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.”
Now that would be awesome
We're living a crazy PC world if a Muslim calls the police about cigar smoke and the cop feels he has to respond, even though cigar smoking is not illegal.
Just getting you ready for dhimmitude Rep. Tancredo. Don't be so uppity next time.
I heard Obama quit smoking recently, and is chewing nicotine gum like it's going out of style. So maybe an invitation to a "smoker" isn't quite his speed any more...
It is illegal to smoke in Federal buildings...the man who would be President thinks himself above the law?
There is a law banning smoking in ALL Federal buildings; members of Congress have exempted themselves from the restriction they voted to impose on everyone else.
Ellison is nothing more than a publicity seeking clown. Let him be pressed like a turd in his Koran.
"I don't care if people smoke...but the minute it crosses MY life...it's outta here."
How very tolerant of you.
Smoking in a Federal bulding is illegal, the members of Congress however have exempted themselves from the restriction.
Note the wording in the article:
"The officer had already told Ellison that Tancredo was permitted to smoke in his office."
Why is Tancredo, or for that matter any member of Congress, "permitted" to violate laws they themselves enacted?
"..he just shows how lacking he is in concensus skills."
Are his deficiencies as great as your lack of spelling skills?
force feed him and kill him.
"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."
Ref. the new Senator Webb's statements and actions to GWB - when you consider the left, you're not talking about adults, you're talking about crazed late term adolescents.
If I'm smoking in MY place you can be 'outta there' alright. With a boot in your back end if you like.
Beautiful! lol!
Tom should order in breakfast...and be sure to include bacon.
Whatever...cigar smoke stinks.
If you are Rush...and you can afford your own smoke cube...more power to you. I love that Rush smokes cigars!!
It's when you inflict them on others...that's the problem.
Has Ellison demanded the toilets be removed so they don't face Mecca when he's dumping? That's next.
It won't be long before Ellison demands that every other Congressman convert to Islam or they will lose their heads.
Hmmmm. That might not be all bad.
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