(UPDATED) VIDEO: Ellison Calls Bachmann's Muslim Brotherhood Claims a 'Phantom'
In new letter to Bachmann, Ellison says she "rehashes ... anti-Muslim Web sites." She responds in statement: "I will not be silent."
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Update (2 p.m. Wednesday): U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann fired back this afternoon in the ongoing war of words with U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison over her charges of Muslim Brotherhood "penetration" into the federal government:
“The letters my colleagues and I sent on June 13 to the Inspectors General of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the Department of Defense, the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Justice and the Department of State—and the follow up letter I wrote to Rep. Ellison on July 13—are unfortunately being distorted.
“I encourage everyone, including media outlets, to read them in their entirety. The intention of the letters was to outline the serious national security concerns I had and ask for answers to questions regarding the Muslim Brotherhood and other radical group’s access to top Obama administration officials.
“Most recently, the State Department shockingly decided to give Hani Nour Eldin, a member of an Egyptian designed terrorist group, a visa to not only enter the country in violation of the federal laws prohibiting material support for terrorism, but to be granted a meeting inside the White House with National Security Council officials.
“The terror group member used the opportunity of his White House visit to call for the release of the imprisoned leader of his organization, the “Blind Sheikh,” Omar Abdel Rahman, who is currently serving a life sentence for his role in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing and later planned terror plots inside the U.S.
“This is just the latest example of the dangerous national security decisions made by the Obama administration. I will not be silent as this administration appeases our enemies instead of telling the truth about the threats our country faces.”
Update (12:15 p.m. Wednesday): Read the letter U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison sent today to U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann in the first PDF uploaded to this post. Also see Bachmann's original June 13, 2012, letter to federal authorities about the Muslim Brotherhood penetrating the U.S. government.
Original post (9:35 a.m. Wednesday): U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann's allegations of a Muslim Brotherhood "deep penetration" of the federal government is "untrue" and a "phantom," U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison (DFL-MN) told Anderson Cooper on CNN Tuesday night.
"It just is the worst of guilt by association; it is a stark front to American values," said Ellison, who represents Minnesota Fifth Congressional District, including cities such as Fridley, Golden Valley, St. Louis Park, Minneapolis, Richfield and Hopkins. (Some parts of Edina will join the Fifth District next year due to redistricting.)
Bachmann's district is to the north and east of Ellison's and includes such cities as St. Michael, Woodbury and Stillwater.
Edward
9:09 pm on Wednesday, July 18, 2012
McCain's response, on the Senate floor, to Bachmann's allegations about Human Abedin
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ao8wIq2HMAg
Chris Steller
9:28 am on Thursday, July 19, 2012
Thank you for posting that YouTube, Edward. I believe McCain's speech is what prompted Bachmann's statement, as much as Ellison's letter. For what it's worth, Anderson Cooper led his show for a second night Wednesday with Bachmann's Muslim Brotherhood charges and responses/analysis.
Susan
9:51 pm on Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Thank you, Senator McCain!! You are redeemed, in my eyes.
Thanks, Edward!!
I am crossing my fingers and toes that this is work of a group of (older) GOP members who have decided that this woman is an embarrassment to their party, to Congress, and to any rational thinking adult.
Edward
10:16 am on Thursday, July 19, 2012
She's a huge liability for Romney. McCain's speech signals that Republican leadership finally is getting around to cleaning house . . . Bachmann and her lying have been given a pass by her party and the media for nearly ten years. This time she went way over the line.
Even her own party can't tolerate hate speech and bigotry any longer.
Will 6th district re-elect her?
Susan
10:26 am on Thursday, July 19, 2012
It will be Intersting to see if she is invited to speak at the convention. She is a liability to Governor Romney, but still the tea party darling. I hope the Republican party will now start weeding out those extreme individuals. They had their moment in 2010, and blew it, people are seeing them as they really are....unprepared to lead, extreme, and unwilling or unable to see the big picture.
