Freshman Rep. Ellison Chooses AFL-CIO Reception Over Meeting President

[goodhue]

http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7005527100

Freshman Rep. Ellison Chooses AFL-CIO Reception Over Meeting President

November 15, 2006 2:29 p.m. EST

Julie Farby - All Headline News Staff Writer

Washington, D.C. (AHN)-Incoming freshman congressman Rep.-elect Keith Ellison opted out of meeting President Bush, but he had a good excuse: another meeting which he considered too important to miss.

The Minnesota Democrat, who is replacing outgoing Rep. Martin Sabo, tells reporters, "I went to the AFL-CIO reception, because I wanted to meet and greet leaders of labor, and get to know them. Those are the people who I came here to support."

Ellison, who is already making history as the first black lawmaker from Minnesota, and the first Muslim to ever serve in Congress, added that "It wasn't even a close call," telling the AP, "He's the president, and I respect him in his role as the president, but I have exceedingly sharp differences with him on a policy level."

With House members anxiously awaiting committee assignments in the newly-Democratic leaning chamber, Ellison hopes to serve on the Energy and Commerce; Education and the Workforce; and Judiciary committees.

He believes a post on these committees will enable him to focus on one of the issues he holds most dearly; an issue apparently more important than a meeting with the President: Equality for the middle class. So what exactly does that mean to Ellison? "Tax justice, a livable minimum wage, the right to organize a labor union" he said.

http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7005527100

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. I like my new Congressman already.

:woohoo:

[calimary]

16. I like your new Congressman already, too.

So spake this union member.

[SharonAnn]

17. Me too. I'm jealous.

[RobbinsdaleDem]

30. I like my new Congressman, too.

[Thor_MN]

33. Make it three constituants that approve of his choice.

[texpatriot2004]

2. Way to go! nm

[rodeodance]

3. yah HO>

[TAPat]

4. Sweet. Putting his body

where his mouth is - so to speak.

[Bitwit1234]

5. AS we know

The party is called Democrats, Farmers and Labor DFL...(I think I got that correct) so I suppose he is doing what he was elected to do. Good for him.

[goodhue]

8. Close

The DFL is the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party . . .

[ThomCat]

6. That is a great way to start his new job!

:applause:

[Nite Owl]

7. Refreshing, he sounds like

one who will not be drawn in by the DC inner circles.

[EST]

9. Hooo-raaah!

Another new dem elect with balls--oops! I mean spine!

[fasttense]

10. Well this Congressman knows who his real boss is

and it sure ain't the pretzel-man.

[Orsino]

11. Awesome.

But how long can he resist putting the lobbyists onto his calendar?

[LiberalFighter]

20. I don't have a problem with any elected meeting with lobbyists

Remember that lobbyists are more effective at educating the elected member about the issues of importance.

In a manner of speaking those AFL-CIO leaders are lobbyists. The AFL-CIO and many labor organizations have lobbyists in DC and at state houses in many of the states. If we didn't have labor lobbyists our voice would be very small.

I do have a problem when they are using the process to line their pockets personally or those of their friends at the expense of those that can least afford it.

[Orsino]

35. I object principally to the corporate lobbyists...

...and am inclined to look with favor on those for organized labor. The corporate whores have proven all too effective at "educating" our representatives.

[sinkingfeeling]

12. I think I'm gonna like this guy!

[lapfog_1]

13. It's unlikely that the White House security staff would have let him

meet the President anyway, him being on a no-fly list and probably on a list of suspected terrorists.

Him being one of those evil Muslims and all.

:sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm:

(edit to add that I contributed $100 to his campaign! And no, I don't live anywhere near his district)

[NOLADEM]

14. Nice choice... Good play by labor to force the choice

[NastyRiffraff]

15. Gotta love this guy...

..he has a pair. Especially after some of the RW hate sites were screaming "Muslim! Terrorist! In the Congress! And he has a web site with something in Arabic!!!!!!!" It took balls to diss Bush (who richly deserves it).

