Over the course of the last few months, Rep. Keith Ellison, one of two Muslim members of Congress, has been cherry-picking the Pledge of Allegiance in an attempt to portray prominent Republicans as bigoted islamophobes.
Earlier this year, Ellison responded to the Peter King hearings on the radicalization of American Muslims by saying that conservatives believe in liberty, but are against the “and justice for all.” In an appearance on MSNBC two weeks ago, he advised Herman Cain to “review that Pledge of Allegiance”, particularly the part proclaiming “liberty and justice for all.” And more recently, Ellison gave an interview to C-SPAN, in which he ran off a list of supposed differences between himself and Michele Bachmann. That list included a declaration that he, and apparently only he, “believe(s) in liberty and justice for all.”
One line however, does not an entire pledge make.
We know why Ellison is invoking this specific phrase from the pledge – liberty and justice for all. It is an attempt to push the progressive agenda of placating radical Muslims. But it is also important to counter such slander, by examining the motivations behind those that Ellison hopes to marginalize as islamophobic.
Why is Peter King holding hearings on radical Islam? Why is Herman Cain opposed to appointing Muslims to his administration without a declaration of loyalty? Why is Michele Bachmann so vociferous in her desire to deal with the threat of radical Islam?
The answer, it turns out, lies in the Pledge of Allegiance.
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America…
Immediately we have a contradiction of morals. Radical Muslims have repeatedly pledged allegiance solely to the Quran. A prime example of this is the case of Nidal Malik Hasan, a radical who opened fire on the army base at Fort Hood, cutting short 14 innocent lives. An investigative report from CNN shortly after the shooting showed that multiple former classmates of Hasan had once asked if his allegiance lied with Sharia law, or with the United States. “Sharia law,” was his answer.
… and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible…
A video was recently released featuring a pledge of allegiance from the Muslim Student Association (MSA). It includes such statements as, “Jihad is my spirit”, “I will die to establish Islam”, and an echoing of the mission statement of the Muslim Brotherhood – “dying in the way of Allah is our highest hope.” This is the same MSA that has walked the jihad walk, churning out leaders who have been charged and convicted in terror plots, even earning the distinction as one of the key “radicalization incubators” for homegrown terrorists, by the New York City Police Department. This is yet another demonstration of radicals pledging allegiance to their own deadly cause, but more so, it reveals that they do not represent the views of the republic. They do not stand with their fellow Americans as one nation under God. Rather, they divide, destroy, and are willing to wage jihad in the name of God.
… with liberty and justice for all.
‘Justice for all’ is a tragic misnomer for radical Muslims who would kill in the name of their religion. ‘Justice for Allah’ might be more apropos. Quite simply, there was no justice for the 14 victims of the Fort Hood massacre. There would have been no justice had Faisal Shahzad successfully killed hundreds of people with a car bomb parked in Times Square last year. Or, had Najibullah Zazi carried out a subway bombing plot in New York City. Or potential victims of such radicals as ‘Jihad Jane’, Muslim converts who plotted to attack synagogues in the Bronx and shoot down planes in Newburgh, as well as the nefarious plot by the Fort Dix Six.
Nowhere however, is the phrase ‘justice for all’ less applicable than in the case of Rep. Ellison himself. One need only look as far as his own past to find hatred and intolerance for others.
Scott Johnson of the Powerline Blog has extensively chronicled the controversial past of Ellison.
In 1997, Joanne Jackson of the Minnesota Initiative Against Racism (MIAR) was alleged to have stated that, “Jews are among the most racist white people I know.” Rather than condemning such incendiary comments, Ellison defended her, saying, “We stand by the truth contained in the remarks attributed to (Ms. Jackson), and by her right to express her views without sanction.” Not surprising from a man who has penned columns in support of the uber-racist Louis Farrakhan, worked on behalf of the Nation of Islam despite knowledge of their anti-Semitic views, and once sponsored a speech by the bigoted Stokely Carmichael titled, “Zionism: Imperialism, White Supremacy or Both?”
Further demonstrating a lack of desire for justice, are Ellison’s actions in 1993. At that time, he led a crowd of demonstrators in a chant at the murder trial of a gang member charged with executing a police officer. The chant of, “We don’t get no justice, you don’t get no peace,” was chilling considering the crime. This is hardly a plea for justice, especially for the family of the slain police officer.
During his C-SPAN interview, Rep. Ellison claimed that, “I believe in liberty and justice for all, no exceptions, you know, everybody, all religions, all colors, all faiths.”
Problem is, does anybody really believe in Keith Ellison?
Rusty can be contacted at The Mental Recession
