On MSNBC, Lynne Torgerson claims Ellison doesn’t hold the U.S. Constitution ‘supreme’
Wednesday, June 29, 2011 at 9:33 am
- 20 Comments
MSNBC’s The Ed Show on MSNBC turned its focus on Minnesota’s Fifth Congressional District race as candidate Lynne Torgerson spoke with Rev. Al Sharpton about incumbent Rep. Keith Ellison last night. The contentious back and forth centered on Torgerson’s claim that Ellison, a Muslim, doesn’t hold the U.S. Constitution “supreme” over Shariah law. Her beef: Ellison said the U.S. Constitution is the “bedrock” of American law, but didn’t say it was “supreme.”
Torgerson announced her candidacy last week on the Tea Party Nation website, where she called Ellison a “radical Islamist” who “fails to oppose banning Islamic Sharia law in the United States.” Ellison responded, stating in an email to supporters that “Torgerson intends to run a campaign based on hate, division, and fear. Just like in 2010, we’re not going to let our opponent’s divisive rhetoric set the tone of this campaign.”
On The Ed Show, Sharpton asked Torgerson, “What evidence do you have that he’s not committed to the Constitution?”
Torgerson replied, stating that she’s “not anti-Muslim in any way, shape or form,” before going on to say, “Mr. Congressman Ellison has been long been associated with the most extremist groups around. He has close ties to CAIR, the Council on American-Islamic relations, which was a named co-conspirator to funding terrorism in the Holy Land Foundation trial—”
Sharpton interrupted her to again ask her whether she has evidence to back her claim that the congressman doesn’t hold the Constitution “supreme” or whether she’s “fearmongering and demagoguing to get votes.”
She says Ellison “refused” to answer the question, but Sharpton noted that in a clip played on the show and credited to Torgerson’s campaign Ellison answers it.
“I believe that the United States Constitution, which has been amended well over 25 times, is the bedrock of American law,” Ellison said in the clip. “This whole movement to ban Shariah — bills like this have been introduced in 22 states — in my view is a very thinly disguised effort at religious persecution of people that are Muslim.”
To that, Torgerson said, “Actually, what he said is the U.S. Constitution is the bedrock of American law. That does not answer the question of what should be supreme currently… Mr. Ellison actually evaded the question.”
Ellison’s office sent a statement to The Ed Show underscoring his stance and taking Torgerson to task for her “extreme” and “intolerant” rhetoric:
I took an oath to uphold the U.S. Constitution, which guarantees freedom of religion for all Americans. Religious acceptance is a deeply rooted American value, and regardless of political persuasion, it’s a value we must protect.
It’s too bad that someone can obtain so much attention based on their intolerant rhetoric, especially when unemployment is above 9 percent. On the other hand, the nation will be able to see how extreme the rhetoric has become. I call on all Americans to reject religious intolerance and embrace our constitution which upholds the promise of liberty and justice for all people.
One other question Sharpton asked: Since Ellison got 68 percent of the vote in 2010, compared to Torgerson’s nearly 4 percent, “Is 68 percent of your district radical Islamic sympathizers?”
“No sir, I wouldn’t say so,” she said. Asked why so many people voted for Ellison, she answered, “I don’t believe people yet know what his associations and his actual agenda is.”
Torgerson, who ran as an independent against Ellison in 2010, tells Roll Call that this time around she’ll be running as a Republican.
Here’s the exchange, via Chris Steller at Fridley Patch:
20 Comments
Comment posted June 29, 2011 @ 9:51 am
Join Keith in support of liberty and justice for ALL people at http://www.keithellison.org/
Comment posted June 29, 2011 @ 10:01 am
I don’t think a witch hunt is in the nation’s best interests, Ms. Torgerson. Besides, do Michele Bachmann, T-Paw or any of the Christian fundamentalists really “hold the Constitution supreme?”
Praise Jebus, God hates religious tolerance, Amen.
Comment posted June 29, 2011 @ 10:46 am
Be fair Carl. She’s hunting Muslims, not Witches.
There are other people who hunt witches. Religious bigots need to split duties after all.
Next up, despite having people like this using their web site for announcements, Tea Party Nation wonders why they’re considered bigots.
Comment posted June 29, 2011 @ 10:48 am
So this is the best the Tea bags have to offer. No wonder they are thinning out. The only reason they remain is some news channels still report on them.
Comment posted June 29, 2011 @ 11:39 am
This is disconcerting on so many levels. Evasion of direct question, so like Bachmann, prevarication just like Limmer, hairdo just like… fresh out of bed.
Is it our water? Have we fouled our waters to the point where dementia is becoming prevalent, the list grows ever longer and the camera time ever so much more embarrassing. I’m going to give up water, I just have to.
Let’s get a MN constitutional amendment banning our politicians and candidates from camera time.
Jeff Wilfahrt, Rosemount, MN
Comment posted June 29, 2011 @ 12:04 pm
I wonder how close her home is to a 3M drainage pipe???
