Rep. Michele Bachmann

WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison has been one of Michele Bachmann’s fiercest critics since she originally asked for a probe into the reach of the Muslim Brotherhood in the U.S. government. On Thursday, she accused him of working with them as well.

Bachmann told Glenn Beck that Ellison “has a long record of being associated with CAIR [the Council on American-Islamic Relations] and with the Muslim Brotherhood.” She accused him of “trying to shut these questions down from getting addressed.”

Appearing on CNN Thursday night, Ellison, the first Muslim elected to Congress, told Anderson Cooper, bluntly, “no, that’s not true.

“I support American institutions,” he said. “I don’t know enough about them. What I know about them is that in Egypt, one of their candidates has ascended to the presidency.”

Ellison said he’s “absolutely not trying to shut down their investigation. What I’m trying to do is to raise a concern about unfoundated allegations of disloyalty, specifically with regard to Huma Abedin. If she has legitimate evidence, she should come forward.”

Ellison, has criticized Bachmann’s demand that the inspectors general for a handful of U.S. government agencies investigate the Muslim Brotherhood’s influence in their departments. Bachmann has accused Secretary of State Hillary Clinton aide Huma Abedin of potentially working on the Muslim Brotherhood’s behalf, a charge denounced by first Ellison, then a range of Republicans like Sen. John McCain and House Speaker John Boehner this week.

Beck, for his part, called the Republican reponse “bull crap.”

Bachmann’s suspicion of Abedin revolves around business dealings between her late father, an institution he founded and one headed by someone with connections to the Muslim Brotherhood. Critics have called the connection “guilt by association,” but Bachmann told Beck all she’s done is raise questions about how someone like Abedin has gotten a security clearance.

“If my family members were associated with Hamas, a terrorist organization, that alone could be sufficient to disqualify me from getting a security clearance,” she said. “So all we did is ask, did the federal government look into her family associations before she got a high level security clearance.”

Devin Henry can be reached at dhenry@minnpost.com

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58 Comments

  1. I love that woman!

    Michele has painted Ellison into a corner this time. He cannot afford to spar with her regarding this issue, lest his greasy associations float back to the top of the public’s attentions.

    Bravo Michele. Bravo.

    1. Reality will soon be intruding on your fantasy world. I predict this costs Bachmann her seat on the intelligence committee.

      1. Unfortunately, no

        Speaker Boehner was asked yesterday if Rep. Bachmann would be taken off the Intelligence Committee. He said he didn’t “know that that’s related at all.”

        Call him an enabler.

    2. Were you a fan of Joseph McCarthy, too?

      You sound like you might be. These kinds of accusations are reprehensible, deeply racist, and dangerous.

    3. This is the most cynical kind of politics

      Huma Abedin has served her country admirably for nearly 2 decades. To call her legitimacy into question, after she has submitted to the most rigorous security vetting the US government (keep in mind, she is a State Department employee), is abominable.

      Let’s turn it back on you, Mr. Swift: when did you quit physically abusing your family members? That question is of exactly the same ilk as questioning Ms. Abedin’s ties to the Muslim Brotherhood.

  2. Valid claim? Gigantic clue in first sentence

    Michele Bachmann and Glenn Beck in the same sentence is a huge clue as to the validity of the charges. I want to see Bachmann’s hard evidence. The question to Minnesota’s Sixth Congressional District voters is, have you had enough of her yet? November will be your chance to come to your senses and vote her out. Your folly has gone on long enough. Zero accomplishments by Bachmann to date and zero expected in the future. Unfortuately, the titanium spine, Bachmann claims to have, isn’t connected to a rational brain.

    1. Zero accomplishments by Bachmann to date

      The people who will be driving over the new Stillwater Bridge disagree. You are probably thinking of Rep. Betty McCollum, who after 13 years in Congress has yet to pass her first piece of legislation.

      1. Most expensive bridge of all time in the state

        Far more expensive than the 35w bridge and MN pays more than WI – great deal.

    2. 6th District

      Yes, many of us have had more than enough of scary, unAmerican Michele. We worked extremely hard to rid ourselves of her just 2 years ago, but this district is not a brain trust. We seem to have more than our share of bigotted, misinformed, uneducated voters; makes me sad. But there are also some very good folks here who thoughtfully consider their candidates before voting. Perhaps this year we will prevail.

