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Allen West. Photo: Gage Skidmore, Flickr

Florida GOPer: Ellison represents the ‘antithesis of the principles upon which this country was established’

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By Luke Johnson | 01.24.11 | 3:55 pm

U.S. Rep. Allen West (R-Fla.) appeared recently on the South Florida-based program The Shalom Show and said Minnesota Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.), the only Muslim representative in Congress, represents the “antithesis of the principles upon which this country was established.”

Bradlee Dean. Photo: Facebook

Bradlee Dean: Keith Ellison is advancing Sharia law through ‘homosexual agenda’

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By Andy Birkey | 12.01.10 | 10:15 am

Bradlee Dean of the religious ministry You Can Run But You Cannot Hide International believes Rep. Keith Ellison’s support for LGBT rights is part of his strategy to bring Sharia law to the United States. On his radio show Saturday, Dean said that members of the LGBT community are fools for supporting Ellison and that the Minnesota Democrat is “adamant about overthrowing the United States Constitution.”

Tea Party Nation’s Judson Phillips defends endorsement of Torgerson over Ellison

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By Andy Birkey | 10.27.10 | 2:26 pm

Judson Phillips, the founder of the Tea Party Nation, sent supporters an email last night defending his decision to endorse independent Lynne Torgerson based on Rep. Keith Ellison’s faith. “Should Muslims be denied the right to run for office because of their religion? No,” wrote Phillips. “The Constitution specifies that no religious test can be used to exclude someone from public office. But when someone adheres to an ideology that says kill people who disagree with you, that is something voters should seriously consider when they vote.”

Lynne Torgerson. Photo: Facebook

Tea Party Nation backs Torgerson because Ellison is Muslim

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By Andy Birkey | 10.26.10 | 8:30 am

Tea Party Nation founder Judson Phillips sent an email to members on Saturday that said voters should pick independent Lynne Torgerson over Rep. Keith Ellison in the 5th Congressional District race because, “He is the only Muslim member of congress.” Torgerson, who has been very critical of Muslims in general and Ellison in particular, spoke out about the issue on a Christian radio show last week.

Minnesota’s faithful plan event to counter uptick in anti-Muslim rhetoric

By Andy Birkey | 09.17.10 | 1:35 pm

Some of Minnesota’s largest faith organizations are planning an event to counter a recent rise in anti-Muslim sentiment following controversy over a planned Muslim community center in New York City and threats of Koran-burnings by fundamentalist Christians. The event will…

Bachmann to appear at “Sharia report” release

By Andy Birkey | 09.15.10 | 8:24 am

According to the Washington Times, Rep. Michele Bachmann will be on hand at Wednesday afternoon’s release of a new report that proponents say offers a “second opinion” on President Obama’s assertion that terrorism is a product of violent extremists…

Ellison: Religious bigotry behind recent anti-Muslim fervor

By Andy Birkey | 09.08.10 | 2:15 pm

Rep. Keith Ellison says the anti-Muslim fervor currently being seen around the country is “religious bigotry, nothing more, nothing less,” and in an interview with the BBC he pointed to Fox News as a contributing factor in the…

Ellison tells Dems to stand up for Ground Zero Islamic center

By Andy Birkey | 08.20.10 | 9:47 am

Rep. Keith Ellison appeared on Democracy Now on Thursday to discuss the controversy over a planned Muslim community center blocks from Ground Zero in New York City. Ellison said that Democrats need to remember the Constitution and support…

Ellison: Anti-mosque activists are the ‘radical extreme’

By Andy Birkey | 08.13.10 | 8:18 am

Rep. Keith Ellison spoke out against calls to halt construction of any new mosques in the United States on Countdown with Keith Olbermann on Wednesday. Several right wing groups,…

Minnesota’s Chemberlin decries ‘xenophobia, bigotry’ of opponents of Islamic center near 9/11 site

By Paul Schmelzer | 08.11.10 | 1:14 pm

Gov. Tim Pawlenty isn’t the only Minnesotan weighing in on an Islamic center planned for construction near New York’s World Trade Center: Peg Chemberlin, executive director of the Minnesota Council of Churches and president of the National Council