US congressman causes controversy by comparing Bush to Hitler
{{date|July 15, 2007}}
[[Image:Ellison-hs.JPG|right|thumb|175px|Congressman Keith Ellison]]
Freshman Congressman [[w:Keith Ellison (politician)|Keith Ellison]] ([[w:Democratic Party (United States)|D]]-[[Minnesota|MN]]), the only Muslim in the [[United States|U.S.]] Congress, has caused controversy after comparing [[George W. Bush|President Bush]] to Adolf Hilter, and suggesting that the Bush Administration may have been complicit in the terror attacks of 9/11.  

Speaking to a group of atheists in his home district in [[Minnesota]], Ellison equated the 9/11 attacks and aftermath to the 1933  [[w:Reichstag fire|Reichstag fire]] in [[Germany]], which helped cement Hitler's power.

He carefully parsed his words stating that he would not 'accuse' the Bush Administration of planning 9/11 because "you know, that's how they put you in the nut-ball box - dismiss you".

Ellison, a co-sponsor of a bill to impeach [[Dick Cheney|Cheney]] for "high crimes and misdemeanors," described the Vice President as "the very definition of totalitarianism, authoritarianism and dictatorship" and further condemned his refusal to answer Congress' questions.

Ellison's promise: "You'll always find this Muslim standing up for your right to be atheists all you want," reportedly "raised eyebrows" among the 300 present. 

Ellison later clarified that he believes that Osama bin Laden was in fact responsible for the attacks of 9/11.

Condemnation came quickly with Republican Mark Drake of Ellison's home state saying: "To compare the democratically elected leader of the United States of America to Hitler is an absolute moral outrage which trivialises the horrors of Nazi Germany."

==Sources==
*{{source|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/07/14/wbush114.xml
|title= Bush like Hitler, says first Muslim in Congress
|author=Toby Harnden
|pub=The Telegraph
|date=July 15, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.tcdailyplanet.net/node/5602
|title=A Nazi Analogy is Never a Good Idea
|author=Andy Birkey
|pub=The Minnesota Monitor
|date=July 15, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/politics/la-na-cheney22jun22,1,7221944.story?track=crosspromo&coll=la-news-politics-national&ctrack=1&cset=true 
|title=Cheney claims a non-executive privilege
|author=Josh Meyer
|pub=latimes.com
|date=June 22, 2007 }}

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[[Category:Politics_and_conflicts]]
[[Category:United States]]
[[Category:North America]]
[[Category:Minnesota]]
[[Category:Atheism]]
[[Category:Democratic Party (United States)]]
[[Category:Republican Party (United States)]]

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Congressman Keith Ellison
Freshman Congressman Keith Ellison (D-MN), the only Muslim in the U.S. Congress, has caused controversy after comparing President Bush to Adolf Hilter, and suggesting that the Bush Administration may have been complicit in the terror attacks of 9/11.  

Speaking to a group of atheists in his home district in Minnesota, Ellison equated the 9/11 attacks and aftermath to the 1933  Reichstag fire in Germany, which helped cement Hitler's power.

He carefully parsed his words stating that he would not 'accuse' the Bush Administration of planning 9/11 because "you know, that's how they put you in the nut-ball box - dismiss you".

Ellison, a co-sponsor of a bill to impeach Cheney for "high crimes and misdemeanors," described the Vice President as "the very definition of totalitarianism, authoritarianism and dictatorship" and further condemned his refusal to answer Congress' questions.

Ellison's promise: "You'll always find this Muslim standing up for your right to be atheists all you want," reportedly "raised eyebrows" among the 300 present. 

Ellison later clarified that he believes that Osama bin Laden was in fact responsible for the attacks of 9/11.

Condemnation came quickly with Republican Mark Drake of Ellison's home state saying: "To compare the democratically elected leader of the United States of America to Hitler is an absolute moral outrage which trivialises the horrors of Nazi Germany."
Politics_and_conflicts United States North America Minnesota Atheism Democratic Party (United States) Republican Party (United States)