Full Context Of Ellison's "Reich-stag" Remarks Released

After a recent dust up over Representative Keith Ellison's comments comparing 9/11 to the Reich-stag fires, the Telegraph picked it up and now Atheists for Human Rights has released the full one hour video from the Ellison session. I've listened to it and I'm unsure it will do much to lessen some concerns. The Hitler remark wasn't the first reference made to Bush as a totalitarian leader and he went so far as to suggest that the Bush administration could be torturing people right here in our country. He also states Bush travels with guards everywhere when visiting Louisiana due to the Katrina fallout and that Vice President Cheney, who he wants to impeach, is the embodiment of totalitarianism and Bush is using 9/11 to torture people and discriminate against religious minorities.

After opening by pointing out that the Founding Fathers "got civil and women's rights wrong," apparently oblivious to any historical perspective, he went on to suggest the only foundation for opposing Gay marriage was from a sort of religious oppression, moving on to characterize Bush's "Faith-based thing" as outreach designed to co-opt one particular religion and make it loyal to the Republican Party. He then reminded the group of human rights advocates how much they likely understood the danger from such forms of religious totalitarianism. And that's just the first ten minutes.

Between 10 and 12 minutes in he indicates the greatest threat to human rights in America is from the last six years, saying, "whoever thought that our government would state and admit that it uses and engages in torture," indicating it isn't happening in some dark shadowy corner, but on US soil at Guantanamo. He then suggests that "if it's happening there, how do we know it isn't happening here? It's all a matter of what files they're willing to hand over," says Ellison.

At 13 minutes in Ellison characterizes Vice President Cheney as "the very definition of totalitarianism, authoritarianism and dictatorship."

At 15 minutes in Ellison offers his solution on the Gay marriage issue by suggesting we move to a system whereby Notary Publics are the individuals certified to perform a state accepted marriage removing any religious component from the process. "Bam. That's what I think should happen," says Ellison. He does later suggest people should then be free to "put any dressing on top of it" they want.

At about 20 minutes in impeachment comes up and Ellison sounds deflated when discussing how the House leadership "took it off the table" at first. He then claims Kucinich was frustrated that "if we impeach Bush they'd just get Cheney, so why not just impeach Cheney." He states Kucinich drafted a bill to accomplish that and he signed on to it, among others. Ellison claims the case for impeachment is "so plain."

Ellison then begins discussing 9/11 indicating at 26 minutes in that based upon 9/11 Bush has been allowed to use torture and discriminate against religious minorities. The Reich-stag comments follow at 27 minutes in.

At 35 minutes in Ellison is emphatic that Iraq is not a war, but an occupation. Picking up at around 40 minutes in on a discussion of confronting evil Ellison launches into a monologue of how American economic policy is destroying farming in Africa and Mexico feeding into illegal immigration and creating individuals for bin Laden to recruit for purposes of terrorism. Ellison acknowledges, however, that after America is through making it "a better world," there may then still be some rare instances where we would have to become involved militarily to combat evil.

At 45 minutes in Ellison expresses his feeling that we are approaching a Constitutional crisis as more subpoenas are issued and investigations into a range of issues from Katrina to 9/11 continue forward.

Ellison goes on to discuss Democrat strategy against the war in Iraq outlining meetings and so forth to build momentum to stop the war by the time Col. Petraeus comes back with his report. He makes it fairly clear that no matter what the report says, their strategy is already in place to end the war.

At 55 minutes in Ellison jokes that Bush "has guards all over the place" when he goes to Louisiana because of the aftermath of Katrina.

All in all, quite a stellar performance by the first term Representative.

Comments

[For Enforcement]

It's hard to believe that a person like ellison could get elected in this country. it takes all kind. about the comment about Louisiana. I live there and I thought the Pres. handled Katrina okay. We had a mayor and a governor that didn't know which end was up and performed miserably.

