Irony of the Week Award goes to newly elected Congressman Keith Ellison for his savvy response to some rather heated and mean-spirited taunts from Congressman Virgil Goode.
Goode's remarks made headlines and filled blogs as he wailed and moaned in fearful squirming that Ellison, a Muslim, would be taking his oath to office in an unofficial ceremony using a Koran. The law is rather specific that legislators swear to uphold the Constitution - but there is no requirement that oath be taken with hands laid on a religious book. But most congressman do hold private ceremonies where they do lay hands on a religious book.
After much public hysteria, Ellison truly gets the last word on this idiotic tirade, He decided to use a copy of the Koran once owned and notated by Thomas Jefferson.. Goode's eyeballs/jaw hit the floor, especially since he represents the district in which Jefferson was born.
I love love love this.
ReplyDeleteThanks to a bout of insomnia, I listened as the Deputy Historian of the House of Represenatives explained to his audience how new members have NEVER been officially sworn in with their hand of a religious text of their choice. The ceremony is done en masse much like taking the oath of citizenship or military.
ReplyDeleteThe new member can, if he or she wishes, have a second ceremony for personal or PR reasons in which they lay their hand on a text.
The conservatives have a particular talent for manufacturing the drama of their own victimhood and "wars" on their values.
Yea, call me cynical