Karen
8:49 am on Thursday, July 19, 2012
Michele Bachmann is a mudslinger and a pawn in a larger machine working to defeat Barak Obama at all costs. Why anyone takes her seriously is evidence of the driving forces behind her rhetoric. Do you feel she represents you and your life and what you want for the people of our country? I couldn't be happier that through redistricting she is no longer representing me. John McCain came through with genuine statesmanship in his speech yesterday. At last, some evidence of sanity from the GOP.
STW
9:14 am on Thursday, July 19, 2012
M.B. is a liar, and she is the problem. Her next step will be to say how she is mis-quoted.
Susan
1:01 pm on Friday, July 20, 2012
So close, I think the word was "distorted".
Al Anderson
10:54 am on Thursday, July 19, 2012
And Keith Ellison is to be trusted? The same Keith Ellison who colluded with Imams prior to their seat belt stunt on a Northwest Airlines flight out of MSP a few years ago?
Susan
11:27 am on Thursday, July 19, 2012
Al, I trust Rep Ellison far more than a woman who has a proven track record of lying, using ridiculous sources (HPV vaccine causes retardation), and contradicts her own "position" on less spending, when supporting a bridge for her district that will cost the tax payers nearly $650 million, to benefit about ten thousand people. Do I trust her? Heck no! Do I trust Rep Ellison? Far more than a proven liar. I will also trust Senator McCain on this one...do you?
Al Anderson
11:41 am on Thursday, July 19, 2012
Susan
I've met both and listened and watched intently to what each says and does. I will admit to having talked to Michele many more times than Ellison.
She's an avowed lightning rod for causes she believes in .... and certainly I dont agree with all of her statements. The spending on the Stillwater bridge (acknowledged by almost everyone to be necessary given the life support status of the current one) is more than I would like. It certainly will "benefit" far more than 10,000 people. Almost every politcian connected to fixing the situation has supported replacement of that bridge, fyi.
I would strenuously disagree with you about Michele being a big spender though....she does not typically take the "bring home the bacon" approach that most politicians take to get elected. She was in major opposition to the terrible "Northstar line" (which runs through her district), for example She advocates for a strong defense and limited government - things that our constitution actually say.
McCain ? While I respect him for his military service -- he's a RINO as a politican. And because of his big government approach to solving problems -- I do not trust his views. Most fiscal/liberty minded people feel the same way...which is why we have the current fraud as POTUS.
Susan
11:54 am on Thursday, July 19, 2012
Al, I did not say she was a big spender, only that she contradicted her position when supporting the bridge. Yes, over time it will benefit more than the 10,000 it will currently benefit, but with another freeway bridge only five miles away, yes, she contradicted her position.
How on earth do you rationalize supporting someone who has contradicted her (national) position for the benefit of her own district (actually it benefits those in Wisconsin far more than those in Minnesota) and has over and over been PROVEN to be lying? When she is proven wrong, she either foolishly stands by her lie, or forgets she ever said it. Hopefully more Republicans will start speaking out against her, and she will be defeated in the next election.
As my Represntative, I have also spoken with her. Although personable enough, I think her public statements (especially the lies) say more about her character than any five minute conversation.
Susan
12:01 pm on Thursday, July 19, 2012
Here you go Al. Yes, it's an opinion, but this person worked on her campaign,and Fox has it posted:
http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2012/07/18/bachmann-former-campaign-chief-shame-on-michele/?intcmp=trending#ixzz210ivfo9G
Edward
2:28 pm on Thursday, July 19, 2012
More Republicans speaking out against her, including Boehner.
http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/07/19/politics/boehner-bachmann/
Al Anderson
2:34 pm on Thursday, July 19, 2012
Susan
I don't think she contradicted her position at all on the Stillwater bridge issue. She's always been for this specific project - as she wanted to ensure that this way out of date bridge was replaced. I would have preferred a less expensive bridge as well, but 40% of the cost of this thing is for foundation only due to river bottom considerations
Which brings up the usual conundrum -- Franken, Klobuchar, Dayton and other leftists were as instrumental in supporting this as Bachmann was. Are they hypocrites as well?
