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Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN) is considered a leading contender to serve as the next chairman of the
Democratic National Committee. Before an announcement was even made, Ellisons candidacy
secured the backing of Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), outgoing Senate
Democratic Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (DMA). Ellison is considered one of the most prominent liberals in Congress and has said he was
inspired by the Occupy Wall Street demonstrations. Ellison has a record of extreme statements
and positions, including co-sponsoring a 2007 bill to impeach Vice President Dick Cheney,
comparing the 9/11 terrorist attacks to the Reichstag fire that Adolf Hitler used to seize power, and
anti-Israel rhetoric, including advocacy of the position that there is an Israeli occupation of the
Palestinian state. Ellison is also a stanch supporter of the Iran nuclear deal.
Rep. Ellison Sits On The House Financial Services Committee And The House
Democratic Steering Committee, Which Determines The Partys Platform And
Committee Assignments. He Also Serves As A Chief Deputy Whip For Rep. Steny
Hoyer, The Democratic Whip. (About, Congressman Keith Ellison, Accessed 11/14/16)
Ellisons Candidacy For Chairman Of The Democratic National Committee Already Has
The Backing Of Incoming Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Sen.
Bernie Sanders (I-VT), And Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA). Donald Trump will be in the
Oval Office in January, and Republicans will have full control of Congress. Rep. Keith Ellison an
African-American Muslim from Minnesota thinks he can change that. Ellison, a 53-year-old fiveterm House member, is already running although not yet officially to become the next chairman
of the Democratic National Committee. Hes been endorsed by incoming Senate Democratic Leader
Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) and Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-Vt.). Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) said it
would terrific if Ellison got the job. Other Hill Democrats are lining up behind him, and an online
petition supporting his candidacy already has garnered more than 8,000 signatures. (John Bresnahan and
Daniel Strauss, The Man Hoping To Counter President Trump, Politico, 11/13/16)
The Retiring Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) Has Also Endorsed Ellison
In A Statement. Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid endorsed Rep. Keith Ellison for
Democratic National Committee chairman. My friend Keith Ellison is a terrific leader and a strong
progressive who knows how to get things done. Now is the time for new thinking and a fresh start
at the DNC. Now is the time for Keith, the retiring Nevada Democratic senator said in a statement
provided to POLITICO on Sunday. (Daniel Strauss, Reid Endorses Ellison For DNC Chairman, Politico, 11/13/16)
Reid: Ellison Is A Strong Progressive Now Is The Time For New Thinking And
A Fresh Start At The DNC. Now Is The Time For Keith. Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.)
picked up another high-profile supporter on Sunday in his expected bid to become the next
chairman of the Democratic National Committee: outgoing Senate Minority Leader Harry M. Reid
(D-Nev.). My friend Keith Ellison is a terrific leader and a strong progressive who knows how to
get things done, Reid said in a statement. Now is the time for new thinking and a fresh start at the
DNC. Now is the time for Keith. (John Wagner, Keith Ellison Picks Up Backing Of Harry Reid In Race For Next DNC Chairman,
The Washington Post, 11/13/16)
The Washington Posts John Wagner: Ellison Is A Favorite For The Position Among
Liberal Advocacy Groups And Lawmakers, Including Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.)
Ellison is a favorite for the position among liberal advocacy groups and lawmakers, including Sen.
Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), the runner-up in this year's Democratic presidential primaries. Reid's backing
is the latest sign that support for Ellison is broad. Sen. Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.), Reid's likely
successor, endorsed Ellison for the job on Friday. (John Wagner, Keith Ellison Picks Up Backing Of Harry Reid In Race For
Next DNC Chairman, The Washington Post, 11/13/16)
Ellison Defended The Occupy Wall Street Protests And Said He Was Inspired By The
Demonstrations
In An October 2011 Huffington Post Op-Ed, Ellison Wrote, Occupy Wall Streets Anger
Is Justified, And Washington Bears Significant Responsibility For Letting Wall Street
Run Wild Before And During The Crisis. Occupy Wall Streets anger is justified, and
Washington bears significant responsibility for letting Wall Street run wild before and during the
crisis. But we in Washington should not pretend we are part of the movement or that it is directed
toward one party. We must avoid acting as usual, which means talking instead of listening. If we really
listen to the Occupy activists we will learn that regular Americans are fed up that Wall Street was not
held accountable for the economic debacle they triggered. Regular Americans are frustrated by
continued income disparities and the inability of Congress to invest in jobs. (Rep. Keith Ellison, Op-Ed, Occupy
Wall Streets Real Demands, The Huffington Post, 10/13/11)
CUOMO: They all count, though, Congressman. They all count. That's all I'm saying. ELLISON:
Well, but the supers can go in either direction depending on where... CUOMO: Assuming assuming you win the pledged. Right now he's now winning the pledged, he's down by 200. You
know, shes 600... ELLISON: We have a plan to change that. CUOMO: That's what I'm talking to
you about is that plan. ELLISON: We're going - we're... CUOMO: Now... ELLISON: We're going
to - we're going to - we're going to fight on. You know, the message is resonating. The more people get
to know Bernie Sanders, the better Bernie Sanders is doing. He did really well in my state of
Minnesota, Oklahoma, Colorado. You know, things are -- I think we have a lot to be proud of in this
race so far. (CNNs New Day, 3/3/16)
In A July 2016 Democracy Now! Interview, Rep. Ellison Said The Humanitarian Crisis
Going On In Gaza Could Have Been Identified Much More Clearly In The Democratic
Party Platform. REP. ELLISON: I think that there is a humanitarian crisis going on in Gaza. In
fact, you know, thebecause of the electricity power plant has been destroyed, the sewage is not being
processed, and raw sewage is going up into the Mediterranean. In fact, its so bad that its flowing up
into north, and the Israeli desalinization plant is not able to use itsthat plant, because of the sewage
that is in the Mediterranean coming from Gaza, because Gaza cannot process their own sewage at this
point, because of the horrible situation that is going on there. So, there are some moreso, things like
that, I think, really could have been identified much more clearly. (Rep. Ellison: Why Is The Democratic Party Afraid
To Mention The Israeli Occupation In Platform? Democracy Now!, 7/11/16)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Has Since Called On The United Nations
To Retract The Goldstone Report. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on the United
Nations on Saturday to retract the Goldstone Report following the regret expressed by former
jurist Richard Goldstone regarding the damning report on alleged Israeli war crimes during the
Gaza war. Everything that we said proved to be true, said Netanyahu. Israel did not intentionally
target civilians and it has proper investigatory bodies. In contrast, Hamas intentionally directed
strikes toward innocent civilians and did not conduct any kind of probe. (Barak Ravid, Netanyahu To UN:
Retract Gaza War Report In Wake Of Goldstones Comments, Haaretz, 4/2/11)
In January 2010, Ellison And Jim McDermott (D-WA) Drafted A Letter Signed By 54
Members Of Congress Calling On President Obama To Pressure Israel To Ease The
Blockade In Gaza. Fifty-four members of the U.S. Congress have signed a letter asking
President Barack Obama to put pressure on Israel to ease the blockade on the Gaza Strip. The
letter was the initiative of Representatives Jim McDermott from Washington and Keith Ellison
from Minnesota, both of whom are Democrats. Ellison is the first Muslim congressman.
McDermott and Ellison wrote that they understand the threats facing Israel and the ongoing
Hamas terror activities against Israeli citizens but that this concern must be addressed without
resulting in the de facto collective punishment of the Palestinian residents of the Gaza Strip.
