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.”
And barbeque spare ribs.
Ellison needs a big ol' puff of smoke right in his face: don't go away mad Ellison, just go... away ;-)
Not a good way to make friends .. that's for sure
touche!
It seems to me that Muslims do more whining & complaining then most people. Its like they look for things to complain about.
Bill Clinton uses cigars for something else.
Ask Clinton about that. Bet he is an expert.
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And we for sure know which 5 times.
I agree with #19...I'm not alone.
I think this is a hoot.
"There was smoke coming through the walls!"...LOL
To some degree I can see your point. This did take place in a public building, in the true sense of the word "public."
Still...would you call the cops for something like this? It seems that it would make a little more sense to at least ask the smoker - politely - to put out the cigar before running to the police.
I haven't had to ask this of smokers very often, but whenever I have they complied with my request immediately.
Sounds like Ellison's "puttin on the diaper".
They only do when they're running for re-election.
Send Ellison a ham for Christmas.
Maybe the officer likes Tancredo and doesn't like Ellison and wanted to give Tancredo the heads up that the freshman congressman is a PITA! (Plausible theory, no?)
I busted a gut laughing. This Ellison to me comes off as a drama queen.
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