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D.C. Dispatches

Colbert takes on 'openly secret Muslim' Keith Ellison

By Devin Henry | 08/10/12

U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison is not a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, but thanks to some hard-hitting journalism from Comedy Central faux news anchor Stephen Colbert, we learn that he is, in fact, a literal "Muslim Brother."

Ellison, a mainstay on MSNBC and other actual cable news shows, was the subject of the latest installment in Colbert's 434-part "Better Know a District" series Thursday. The interview was timed to coincide with Rep. Michele Bachmann's controversial calls for an investigation into the Muslim Brotherhood's influence over the U.S. government ... but it was really just a excuse for Colbert to make Prince jokes and get Ellison to sing the Mary Tyler Moore theme.

Here's the segment:

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About the Author:

Devin Henry

Devin Henry

Devin Henry covers Minnesota's congressional delegation and reports on developments out of Washington that are important to Minnesota readers.

Comments (8)

See, this is what they do

Submitted by Dennis Tester on August 10, 2012 - 11:56am.

Try to turn issues that hurt their side into a joke, even national security issues, in hopes that any subsequent raising of the issue can be formally dismissed by the press as irrelevant and/or non-serious. It's the only reason why Colbert and others in his profession have jobs.

muslim brotherhood

Submitted by Ginny Martin on August 11, 2012 - 3:26pm.

The comments of bachmann and some of the others are rich fodder for Colbert and some of the other comedians. Too bad we didn't have a Colbert when McCarthy was riding high, throwing lists around and accusing hundreds, or was it thousands, or maybe dozens--don't think he ever settled on a number--of being a communist or hanging out with communists or maybe hearing about a communist or having some similar association.
I'm really glad Colbert and others are doing their jobs, especially since a lot of Americans get much of their "news" from comedy shows.

Dennis

Submitted by Paul Brandon on August 10, 2012 - 2:23pm.

I'm glad that you agree that Ellison's religion is irrelevant to his performance as a congressman.

Of course

Submitted by Dennis Tester on August 10, 2012 - 3:17pm.

his religion is irrelevant to his job. It isn't that he's a Muslim. It's that he's closely aligned with the Muslim Brotherhood through CAIR that's the issue.

Still waiting

Submitted by Paul Brandon on August 10, 2012 - 3:39pm.

for proof that HE is a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, or has any personal connection to its activities.
All I've seen so far is guilt by association.

There's no issue at all

Submitted by Susan McNerney on August 10, 2012 - 4:23pm.

People who make this claim might as well be announcing they have recently seen a unicorn.

I would also point out that numerous members of the Bush administration actually did have fairly close ties to the MB, because they were trying to influence foreign policy in the region. Nobody seems to be going after them.

Rep. Ellison...

Submitted by Wayne Swickley on August 11, 2012 - 2:09pm.

...probably knows Kevin Bacon.

At the very least, "I'll bet you ten thousand dollars" that he knows somebody who knows somebody who knows somebody who knows Kevin Bacon.

That doesn't mean that he's "closely aligned."

And--

Submitted by Paul Brandon on August 10, 2012 - 2:25pm.

Colbert IS a comedian -- that is his job.