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Ellison: Lawmaker has 'a lot to learn about Islam'
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The Virginia lawmaker criticized for writing an "Islamophobic" letter to his constituents would be wise to learn more about Islam, the first Muslim elected to Congress said Thursday.

Democratic Minnesota Rep.-elect Keith Ellison, the first Muslim elected to Congress, said Goode should learn more about Islam.
Minnesota Rep.-elect Keith Ellison told CNN that he is not angry about a letter Virginia Rep. Virgil Goode wrote that said Ellison should not be allowed to place his hand on the Quran during his unofficial swearing in ceremony. "I think the diversity of our country is a great strength," Ellison told CNN's Wolf Blitzer. "It's a good thing that we have people from all faiths and all cultures to come here." (Watch Ellison play down Quran flap )

Goode wrote that to "preserve the values and beliefs traditional to the United States," an immigration overhaul was necessary to avoid "many more Muslims elected to office demanding the use of the Quran." Defending his statements Thursday, Goode, a Republican, told Fox News he wants to limit legal immigration. He also said he wants to do away with "diversity visas," which he said allowed people into America "not from European countries" and "some terrorist states."

Posted by: .com 2006-12-22
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=175820