(Natasha Mozgovaya, 54 U.S. Lawmakers Urge Obama To Press For End To Gaza Siege, Haaretz, 1/28/10)
In A July 2015 Yahoo News Interview, Ellison Said He Believed That If We Dont
Do This Deal, I Dont See How We Can Avoid Military Conflict With Iran. In an
exclusive interview with Yahoo News, Rep. Keith Ellison, D-Minn., said he believed that Congress
voting down the deal would almost certainly pave the way for American military action, an
outcome that he and other progressives who entered Congress on a wave of anti-Iraq War
sentiment in the mid-2000s is eager to avoid. I clearly prefer diplomacy over warfare, and if we
dont do this deal, I dont see how we can avoid military conflict, Ellison said. Because if
[Republicans] do manage to scuttle this deal, clearly Congress is going to increase sanctions and
Iran is probably going to be afraid, and so theyll probably accelerate their production of a nuclear
weapon. If we detect [them] doing that, were going to issue an ultimatum for them to stop. If they
dont, were probably going to bomb them. (Meredith Shiner, Killing Iran Pact Could Lead To War, Rep. Keith Ellison
Warns, Yahoo! News, 7/22/15)
VIDEO: In A July 2015 HuffPost Live Interview, Ellison Said Iran Was Not A National
Security Threat To The United States. ELLISON: Oh, and by the way, the U.S. has military
installations in Bahrain, in Kuwait, all along the Gulf. Thats on the west side of Iran. And on the east
side, were still in Afghanistan. So theyre basically surrounded. And so, and then we have key allies in
Israel and Saudi Arabia. I mean the bottom line is, theyre not a national security threat to the United
States. (Rep. Keith Ellison: Democrats Waffling On Iran Deal Because Of Netanyahu, HuffPost Live, 7/20/15 ) Minute 3:05-3:31
After Democrats Secured Enough Votes To Secure Implementation Of The Iran Nuclear
Deal In September 2015, Ellison Touted The Deal In A Statement As A Triumph Of
Diplomacy Over War And Said That It Proves Negotiation Is An Excellent Method Of
Peacemaking. Rep. Keith Ellison released the following statement after Democrats secured
enough votes to ensure the Iran Nuclear Deal will be implemented: This deal is a triumph of
diplomacy over war and proves negotiation is an excellent method of peacemaking. It throws a
wrench in the war machine and tells those who profit from conflict: we choose peace. The world is
safer thanks to the determination President Obama, Secretary Kerry, and our P5+1 negotiating
partners. This deal turns the page on failed policies of isolation and war; I am hopeful it lays the
groundwork for future engagement to strengthen human rights and promote peace and security in the
Middle East and around the world. (Rep. Keith Ellison, Rep. Keith Ellison Statement On Iran Deal Vote, Press Release, 9/11/15)
In A July 2016 Op-Ed For The Hill Marking The One-Year Anniversary Of The Iran
Nuclear Deal, Ellison Praised Its Quiet Success As A Victory For Diplomacy. This
week, we celebrate a quiet anniversary one thats probably far from most peoples minds. Its the
anniversary of an agreement thats been a quiet success. A deal that keeps a nuclear weapon out of
Irans hands, and makes the world a safer place. Today marks the one-year anniversary of the Joint
Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) the Iran nuclear agreement. We should all celebrate how
diplomacy, not military might, won the day. (Rep. Keith Ellison and Kate Gould, Op-Ed, At One Year Mark, Iran Deal Has
Already Made World Safer, The Hill, 7/14/16)
Ellison Has Said He Is Not A Guaranteed Vote For Sanctions Against Iran
At The 2013 AIPAC Conference, Ellison Warned He Is Not A Guaranteed Vote For
Sanctions Against Iran. Rep. Ellison pushed for further negotiations with Iran, and while he
supported Americas right to defend itself, he was vague on whether hed support military action in
Iran. Unlike the speakers at the AIPAC conference, he did not seem very supportive of military action
against Iran should they reach a certain level of uranium enrichment. He approved of the sanctions
overall, but warned that hes not a guaranteed vote. (Bradley Machov, Congressman Ellison Speaks His Mind About Israel
And Palestine, MinnPost, 3/11/13)
Ellison Has Previously Opposed Toughening Sanctions On Iran, Saying They Would
Kill Any Hope For Diplomacy. While Minnesota's senators remain undecided, the unrest
among Democrats has long been on display. When the House voted 400-20 last July to toughen
sanctions against Iran's nuclear weapons program, Minnesota Democrats Keith Ellison and Betty
McCollum broke ranks and voted in the minority. Ellison has said that any new sanctions would kill
any hope for diplomacy. (Kevin Diaz, Iran Sanctions Put Minnesota Senators On Spot, Star Tribune, 1/14/14)
In July 2016, Ellison Raised Over $17,000 For His Reelection Campaign At A National
Iranian American Council (NIAC) Action Fundraiser
In July 2016, NIAC Action Hosted Its First Fundraiser For A Member Of Congress For
Ellison, And He Raised Over $17,000 For His Reelection Campaign At The Event.
