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A Virginia congressman will not apologize for writing that without immigration reform "there will be many more Muslims elected to office demanding the use of the Quran," his spokesman said.
Republican Rep. Virgil Goode's letter to constituents also warns that without immigration reform "we will have many more Muslims in the United States."
Spokesman Linwood Duncan said Goode's letter was written in response to complaints his office received about Minnesota Rep.-elect Keith Ellison's request to be sworn in using the Quran.
Virginia Lawmaker Won't Apologize for 'Islamophobic' Letter
Seeded on Wed Dec 20, 2006 6:12 PM EST
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- Public Discussion (2)
I think this is clearly playing on anti-Islamic sentiments and xenophobia to score political points with religious conservatives that make a good portion of Goode's district. What Goode either misses or just doesn't care to make clear to his constituents is the fact that Rep. Elect Ellison converted to Islam and isn't an immigrant. Further, anyone who is an immigrant must be a citizen for seven years before serving. Secondly, Islamic immigrants are far from being a large portion of immigrants to the United States.
Rep. Goode seems to be happy if his constituents believe that Islamic extremists will hop of the boat and jump into Congress if they don't re-elect him. Never mind that the closest thing we have to an Islamic fundamentalist in this country are the religious right zealots who Goode appears to be courting, not Keith Ellison. Goode owes Ellison an apology for demonizing a fellow Congressman and he owes the voters of Virginia (myself included) an apology for trying to use the imagery of a religious war to gain support.
- 2 votes
#1 - Wed Dec 20, 2006 6:20 PM ESTI hope that Goode does not speak for the majority of his constituents. The only word that comes to mind after reading this is RACIST.Not only does he owe Ellison an apology, he owes the American people an apology. Just when it looks like intolerance is declining in the US, someone like this comes along to remind us that racism, intolerance and bigotry are alive and well.
- 1 vote
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