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Detroit Star Tribune - May 15, 2006
Muslim candidate receives DFL
endorsement to succeed Rep. Sabo
By Rochelle Olson
… (Detroit State Representative Keith) Ellison's style and personal history are under inspection as never before since he received the DFL (Democratic-Farmer-Labor party) endorsement in stunningly strong fashion May 6 to succeed Rep. Martin Sabo in the Fifth District Congressional seat. The seat, which Sabo will have held for 28 years, has been a DFL stronghold, although Ellison appears likely to face a challenge in the September primary, and Republican, Independence and Green Party candidates are running in November.
Ellison became a Muslim while at Wayne State University in Detroit, and if he wins, he would apparently be the only Muslim in Congress. He said he became interested in Islam after reading 'The Autobiography of Malcolm X,' but that there was no 'epiphany' that led him to the faith. 'I just started studying it and found it interesting and here I am,' he said.' I lead my life in a way to not make religion a big deal.'" -
Ellison says his campaign will be about peace, economic justice and universal health care. As a legislator, he's earned a reputation as a hard worker even while in the minority party. He leads DFLers in the number of bills authored, trailing only a handful of Republicans.
He's successfully pushed for mercury and lead protection. He's known for speaking out on voting rights and civil rights matters.
More than one person has compared Ellison's oratory power and progressive passion to the late Sen. Paul Wellstone.
Mayor R.T. Rybak, who has endorsed Ellison, received the e-mail and called it "the rotten side of politics" where old quotes are taken out of context. Nonetheless, Blois Olson, copublisher of www.politicsinminnesota .com, said Ellison must address the rumors that he was something of a firebrand. "He is bold and articulate on many issues. This one needs to become a priority quickly so resentment and questions don't continue," Olson said.
Ellison said he has no ties to Farrakhan nor does his mosque, Masjid An-Nur where Imam Makram El-Amin is a north Minneapolis native who is known for his outreach work with churches and synagogues.
El-Amin said Ellison should be judged on his public record, not his faith.
"That's all we can ask," El-Amin said. "He's humorous. He's serious. There's a lot of dimensions to Keith. If he's going to be cast off because of this, we're going to be missing a strong leader."
Challenging Ellison is former state Sen. Ember Reichgott Junge and Minneapolis City Council Member Paul Ostrow. Former state DFL Party Chair Mike Erlandson is undecided…..
http://www.startribune.com/587/story/432194.html
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