somebody to smoke IN THE ROOM you are in. But cripes... WAAAH. Somebody in another room...
As problems go, I hope you know that there's way bigger ones than this in the universe. Honest.
Fercryinoutloud. Did it ever occur to you that maybe some people smoke merely to keep the control freaks at a comfortable distance? :-)
Ellison and crew are more likely subject to airborne bacteria in that building than some cigar smoke. Dollars to donuts Ellison before his conversion was a dope smoker.
People really need to get a life.
Thanks for the tax dollars, baby!! I mean that sincerely! Glad I don't have to pay 'em!!!
That's a real shame. Almost.
I'm so sick of these radicals. Islam is the religion of pi$$.
To hell with you moderate Muslims. Grow a set and take your religion back!!!! As far as Tancredo v. Ellison-- Tom. Take your cigar and ram it up Ellison's....
WHAT THE F IS WRONG WITH THE SHHEPLE OF MINNESOTA????
No doubt. He'll probably demand a public call to prayer over the loudspeaker system. Five times a day. And the Dems and 14 RINOs will say "yes, let's do that!"
Sharia law is being proposed in the Capital building soon. Nancy and Hitlery are being fitted for their burkas.
Diane Sawyer already has hers.
And wears it lovingly.
He's a Muslim and a liberal. You can't be more of a 'victim' than that. Oh, wait, now he's a 'victim' of Tancredo's cigar smoke. Tomorrow he'll be a 'victim' of those 'mean old right wing bloggers.'
"Thanks for the tax dollars, baby!! I mean that sincerely! Glad I don't have to pay 'em!!!"
I don't know why you are thanking me? I don't smoke.
Ok, I'm an ex-smoker, years now, who can empathize with smokers.
However, the fact remains, few if any in our society are free from exposure to carcenogins, even if there weren't any tobacco smokers.
Prove me wrong.
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