The bigotry targeted against Ellison has been incredible. Dennis Prager kicked it off with a disgusting display and was followed up by Virgil Goode who hasn't backed down. The wingnuts have been eating heaping spoon fulls of Zombie brains. Ellison spoke out against it today.

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BLITZER: All right. Let me read for our viewers who may not be all that familiar with what Virgil Goode actually wrote to his constituents back on December 7th. Among other things, he said, "If American citizens don't wake up and adopt the Virgil Goode position on immigration, there will likely be many more Muslims elected to office and demanding the use of the Koran."

And you just heard our Brian Todd. He's on the scene. He says Virgil Goode is not backing away from that at all. What's your reaction?

ELLISON: My reaction?

BLITZER: Yes, what's your reaction, Congressman-elect?

ELLISON: Oh, yes, Wolf, I think that, you know, diversity of our country is a great strength. It's a good thing that we have people from all faiths and all cultures that come here. And we all support one Constitution, one Constitution that upholds our right to equal protection, one Constitution that guarantees us due process under the law, one Constitution which says that there is no religious test for elected office in America.

So the document that is the bedrock of our democracy expressly prohibits applying any religious test, and I think that diversity in our nation is a great thing and we should embrace it, not be afraid of it.

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I think we all know who all of this administration's fear-mongering is clearly working on.

Gee, Virgil, the first rule of political survival is that if you find you've dug yourself in a hole, you don't keep digging.

ABC News:

Congressman Virgil Goode, R-Va., is not apologizing for writing a letter to constituents warning that "many more Muslims" will be elected unless the country's immigration policies are strengthened.

[..]"We need to stop illegal immigration totally and reduce legal immigration and end the diversity visas policy pushed hard by President Clinton and allowing many persons from the Middle East to come to this country," he wrote.

"I fear that in the next century we will have many more Muslims in the United States if we do not adopt the strict immigration policies that I believe are necessary to preserve the values and beliefs traditional to the United States of America and to prevent our resources from being swamped."

[..]In response to Goode's letter, the Council on American-Islamic Relations issued a statement Wednesday calling for an apology.

"Rep. Goode's Islamophobic remarks send a message of intolerance that is unworthy of anyone elected to public office," CAIR National Legislative Director Corey Saylor said.

However, there is no indication Goode will apologize anytime soon.

"The only statement the congressman has is that he stands by the letter," a Goode spokesman said.

Responding directly to the C-Ville Weekly, Goode said through his press secretary, "I wrote that letter. I think it speaks for itself."

It sure does, Virgil.

In my "open thread," I said to be good to yourself. Little did I know I would find this in my inbox: Virgil Goode is a godly man..No really...

“I wrote the letter. I think it speaks for itself.”

Congress of the United States
House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515-4605

December 7, 2006

Mr. John Cruickshank
7—— S—————————— Dr.
Earlysville, VA 22936

Dear Mr. Cruickshank:

Thank you for your recent communication. When I raise my hand to take the oath on Swearing In Day, I will have the Bible in my other hand. I do not subscribe to using the Koran in any way.

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Daily Delay:

"Mitchell Wade of MZM -- the guy who bribed Duke Cunningham -- apparently made illegal campaign donations to two other members of Congress..."

Roll Call:

"Wade also steered $78,000 in illegal contributions to the re-election campaigns of Reps. Virgil Goode (R-Va.) and Katherine Harris (R-Fla.) during the 2003-04 and 2005-06 election cycles. Neither lawmaker was aware that Wade was reimbursing other donors for making those contributions, according to the criminal information document."

Support Francine Busby for the vacated seat.