http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/06/24/obama-apology-to-muslim-women-orchestrated-by-muslim-us-house-rep/ Obama Apology to Muslim Women Orchestrated by Muslim U.S. House Rep.
by FOXNews.com
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
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Monday: Barack Obama gets out of the car as he boards the campaign charter plane in Albuquerque, N.M.(AP Photo)
By Chad Pergram
An apology issued by Barack Obama to two Muslim women booted from the front lines of a public appearance by the Democratic presidential candidate last week was orchestrated by Rep. Keith Ellison, the first Muslim ever elected to Congress.
Multiple congressional sources confirm that it was Ellison, D-Minn., who confronted Obama over the issue during a meeting with the Congressional Black Caucus.
Obama called the women to apologize after two volunteers with the campaign removed the women from the stage area behind the location where Obama would be speaking. The volunteers allegedly told the women it was because they were wearing traditional Muslim scarves.
Sources told FOX News that it was Ellison who raised the issue of the alleged impropriety with Obama and provided the prospective nominee with the women’s phone numbers.
One key lawmaker who was present described the exchange between Obama and Ellison as “cordial” but “direct.”
Another source familiar with the exchange added that many members of the CBC supported Ellison and said “it was an issue that needed to be addressed.
However, congressional sources indicated that Ellison’s exchange with Obama was so intense that CBC Chairwoman Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick, D-Mich., had to intervene and attempted to gavel down Ellison.
Ellison refused to discuss the exchange with FOX News. “I can talk to you about my tie,” said Ellison who declined to elaborate on what he said to Obama.
After the incident in Detroit, Obama called the women. He told them, “I take deepest offense to and will continue to fight against discrimination against people of any religious group or background.”
In conversations with other media outlets, Ellison has been critical of Obama campaign efforts to distance the candidate from Islam. Ellison has also intimated that the campaign has cancelled campaign events because of the potential of linking Obama with him, the most-senior Muslim in the federal government.
Topic: Fellow Moslem ellison orders obama to apologize to moslems (Read 919 times)