Keep it up!

[ninkasi]

18. I like him already

It sounds like he's going to be actually representing the people he was elected to represent. I hope that unions can gain some strength again, because corporate greed is destroying us.

[Morgana LaFey]

19. Boy does he have his priorities straight

Wow.

[MarkTwain]

21. Ellison ... carving out his own place (Snubs Bush Big Time)

Ellison already carving out his own place in congress
By Frederic J. Frommer, Associated Press Writer

While his fellow incoming freshman were attending a private White House reception with President Bush Monday night, Rep.-elect Keith Ellison had what he considered a more important appointment to keep. "I went to the AFL-CIO reception, because I wanted to meet and greet leaders of labor, and get to know them," Ellison, D-Minn., said in an interview during a break from freshman orientation Tuesday. "Those are the people who I came here to support."

"It wasn't even a close call," added Ellison, who is replacing the retiring Rep. Martin Sabo, a Democrat. "Maybe one day I'll get to meet the president. He's the president, and I respect him in his role as the president, but I have exceedingly sharp differences with him on a policy level." Ellison is one of four new lawmakers who will represent Minnesota next year. He'll be the first black lawmaker from Minnesota, and the first Muslim to ever serve in Congress.

- SNIP -

http://www.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=139587

... We need about 300 more Democrats like this guy.

[NOLADEM]

22. He made the right choice. He would have needed a food taster anyway.

A black, pro-labor, former Nation of Islam, pro-choice, anti-war, pro-gay rights Muslim Democrat who favors socialized medicine?

Holy shit. This guy is the Boogie Man to the Repukes.

I like him already.

[trotsky]

25. Imagine how good you'd feel if he was your representative.

He's mine. :)

[anotherdrew]

27. he made the right choice, why didn't the rest? n/t

[gully]

23. He's going to be very exciting to watch.

nt

[Cha]

24. Good for Ellison! I can't

wait to see what my guy is gonna do.

High hopes from his victory speech..

[MarkTwain]

26. This Vile Son Of A Bitch:

CNN's Beck to first-ever Muslim congressman: "hat I feel like saying is, 'Sir, prove to me
that you are not working with our enemies' "

On the November 14 edition of his CNN Headline News program, Glenn Beck interviewed Rep.-elect Keith Ellison (D-MN), who became the first Muslim ever elected to Congress on November 7, and asked Ellison if he could "have five minutes here where we're just politically incorrect and I play the cards up on the table." After Ellison agreed, Beck said: "I have been nervous about this interview with you, because what I feel like saying is, 'Sir, prove to me that you are not working with our enemies.' " Beck added: "I'm not accusing you of being an enemy, but that's the way I feel, and I think a lot of Americans will feel that way."

As Media Matters for America has noted, Beck previously warned that if "Muslims and Arabs" don't "act now" by "step to the plate" to condemn terrorism, they "will be looking through a razor wire fence at the West" and declared that "Muslims who have sat on your frickin' hands the whole time" rather than "lining up to shoot the bad Muslims in the head" will face dire consequences.

- SNIP; TRANSCRIPT FOLLOWS -

http://mediamatters.org/items/200611150004

[annabanana]

28. Keith's "Worst Person in the World" tonight = Beck....

KO looked right at the camera and said to Beck "Prove to us YOU'RE not working with our enemies!"

[Thor_MN]

32. By Beck, I assume you mean that a-hole Glenn Beck, not Beck, the singer.

Glenn Beck appears to be an opportunist whore, willing to say anything to milk the cash cow of conservative hate.

[ProgressiveEconomist]

29. What a great first headline for him! Scrapbook time.

His priorities still remained straight when he got to DC.

[Triana]

31. I like this guy! He's not my congrescritter but I like his attitude! (n/t)

[Robeson]

34. I'm really liking this guy!...

...:toast:

[pberq]

36. Kick & Nominated