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VA lawmaker expresses concern over Muslim immigration, CAIR seethes
A Muslim group is asking U.S. Rep. Virgil Goode Jr., R-Va., to apologize after he told constituents that more Muslims will follow Rep.-elect Keith Ellison, D-Minn., to Congress if strict immigration laws aren't passed. "The Muslim representative from Minnesota was elected by the voters of that district and 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," Goode wrote. The letter was written to constituents who contacted Goode after Ellison said he planned to bring his Quran, the Muslim holy book, when he takes the oath of office Jan. 4. In his letter, Goode wrote: "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." Goode, who was first elected to Congress in 1996, said he wants 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." Corey Saylor, national legislative director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said Goode's "Islamophobic remarks send a message of intolerance that is unworthy of anyone elected to public office." CAIR officials noted that Ellison traces his family roots in the United States back to 1742. Linwood Duncan, Goode's press secretary, said Goode won't apologize. "He stands by the letter," Duncan said. Posted by: ryuge 2006-12-21 |
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