  3. More appropriate title for your piece

    So, even these titles make it seem like something terrible is happening. “Muslim Brotherhood” just sounds scary to many people.

    How about:

    “Bachmann alleges Ellison has ties to the democratically elected government of one of our allies”

    That title would be as true, if not more so. It would also better point out how crazy she is.

    Also, please read this nice encapsulation of her madness by an actual mideast scholar.

    http://www.juancole.com/2012/07/is-michelle-bachmann-an-agent-of-the-muslim-brotherhood.html

  4. Michelle Bachmann

    Is there any type of rule or law that allows voters to challenge the competency of there legislators? Bachmann seems to have gone completely nuts.

    2. competency

      If people wanting to run for elected office had to take the MMPI (students do; why not potential legislators?) and also pass a test on government and history, it would improve the quality of our candidates. A great many of them would flunk and in this fantasy world, would not be able to run for office. The test for new citizens would probably be a good one.
      These should be basic requirements for anyone who wants to make decisions for the rest of us.

      1. Which school

        -requires- students to take the MMPI as a requirement for admission?
        Forty years ago we required it for admission to our Clinical Psychology MA program, but that only lasted a few years while a U of M clinical psych grad with ties to the MMPI people was on our faculty.
        The MMPI has very little external validity.

  5. Pants on fire!

    Bachmann seems to fling these baseless accusations with impunity, apart from the growing tendency of even the GOP to distance itself from her. Are there no civil penalties for such behavior? Or do we just give her a pass because everyone knows she’s nuts?

  6. Maybe Rep Bachmann has her own hidden allegiances?

    Bachmann herself says she is heavily influenced by Dominionist Christian political ideology, which promotes total control of the government by only the “right kind” of Christians, according to this article, “The Transformation of Michelle Bachmann” from The New Yorker:
    http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2011/08/15/110815fa_fact_lizza?currentPage=all

    Sounds like she is projecting a little bit here in her recent accusations…

    1. Bachmann needs to reread Article VI of the Constitution:

      “This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary notwithstanding.

      “The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.”

      And then she needs to study the First Amendment again:

      “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

      Bachmann’s Domioninist stance is UnConstitutional and may not be implemented under any strict reading of the Constitution. The United States of America is not a religious government, it is a secular one, not only set up that way but set in stone that way from the beginning. That is right there in black and white and has always been there.

      Note that the ban on religious testing includes “any Office or public Trust”. Bachmann is definitely bound by her oath to support the Constitution to cut out this kind of crap. What she is doing in unethical for one in her elected office, but that has never stopped her before.

      So much for her supposedly strict Constitutional stand. Like every thing else about her that is just so much additional hot air. She is applying religious litmus testing. That can legally be stopped and not just in Federal Court. The Constitution requires that state courts abide by it as well.

  7. Rep. Bachmann’s you may want to direct your suspicions at…

    …Grover Norquist and his ties to radical Islam and Jihadist groups. Some say he has these alliances you know.

    This much can be said, it appears that Mr. Norquist has more influence over the U.S. Government than does any aide to Secretary of State Clinton or any junior Representative from Minneapolis, or for that matter even President Obama.

    The so-called press might want to take a closer look at Mr. Norquist as well, that is if the reporters aren’t too freaky about losing their jobs.

    Anyone with a small part of their brain still working knows that the really huge money — the oil cartels (OPEC) and the labor cartel (China) — want to destroy this country and indenture the masses.

    There is a real war going on and the big money cartels are winning — our streets look like they have been bombed from lack of attention, buildings are crumbling and windows are broken as if shattered by shrapnel, and countless Americans are wandering homeless like refugees –
    what’cha think Representative Bachmann? Did you signed a deal with this fellow?

    A most important question to ask is who pays Mr. Norquist? Is he really the ambassador and envoy of a new world order of cartels and their concept of a McNation?

    I am just saying ask Grover who pays him…

  8. Nuts? Not hardly

    Michelle Bachman is a very bright, talented and successful politician.

    How many times do you see Michelle Bachman show up on MnPOST? How many times do you see Minnesota’s other House members like John Kline, Tim Walz, Collin Peterson … For that matter, how does often does Keith Ellison appear except when Michelle says somthing that sticks him in the limelight? And none of them are going to run for President any time soon.

