USA-MINNESOTA: ***UPDATE***ELLISON***UPDATE***

Minnesotan campaigns to be the first Muslim elected to Congress
By Rochelle Olson and Kevin Diaz
McClatchy Newspapers

MINNEAPOLIS - Before a recent University of Minnesota lunchtime candidate forum, Democratic state Rep. Keith Ellison did something unusual: He ate pizza.

For much of his campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives, Ellison was forced to go without food or water during daylight hours because of the Muslim observance of Ramadan. If he's successful on Nov. 7, Ellison, who converted to Islam while in college in his native Detroit, would become the first Muslim and the first African-American from Minnesota elected to Congress.

Ellison says he finds being a groundbreaking candidate because of his religion "not that interesting."

But Republican opponent Alan Fine has made Ellison's past and faith major issues in the campaign to succeed 28-year Rep. Martin Sabo in the 5th District.

Fine has repeatedly asked about Ellison's interest in the Nation of Islam and money he accepted from leaders of the Council on American-Islam Relations, or CAIR. Ellison also has come under criticism for failing to pay income taxes and parking tickets, which caused a license revocation, and for failing to file campaign-funding reports.

He admits his problems remain a concern for voters.

"They don't like it. It's bad. It's a personal failing," he said.

But of the religious attacks, "it's all smear stuff," Ellison said. "I must have taken hundreds of votes, introduced lots of bills, made comments in committees. You know how often I've been asked about my record in the legislature? It's almost completely ignored."

The religious attacks are coming into sharper focus this week as CAIR launches a TV ad in Minnesota disavowing any ties between Islam and terrorism.

The campaign, dubbed "Not in the Name of Islam," will air for a week on cable networks throughout the state, including during Monday night's Vikings football game. But rather than blunt the criticism of Ellison, the ad has added fuel to the fire over his ties to CAIR, as well as to his past ties to Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan.

"CAIR is to Muslims as the Ku Klux Klan is to Christians," Fine said Tuesday. "I don't think that we can say that CAIR truly represents Muslims in America."

Bridget Cusick, a spokesman for Ellison, noted that Ellison hasn't received formal organizational support from CAIR, other than personal contributions from some of its leaders.

Ellison, 43, was elected to the legislature four years ago. He cites his work supporting the removal of lead-based paint in old housing, the conversion of a coal-fired electricity plant to gas and the repeal of vagrancy laws that criminalized homelessness.

In Washington, he says, his priorities would be getting U.S. troops out of Iraq, universal single-payer health care and the environment.

Republican bloggers raised his past ties to the controversial Farrakhan. Ellison said he helped organize the Million Man March in Washington, D.C., but never belonged to the Nation of Islam, and he's since told Jewish groups that he regretted not reacting more quickly to Farrakhan's anti-Semitic positions.

Regarding CAIR, Ellison has called founder Nihad Awad an acquaintance. The group is a prominent advocate for the interests of Muslims in the United States and has condemned terrorism. Some, however, have leveled criticism at the group for showing what they consider sympathy for terrorist groups.

The group's new ad campaign is designed to counter what it called "anti-Muslim stereotyping" in the race.

Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak has been a solid supporter of Ellison throughout the campaign.
"He clearly understands what he has to do, including get an extremely strong staff around him," Rybak said. "He's a healer who can bring people together. He's one of the few people who can bring all the complicated parties of north Minneapolis together."

Parvez Ahmed, an associate finance professor at the University of North Florida and the national chairman of CAIR, said Ellison could give Muslims a voice in Congress that doesn't exist.
If he wins, "it will certainly be an inspirational moment," Ahmed said. "It would certainly encourage the younger generation and show them the system remains open."

All Muslims would see that "instead of complaining, that they could proactively engage in the system. That is something we are so proud of about America."


Previous posts concerning Ellison & his bid to become the first moslem in Congress:

1) Farrakhan's Candidate
2) American Muslims Rally Around Congressional Candidate Ellison
3) Islamic organization to host Florida fundraiser for Ellison
4) Keith Ellison, possible 1st Muslim in Congress, alleges blackmail
5) Muslim congressional candidate low-key about faith

Pertinent Links:

1) Minnesotan campaigns to be the first Muslim elected to Congress