Comment posted June 29, 2011 @ 12:36 pm
@EricF, Lol, I agree. Delegation of duties is paramount for the effective distribution of bigotry and paranoia. My mistake. ;)
Praise Jebus, God hates micromanaging, Amen.
Comment posted June 29, 2011 @ 12:36 pm
Absolutely incapable of answering a question! I can’t believe she actually lives in my district.
I want someone to ask her if the Constitution is supreme over Biblical law. In fact, I want that asked of any candidate. Anyone who hems or haws or tries to claim the Constitution is founded on the Bible should never get a vote from anyone. Ever.
Comment posted June 29, 2011 @ 12:40 pm
P.S. She needs to take her fingers out of that electrical outlet, it’s really messing up her do.
Comment posted June 29, 2011 @ 12:53 pm
This lawyer can’t even manage to research what she puts on her website. She has “facts” about “Obamacare” listed on her site. Apparently she can click to open e-mail and can cut and paste! Atta’ girl, Lynne!
Compare! Enjoy!
http://torgersonforcongress.blogspot.com/2011/06/obamacare-exposed-rationed-health-care.html
So if you see Lynne and read this, throw some water on her – her pants are on fire!
Comment posted June 29, 2011 @ 5:00 pm
If this woman were ever given power I’m quite sure she’d institute thought police. She has now criticized Ellison for not saying something she wants him to twice. First she claimed he had failed to ban sharia law, and now she is saying he has failed to state that he holds the U.S. Constitution “supreme” even though he said something with identical meaning. This tells me that A) She expects people to read her mind and B) She can’t find anything wrong with what Ellison has ACTUALLY said so he has resorted to picking on him for things he HASN’T said. It’s pure madness!
Comment posted June 29, 2011 @ 10:13 pm
Now this. What is wrong Minnesota? You’re starting to out crazy South Carolina. I should know. I live here. Thank G-d there’s an up and coming state to take away the national wingnut spotlight for a change.
Two summers ago,back on the Appalachian Trail, all Letterman had to say was , “…and in news from South Carolina” to bring down the house. I am afraid and saddened that a state I have admired much from afar is heading in the same direction.
Best wishes for a 96% plurality Rep. Ellison.
Comment posted June 30, 2011 @ 6:27 am
Ms. Torgerson,
The people of Minneapolis rejected you last time and you’re not changing any minds now.
Comment posted June 30, 2011 @ 8:11 am
what pisses me off more-so…is THESE WOMEN have NO clue to thier own History (women’s rights)…they have NO respect for thier past,and How they got where they are…..they Live Off the backs of REAL women who Fought for Social Justice,and the RIGHT to VOTE..to have a say in Gov’t…now they TAKE IT FOR GRANTED….Morph into Typical LOSER politicians.
Comment posted June 30, 2011 @ 9:01 am
“Government SHALL NOT Respect the establishment of Religion ”
~The First Amendment Bill of Rights~
The problem with today’s Christian Satanists Party is that they think that the Constitution is some Biblical Passage.. Guess what Christians?? IT IS NOT !! It never was and (hopefully) NEVER will be..
God save us from the Christians !!
Comment posted June 30, 2011 @ 12:18 pm
Why is this kook getting any attention? She’s another Harold Camping.
Comment posted June 30, 2011 @ 3:49 pm
This woman is a joke. She can’t even speak cogently. Why is she getting any attention at all? Minnesota, we can do better–a LOT better–than this!
Comment posted June 30, 2011 @ 4:08 pm
“I don’t believe people yet know what his associations and his actual agenda is.”
Notice the pattern. Behind every sincere effort to conduct scientific research or make positive social change, or simply because something or someone might differ in some small way, the right-wing imagination can’t help itself but suspect there must be something sinister and hidden about it, a hidden agenda.
-There’s the alleged gay agenda.
-There’s the alleged socialist agenda of thousands of scientists and environmentalists worldwide plotting to take control of the economy through the supposed hoax of climate change.
-There’s the secular humanist conspiracy behind evolution. After all, every god-fearing person knows Jesus sprinkled Holy Ghost Magic Dust near the sun to create our planet and all life on it 6000 years ago.
And, as if reading from some shared handbook of paranoia and conspiracy furtively passed around by conservatives in the bathrooms of megachuches, there’s the secret Muslim agenda being advanced by world domination plotter and human enslavement strategist, Representative Keith Ellison.
Comment posted July 8, 2011 @ 9:58 am
wow – the hate and intolerance from Ellison’s supporters is amazing
you all hate Jesus, Republicans, lawyers, women, and pretty much everything
it’s obvious why Minnesota has such a bad reputation nationwide
Comment posted July 8, 2011 @ 10:10 am
Heh. Mike, not aware Minnesota has such a bad reputation. Great schools, high quality of life, lots of literate active people, top biking state, top graduation rates, beautiful natural resources, plenty of internationally recognized arts and culture. But if you’re not a fan, by all means don’t visit!
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