[Dadmanly]

Minnesotans obviously preferred the myths of multiculturalism than ugly reality. Now they get to enjoy the ugly relaity of multiculturalism in the form of a Muslim racist. Enjoy.

Maybe Garrison Keiler can invite him on Prairie Home Companion. Ellison would fit right in in a Guy Noire segment.

[daveinboca]

Ellison wouldn't have been elected in almost any other state, but the silly Farmer-Labor heritage of the state of Minnesota allows the biggest chunks [septic tank metaphor] to rise to the top of its political cesspool.

Walter Mondale & the plane crash victim Wellstone are two examples, but the wrestler is the real epitome of just how silly and daft these dumb norsemen can be.

[seekeronos]

"Ellison wouldn't have been elected in almost any other state, but the silly Farmer-Labor heritage of the state of Minnesota allows the biggest chunks [septic tank metaphor] to rise to the top of its political cesspool."

--- I thought it had more to do with all the Sudanese and Somali immigrants - some 75,000 of them in and around the Twin Cities - who moved in over the past 10 years.

But for Ellison, all he is now is just a mouthpiece.

[joe]

Fasten your seatbelts and get ready for a ride, ladies and gents, cause this fool and his homeboys are the wave of the future for the US. When the Dims(not misspelled) get the Presidency, look out, cause they have payback on their minds. For what grievences, they don't know, they just know they have to destroy you neocons, whatever that is. Better move to a small town, life is going to get very, very exciting in the big cities. You couldn't pay me enough to live in one.

[David M]

Trackbacked by The Thunder Run - Web Reconnaissance for 07/17/2007
A short recon of what’s out there that might draw your attention, updated throughout the day...so check back often.

[Purple Avenger]

All it takes is a 2/3 vote of the house to remove him. Just saying...

[Fred Beloit]

They ought to at least censure him for some of the most malicious and wackiest statements he's made.

[wardmd]

Wow...

"The Founding Fathers 'got civil and women's rights wrong,'"? Okay, and they created a mechanism in The Constitution whereby those mistakes could (and WERE) corrected. What's ISLAM's excuse, Mr. Ellison? You going to tell us how GREAT "Civil and Women's Rights" are in Muslim countries?

As to Gay Marriage, why not call RELIGIOUS unions "Marriage" (as in "Holy Matrimony"), and ceremonies performed by NON-Religious institutions (like judges, justices of the peace, and "Notary Publics" [as Mr. Ellison suggests]) would be called "Civil Unions". You want them to have the same legal rights? Fine, just don't call them the same thing, because they're not the same.

And, finally, you want a "policy change" in Iraq? How about this - How about Democrats actually supporting VICTORY in Iraq? How about Democrats NOT echoing the talking points of the Terrorists? Now THAT would be a change!

[Beenherebefore]

What great posts.. .I was raised not to be prejudiced against anyone's race or religion, BUT this guy and HIS religion make me sick

I agree with the posts above.. Let the Mexicans in, Ban the Muslims

[Terry Gain]

Sorry to go off topic Dan, but there is more good news about the Surg. The Surge is working- as is readily apparent to those of us who read Roggio daily.

General Peter Pace, the outgoing chair of the Joint Chiefs, has called the surge a success, saying that it has brought about a "sea change" in security for Iraq. Time Magazine reports on his remarks from Ramadi, which in itself demonstrates a level of success, as the Anbar Province has changed markedly from the lost cause it appeared a year ago (via Hugh Hewitt):

[nowingker]

IS that the same General Pace who thinks he 'might' need even more troops to make the surge succeed? Whatever.

I have no doubt Dick Cheney who is-not-part-of-the-executive-branch would have burned down the Reichstadt back in the day and blamed it on the 'communists/socialists/democrats'...no doubt at all...he is the epitome of the end justifying the means philosophy and he never met a totalitarian idea he didn't like, though I'm still QUITE CONFUSED as to how Cheney can simultaneously claim 'executive privilege' and that he's not part of the executive branch of government, seems kinda messed up to me, almost, like, a totally transparant, f*ck you I can do what I want no laws apply to me legal stall tactic....

