Keith Ellison first Muslim in U.S. Congress

Keith Ellison recently became the first Muslim ever elected to a seat in the U.S. Congress with his winning a seat in the House of Representatives. He also became the first African-American from Minnesota to be elected to Congress, as part of the Democrat Party's victory in the 2006 Congressional elections.
He has already been making waves; on November 13 skipping a private dinner for freshman congressman hosted by President Bush. Instead, he attended an AFL-CIO event in order to meet with prominent labor leaders. "It wasn't even a close call," a recent AP report quoted Ellison as saying. "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."
News reports indicate Ellison's election likely had more to do with his competence as a law-maker and stance on social issues such as labor and health care, rather than any real political radicalism or religious identity. The House of Representatives has not yet assigned incoming Representatives to committees, but Ellison is reportedly interested in the Education and the Workforce, Judiciary and the Energy and Commerce committees. Speaking to his role as an American lawmaker and a Muslim, Ellison told the International Herald Tribune (9/22/2006), "Muslims want to express themselves in American life -- just like all other Americans do. I think that it's very encouraging that while some people seek extremism, American Muslims are seeking inclusion and engagement in the American body politic."
Included here is a transcript of what seems to be Ellison's most lengthy interview since his election. The following includes excerpts from a Democracy Now! interview with Amy Goodman on November 8, 2006.
AMY GOODMAN: You're not only the first Muslim elected to Congress, you are also Minnesota's first non-white representative in Washington. Can you talk about the significance of both?
KEITH ELLISON: Well, you know, I think it represents that a whole new group of folks can feel welcome to get involved in American politics and shape it within their own image, in an image that they believe reflects their values and their needs, as well. That's a great thing. I mean, the fact is, is that people of all colors, all cultures came together to help us in our bid for Congress, and we were able to succeed. You know, my campaign office, since the very beginning, looked like the UN. We had everybody in the room, people of all faiths, all cultures, all colors, working together behind a progressive agenda to challenge this Iraq policy, to raise the issue about the 47 million uninsured, to talk about fair working and middle class economics, to talk about the right to organize in labor unions, clean renewable energy, behind a progressive agenda.
AMY GOODMAN: Keith Ellison, you were a two-term state representative, a former criminal defense attorney. What are your main issues that you will bring to Washington?
KEITH ELLISON: Well, you know, in terms of my own personal things that I'm really concerned about, the war in Iraq is probably, you know, top on my list. I got into the race, because I was so opposed to the Bush policy. I opposed it from the very beginning, and then as this -- and I knew this war would never come to a good end. And unfortunately, well, and I was right, and I'm not proud of being right, but those of us who opposed this war from the beginning were right.
And so, now what we need to do is help the American people find their way out of this thing. So many feel like we can't get out, and we can't stay. You know, but I'm in favor of trying to organize people to bring the troops home, because I think this thing has been an abysmal failure.
I also think we need to stand up for the civil and human rights of the American people. The Military Commissions Act is just another example of how this war has had a corrosive effect on our civil and human rights. And we need to really begin to stand up for the Constitution again. So those are just a few things that I really feel strong about.