Iranian Americans raised over $17,000 for Congressman Keith Ellisons reelection campaign last
Thursday in what was the first political fundraiser event organized by NIAC Action members for a
Member of Congress. Over seventy NIAC Action members donated to Ellisons campaign as part of
the event, which was held in McLean, Virginia. (NIAC Action Members Host Fundraiser For Congressman Keith Ellison,
NIAC Action, 7/22/16)
NIAC Action Was Formed In July 2015 As A Sister Organization Of The National
Iranian American Council To Enable Iranian Americans To Organize Efforts Around
Elections. (NIAC Action Members Host Fundraiser For Congressman Keith Ellison, NIAC Action, 7/22/16)
NIAC Action Has Praised Ellisons Defense Of The Iran Nuclear Deal Against Those
Working To Unravel It And His Opposition To Visa Discrimination Against Iranian
Dual Nationals. Congressman Ellison highlighted why it is so critical for the Iranian-American
community to be engaged in the political process in the 2016 elections, including the need to defend
the Iran nuclear deal against those working to unravel it. Ellison has been a staunch supporter of U.S.Iran diplomacy and has worked to increase people to people connections between Americans and
Iranians. He is also one of the most vocal opponents of H.R.158 visa discrimination against Iranian
dual nationals. (NIAC Action Members Host Fundraiser For Congressman Keith Ellison, NIAC Action, 7/22/16)
Ellisons Spokesman Said He Had No Illusions That This Is Going Anywhere But
That He Basically Signed On Out Of Principle. Rick Jauert, a spokesman for Ellison, said
the congressman has no illusions that this is going anywhere and thats fine. Weve got more
important things to do that affect peoples daily lives. He basically signed on out of principle, as
an expression of the importance of the rule of law -- that nobody is above the law, not even the vice
president. (Jake Sherman, Ellison Signs As Co-Sponsor Of Bill To Impeach Cheney, The Associated Press, 6/29/07)
Ellison Controversially Compared The 9/11 Terrorist Attacks To The Reichstag Fire,
Which He Said Put Hitler In A Position Of Total Authority
In July 2007, Ellison Said The 9/11 Terrorist Attacks Kind Of Reminds Him Of The
Reichstag Fire, Which He Said Put Adolf Hitler In A Position Where He Could
Basically Have Authority To Do Whatever He Wanted. Americas first Muslim congressman
has provoked outrage by apparently comparing President George W Bush to Adolf Hitler and hinting
that he might have been responsible for the September 11 attacks. Addressing a gathering of atheists
in his home state of Minnesota, Keith Ellison, a Democrat, compared the 9/11 atrocities to the
destruction of the Reichstag, the German parliament, in 1933. This was probably burned down by the
Nazis in order to justify Hitler's later seizure of emergency powers. Its almost like the Reichstag fire,
kind of reminds me of that, Mr Ellison said. After the Reichstag was burned, they blamed the
Communists for it, and it put the leader [Hitler] of that country in a position where he could basically
have authority to do whatever he wanted. (Toby Harnden, Bush Like Hitler, Says First Muslim In Congress, The Telegraph,
7/14/07)