[Purple Avenger]

Up your meds dude. You're not really all that good at the Dowd thing either.

[Phoenix]

The Founding Fathers did get something wrong: All men are not created equal. Ellison just proved it.

[seekeronos]

"All it takes is a 2/3 vote of the house to remove him. Just saying..."

...actually, the 2/3 House vote would be to bring the POTUS to trial, specifically, a formal charging of the POTUS with whatever high crimes and misdemeanors, or worse.

The Senate then is compelled to try the POTUS in an impeachment trial.

NoWingie:

Check your German. The building is called the *Reichstag*. "Reichstadt", if there were such a thing, would roughly mean "imperial city".

[Fred Beloit]

Seek, please understand how hard it must be to think in Arabic and write in German.

[Bill Adkins]

Ellison didn't call Bush a Nazi - he did say Bush would use tactics like Hitler's Reichstag fire event to make political points - and that's proven. Bush used the still warm corpses of 9/11 victims as political props; he used 9/11 to promote his Iraq Blunder; he uses the big lie that Al Qaeda and Saddam were connected; he's still doing it. Hell, Bush is hoping for an Al Qaeda attack this summer so he can make political points. Cantor and Wimp are liars.

[Fred Beloit]

"Ellison didn't call Bush a Nazi - he did say Bush would use tactics like Hitler's Reichstag fire event to make political points - and that's proven." Willy, Bush has been tried and convicted of being an arsonist? Where can I read about this astonishing development? Or are you simply propagandizing again in your untruthful but heartfelt way?

[seekeronos]

Let's put this "Reichstag moment" into context: it was a set-up, preconceived plan to sweep a particular party (the Nazis) into power, while removing and simultaneously discrediting another party (specifically, the Communist Worker's Party of Germany), as well as solidify Hitler's power as Chancellor.

Notwithstanding the pecularities of the Weimar German government (Hitler was not a unitary executive, but rather, subordinate to Paulus von Hindenburgh, who was the elected Reichspräsident) there was also the general German predisposition (at that time) to obeying an authoritarian government. That is to say, Germans were (and to a much lesser, but still significant degree, are to-day) more inclined to follow "the party line" than to be the "nail which sticks out".

Remember also, that at that time, the then ruling generation had also ruled over Imperial Germany under Kaiser Bill, as well as WW1 and its dreadful outcome for the German people. The Germans of that generation had very little reasonable expectation of national governmental accountability to the people (post-Kaiserreich, it was rather accountable to the nobility and to a lesser degree, the elected powers of the major cities and a few industrial concerns)

To say that Bush "pulled a Reichstag" with the victims of 2001 seems to be inaccurate at best, and otherwise just disingenuous. Suggesting that he did so over the "still warm" victims of 9/11 and then by extension, imply that 9/11 was an "inside job" would seem monstrous indeed.

And even if 9/11 was Bush's "reichstag Moment", where then are the mass executions of the enemy?

Hitler, once "enabled", rounded up 4,000ish members of the various communist entities in Germany, and had them killed. He revoked habeas corpus, and later, squelched out the free press.

No where do I see Bush doing this. We still have habeas corpus, no large number of American citizens have been deported or imprisoned or executed for holding unpopular political views. Ruthlessly mocked, yes.. but imprisoned/executed, no.

There is no need for this - Bush was already in power as the POTUS when 9/11 happened. Hitler was a fringe politician with scarcely a chance to get appointed as Reichskanzler, who needed a miracle (sic) to get his way.

A far more fitting analogy (were it true) to Bush's actions would be the period of "Gleichschaltung" or "bringing everything into line", which Hitler did once he _was_ Reichskanzler.