    What ought to worry us is that this kind of thing is successful.

    1. Oh, that worries me big time

      Not only does the American public appear to have a microscopically short attention span, but there also seems to be a frighteningly large portion of them susceptible to the charms of snake oil salesmen and conspiracy theorists.

      It really is scary.

      1. Cites please

        Just on the short attention span of the American public and the susceptibility of American people to snake oil salesman and conspiracy theorists.

        1. Facts v.s. opinion

          Facts are “citable”, opinions are not. I was indulging myself in a bit of the latter.

          However, the ability to make this distinction seems sorely lacking in society today.
          (Clue: That statement was also an opinion – just in case you were wondering.)

  9. Ironically,

    I can see this kerfluffle actually helping each of them in their own districts.

  10. Red herring

    “Bachmann’s suspicion of Abedin revolves around business dealings between her late father, an institution he founded and one headed by someone with connections to the Muslim Brotherhood”

    Nonsense. That’s not the relevant connection. I wonder why the press stories never mention that the real connection is not her dead father but Abedin’s alive mother Saleha Abedin who is a leader in the Muslim Sisterhood and a member of the terror-supporting Muslim Brotherhood, which gave birth to al-Qaeda.

    http://www.shoebat.com/

  11. Let’s play this game.

    If you have given money to the Catholic Church or have family members that have, you should be responsible for child abuse, child rape, and the cover up of such crimes.

    Do we need more examples like this?

    1. Rep. B is safe, by that example

      Until last year, she was a member of a church that teaches that the Papacy is the Antichrist.

    2. It’s not the mission of the Catholic Church

      to overthrow the U.S. government. That is the mission of the Muslim Brotherhood.

  12. “Unfoundated allegations”

    It’s a good thing that those who had suspicions about Major Nidal Malik Hasan kept their mouths shut or it would have ruined their careers.

    WE CAN’T ALLOW racist, Islamophobes making baseless accusations against members of the Religion of Peace.

    SURE, he expressed extremist views which were brought to the attention of his superiors.

    SO WHAT that he exchanged e-mails with Imam Anwar Al-Awlaki, requesting spiritual advice regarding violence. (The late Imam, an American citizen , was targeted by Rambo Obama and killed by a drone strike ).

    WHO CARES that he openly displayed his radicalization to violent extremism, which was a violation of military rules.

    IGNORE his anti-infidel presentation to other Army personnel that included a prediction that Muslims in the US military could refuse to deploy, spy on or kill fellow soldiers.

    Attorney General Eric Holder still refuses to admit this obvious case of terrorism at Fort Hood where political correctness got 13 people killed and 29 others injured. Holder instead calls it workplace violence, not radical Islam.

    When shooting and shouting Alahu Akbar, Major Hasan was probably upset about short breaks or poor working conditions at Fort Hood.

      1. Read more carefully, Ms. Berg….

        Yes, I know what an unfounded allegation is, but apparently U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison doesn’t.

        ” Ellison said he’s “absolutely not trying to shut down their investigation. What I’m trying to do is to raise a concern about unfoundated allegations of disloyalty, specifically with regard to Huma Abedin. If she has legitimate evidence, she should come forward.”

        Did you not notice the quotation marks around “unfoundated allegations”, that means someone else said or wrote it.

        Next time please read articles a little more critically.

        1. My reading’s just fine

          I guess my heart’s just not into endangering people’s reputations over unfounded allegations on the same weekend the nation is mourning the deaths of so many people at the hands of an armed lunatic in a movie theater.

          But as to the “unfoundated allegations” (sic), Rep. Ellison ALSO mentions “legitimate evidence” – and that’s the point. You don’t just hurl “unfounded allegations” around against people unless they are supported by “legitimate evidence” – something which is sorely lacking in the accusations being made against Ms. Abedin.

          That the things on your list against Major Hassan should have been investigated and weren’t (and I don’t claim to know what documented facts do or do not exist in that case) is a different story.

          But whether or not the military messed up in that case does NOT make “being Muslim in America” a crime, and does not relieve our system of the requirement for “legitimate evidence” to be in place before leveling accusations at a person that could do serious damage to their reputation and their livelihood.

          It’s not about “PC”. It’s about the rights we have in this country. And after all, I thought we were all supposed to be in agreement that having those rights is a big part of what makes this country “great”.

