Ellison Responds to ADL Statement Criticizing Him for Disturbing Comments

[DonViejo]

Congressman Keith Ellison has responded to a statement today from the Anti-Defamation League criticizing past comments of his on Israel. The ADL had a more supportive statement of Ellison last week, but they released a more critical one today over comments they called “deeply disturbing and disqualifying.”

The comments in question concern a piece of audio uncovered of Ellison saying the following:

“The United States foreign policy in the Middle East is governed by what is good or bad through a country of 7 million people. A region of 350 million all turns on a country of 7 million. Does that make sense? Is that logic? Right? When the Americans who trace their roots back to those 350 million get involved, everything changes. Can I say that again?”

Ellison issued an open letter in response to the ADL, saying he’s “saddened” by their statement and providing the full context of what he was saying in those remarks:



http://www.mediaite.com/online/ellison-responds-to-adl-statement-criticizing-him-for-disturbing-comments/

[Yavin4]

1. So, Trump can have a White Supremacist work directly in the White House

But Keith Ellison can't comment on US Middle East policy without the ADL chiding him?

[DonViejo]

2. Anti-Defamation League decries Stephen Bannon, while many other Jewish groups stay silent

By Julie Zauzmer and Colby Itkowitz November 15

The Anti-Defamation League has long identified anti-Semites and racists who lurk on the Internet and in underground hate groups.

Five days after the presidential election, it condemned a leader of that corner of the internet who is about to be in the White House.

“The ADL strongly opposes the appointment of Steve Bannon as senior advisor and chief strategist in the White House,” the organization wrote about one of President-elect Donald Trump’s first choices for his new team. “It is a sad day when a man who presided over the premier website of the ‘alt-right’ — a loose-knit group of white nationalists and unabashed anti-Semites and racists — is slated to be a senior staff member in the ‘people’s house.’ ”

The ADL, whose mission is to prevent anti-Semitism and other forms of bigotry, has been joined by some Jewish organizations in calling out anti-Semitic behavior by Donald Trump’s supporters. The ADL’s stance during the campaign was criticized by the executive director of the Republican Jewish Coalition, which supports Republican candidates, as being too partisan. Other major Jewish organizations have held back in speaking out against Trump’s choice of Bannon as his chief strategist, preferring to pledge their hope of working with the new president and the administration that he is in the process of assembling.

-snip-

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2016/11/15/anti-defamation-league-decries-stephen-bannon-while-other-jewish-groups-stay-silent/?utm_term=.990a05b802ae

[riversedge]

3. I am glad he sent this letter. I would be favor of his being Chair of DNC except that I also

think it is a full time job-especially now.

[gratuitous]

4. I look forward to Greenblatt's reply

Ball's in your court, ADL.

[stevenleser]

5. I like this letter. It goes a long way toward assuaging my fears about him. nt

[think]

6. K&R

[leftynyc]

7. No, Rep. Ellison,

You didn't ALWAYS stand against anti-Semitism - you stood with screwy louis farrakhan for over a decade who LOUDLY called Judaism a gutter religion.

[dembotoz]

9. And the sainted Reagan posed for holy picture with the Taliban

Gop forgave Ronnie...u hold grudges longer?

[leftynyc]

10. Why would I ever

give a flying fuck what the gop does?

[ck4829]

8. Hopefully there will be a response, let's not let this be another ACORN

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=8317513

And if it's so serious, why did this mysterious recorder decide to hold onto it for about 6 years? Why not release it during a primary... or in 2010?

[TuslaUltra]

11. nice denial of the material on the tape, Keith.

fact is you got caught and tried to hide your views until you did. You're not going anywhere.

America supports Israel bc of common values and Israel allows America to project its power, reach, and influence in the Middle East without needing even more army bases, or having to worry about coups. Israel does not control anything we do.