[Fred Beloit]

Now, seek, you must know that Willy doesn't care about real history or even fairness. His interest is "I hate Bush, I love the others who hate him", like some of the other commenters here. Their job, perhaps literally, is to come here daily to defend the Dems they managed to elect to Congress and our country's enemies from common-sense charges that we daily level against them. History and the truth are of no interest whatever to them. Look at them as lawyers for the defense. Nevertheless, good background on the Reichstag fire.

[Phoenix]

Seek's good, isn't he, Fred? I never skim over his texts and am smarter for it.

[Bill Adkins]

Whatever Hitler's position pre-Reichstag fire, Hitler did set up the Reichstag circumstance and used it to his benefit. Subsequently, the Enabling Acts, what I analogize to the Patriot Act, gave Hitler the necessary dictatorial powers. Yes, Bush "pulled a Reichstag" with the victims of 2001 by using the "still warm" victims of 9/11 for his political purposes - he saw the opportunity and he used it. Bush continues to use 9/11 and al Qaeda as props to promote his political agenda, including the Blunder in Iraq. There in lie more similiarities to such Nazi luminaries as Streicher and Goebbels.

I did not"imply that 9/11 was an "inside job" by extension or otherwise and for you to say so is not only a lie but is also a lame effort by you to discredit me. Take your best shot. Hey, another one - Hitler blamed the jews for losing the First World War.

The lack of mass executions means nothing in the equation, Hitler's desire or utilization of mass killings being unique to his perceived needs and/or strategy. Bush didn't need it - yet. But then, a lot of Iraqis are dying - are they safer yet?

As to revocation of habeas corpus, Bush has attempted it - remember the kid from Louisiana, an American citizen Bush attempted to declare a enemy combatant? Thankfully, our constitution is more firmly founded than what happened in Germany. That we still have habeas corpus is no thanks to the Bush Administration.

As to squelching a free press -- you see the assault upon the press by the right wing here and elsewhere, as well as the attck upon the right of the press to anonymous sourcing. And that's government action - never mind the attack by the right wing by deriding the 'MSM' that doesn't satisfy the right by providing their partisan view.

Despite being POTUS, Bush grasped for even more power after 9/11, imposed domestic spying and eavesdropping, broke laws (FISA), lied to Americans about it, and violated the constitution to do so. He considers the other branches of government to be simply 'other entities' and he apparently believes the vice president's office to be yet another branch of government. Mr. Yoo and Gitmo and torture and Gonzales who signed off on it all while White House counsel. Amazing, isn't it? Add to that the use of DOJ to attack the Democrats and bogying up election fraud cases, and firing US attorneys who aren't 'aggressive' enough for the RNC.

As for my posit that Bush desired another attack this summer for political purposes and to analogize those to Hitlerian tactics, I give you Kristalnacht - maybe even Long Knives - or a combination of the two - in analogy. The similarities between tactics of Hitler (and some of Stalin) are well represented in the Bush Administration.

[Fred Beloit]

Willy asks what's that soldier doing, On his knees saving a sparrow? No, Willy no, he's just retooling, He's fixin' to paint another arrow.

[Bill Adkins]

Freddie, Freddie, Freddie - you must stop smoking your crack - you've become incoherent. Hope you didn't miss my response to seeker -- he's going to have to do better than regurgitate wiki or some similar site.

[Fred Beloit]

Willy, it seems you don't care to understand some of the words to my latest hit single: "Paint another arrow on the Gitmo floor, Corporal." This song was written in honor of this latest capture of an AQI leader. I think his name was Kaled al-Mashedpotatoes or something like that. Great catch wasn't it?

[Bill Adkins]

Is Kaled real or made up like the one in Iraq the other day? Was he reported captured last year or dead last year and then reported killed or captured again like the one in Iraq the other day? Tough to tell, Freddie.

[Fred Beloit]

Got an idea for ya, Willy. Why don't you just admit the Iraq war isn't happening. Bush and his friends in the left-wing media just made it all up to show that the Dems in office are willing to sell out our country just to be reelected.