          1. No connection….

            I am truly at a loss to see the connection between commenting on a post regarding radical Islam and the tragic shooting in Colorado. It’s interesting to note that if any law abiding citizens did have conceal carry permits, they left their guns at home. The theater has a no guns policy, apparently the shooter/murderer didn’t see the sign.

            I would like to know what unfounded allegations Bachmann made? She is calling for an investigation based on associations that high government officials may have with terrorist groups. Of course it’s not a crime to be Muslim, but it shouldn’t give you a pass on investigationg groups with ties to terrorists, either.

            See below Mr. Testor’s excellent primer regarding CAIR and the Muslim Brotherhood.

            1. Your turn to read carefully

              I wasn’t alleging any connection. I was just commenting that the needless killing in the movie theater made me sad.

              Didn’t it make you sad?

                1. Why would I be kidding?

                  I’ve been very sad since it happened, consequently my initial comment about my heart just not being into discussing the latest Bachmann fiasco. Is that so hard to understand?

  13. Bachmann is finished in Congress

    All the Republican leaders in Congress have distanced themselves from Bachmann. If not already thrown out of all committees she certainly will not be appointed to any committees if she were to win the next election. Congress is based on senority and knowing how to play the game.
    Bachmann has proved again she is a loose pistol and even the Republican party sees her as a liability. Being on the House Intelligence committee is scary.

  14. A primer for the press

    If the press was doing its job, reports of Bachmann’s call for an investigation would have included facts such as:

    * The Muslim Brotherhood’s mission is world-wide jihad and the destruction of Western civilization from within.
    * The Muslim Brotherhood created Hamas.
    * Hamas is designated as a terrorist group by the United States, Israel and Europe.
    * CAIR was created in America to support Hamas and is funded by the Muslim Brotherhood.
    * CAIR was found guilty on 108 charges of funneling more than $12 million to HAMAS.
    * Keith Ellison is a CAIR defender and supporter. He has spoken at three CAIR fundraising dinners and provided videotaped remarks at others.
    * Ellison has taken to the House floor to rebuke four colleagues who called for an investigation of CAIR and its activities within the federal government.
    * Hillary Clinton’s state department aide and advisor is Huma Abedin. Abedin’s mother is a leader of the Muslim Sisterhood.

    Google is your friend.

    1. Google is a sycophant, not a friend. It tells you exactly what you want to hear.

    2. Google is your friend

      You are so right, Dennis. The press needs to include more facts!
      Here are a couple:

      – Congresswoman Bachmann received campaign contributions from HSBC bank.
      http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/pacs.php?cycle=2008&cid=N00027493&sector=Finance,%20Insurance%20&seclong=Finance%2C+Insurance&cat=F06&induslong=Finance%2FCredit+Companies&newMem=N

      – HSBC launders money for the taliban and al qaeda.
      http://blogs.wsj.com/corruption-currents/2012/07/23/the-rogues-gallery-a-sample-of-hsbcs-high-risk-customers/

  16. Guilt by Lineage

    Based on the rationale presented for thinking that Abedin is a Muslim mole, I must out myself as likely to be descended from a group that persecuted and killed innocent Christians. That’s right; I may have viking ancestors.

  17. speaking of “destroying from within…”

    Mr Tester, was it you or Mr Swift who once said in these columns that it was immoral to pay taxes to our government. Seems like that would be a pretty good start on destroying our way country. Also passing laws that help prevent people from voting, that’s another good step in destroying our country. Then lets’ work at bankrupting our country with unprovoked, unfinanced wars like the war in Iraq. Not enough? How about we pass as many laws as possible to help enact an oligarchy of rich, powerful people who will run the country for us fools after they take away our right to vote, to organize into unions, to belong or not belong to churches of our choice. Then let’s lie about our true motives, blame our victims. Now let’s give billionaires and companies unlimited ability to contribute to campaign financing while hiding them as sources, giving them hidden influence in who runs the country.

    Back in the seventies they dressed up a Klan wizard, got him to speak politely and grammatically correct and they got him elected to congress, his agenda obscured behind a wall of phony BS. Today the religious bigots have Michele Bachmann, same principle, same hate, same phony smile. Yes, our country is in great danger of being destroyed from within.

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