Susan
5:56 pm on Thursday, July 19, 2012
Al, I am not going to debate the bridge again. It's coming, I accept it, in fact I look forward to the trails. It is absurd, however, to claim that "40% of the cost of this thing is for foundation only due to river bottom considerations." I live (almost) downtown Stillwater and I am very versed in both sides of this argument, and have read almost all of the information, so it's best we drop it now. MNDOT's projected price breakdown: http://www.dot.state.mn.us/metro/projects/stcroix/pdfs/status/CHAP%20152TotalProjCostEstimateFeb2011.pdf
I am disappointed in Senators Klobuchar and Franken, and Governor Dayton, but hypocrites? I didn't see them running all over the country in the last year preaching about overspending. I did say Bachmann contradicted her (national) position, and I guess I should have clarified it better for you. I meant her position on "no more (over) spending"....not her position on the bridge.
Al Anderson
8:50 pm on Thursday, July 19, 2012
Susan
The 40% estimate comes from MNDot...not me.
Regardless, the conundrum is that liberals can run all over and promise all sorts of pork and massive socialist government programs and not be called a "hypocrite" - yet, if a fiscal conservative backs something - they are branded that way.
If Franken, Klobuchar, Dayton and almost all Democrats aren't hypocrites because they advocate for budget busting, unsustainable spending then they need be referred to as thieves, dishonest traitors or something of the like. What both parties, but Democrats in particular have done to the country for the future generations is treasonous.
I can take slight comfort in knowing that you feel the same way as I do about the political fraud that brought about the Vikings Stadium (much like the Twins stadium). Politicians always reaching into taxpayers pocketbook to buy votes. period
Susan
9:07 pm on Thursday, July 19, 2012
Yes, Al, you and I do have some common ground, the only difference is that I really don't trust either side, and try to stand on principle, and certainly not on the left or the right. I fear you trust one side too much.
Either way, this topic is about Bachmann and another of her ludicrous accusations. I really have a hard time understanding how anyone can trust and/or support her, especially since her own party is turning against her on this one. She has crossed the line and been caught in too many lies and exaggerations...and I don't mean lies that the talking heads create, I mean real, in your face lies.
p.s. the link is MNDOT's pricing. Are you saying that they were right then, or now? Never mind, it's a discussion for another day/thread.
Edward
3:06 pm on Thursday, July 19, 2012
St. Cloud Times has excellent coverage
http://www.sctimes.com/article/20120719/news01/307190037/more-lawmakers-condemn-bachmann-s-muslim-brotherhood-claims?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|umbrella
Alex Mundy
5:21 pm on Thursday, July 19, 2012
It's like Mikey on the old Life cereal commercials. I can see the Republican strategists getting together: "Let's get Michele! Yeah, she'll say anything! Hey Michele!"
Edward
5:28 pm on Thursday, July 19, 2012
No, it wasn't a trap. Republican leadership would not plant this with Michele. It caused an international incident and put the Secretary of State at risk in Egypt. No rational public servant would intentionally do this . . . it borders on treason. This is also why it is getting more attention than her usual lies and gaffes.
http://thinkprogress.org/security/2012/07/17/529071/bachmann-islamophobic-egpyt-clinton/
Edward
10:23 pm on Thursday, July 19, 2012
http://www.politico.com/arena/archive/michele-bachmanns-mccarthyism.html
Some very interesting sources and insights.
Edward
3:08 am on Friday, July 20, 2012
This is so sad.
http://www.sctimes.com/article/20120720/news01/307190037/bachmann-ellison-has-ties-muslim-brotherhood?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|umbrella
Susan
6:07 am on Friday, July 20, 2012
Sad and infuriating. Even when the leaders of her party, McCain, Boehner, and Rubio are saying she is wrong, she doesn't get it, or back down. Instead she cranks up the crazy factor and goes further. I am surprised this one took you so long, Michelle, shame on you for preying on the fear of the ignorant!
"In an interview with radio host Glenn Beck on Thursday, Bachmann asserted that Ellison, the first Muslim elected to Congress, has a long record of being associated with the Muslim Brotherhood."
"Bachmann offered no evidence of ties between Ellison and the Muslim Brotherhood during the Beck interview."