By Toby Harnden in Washington
Last Updated: 2:05am BST 14/07/2007


Keith Ellison, a convert to Islam, has cultivated a moderate image since being elected last November
America's first Muslim congressman has provoked outrage by apparently comparing President George W Bush to Adolf Hitler and hinting that he might have been responsible for the September 11 attacks.
Addressing a gathering of atheists in his home state of Minnesota, Keith Ellison, a Democrat, compared the 9/11 atrocities to the destruction of the Reichstag, the German parliament, in 1933. This was probably burned down by the Nazis in order to justify Hitler's later seizure of emergency powers.
"It's almost like the Reichstag fire, kind of reminds me of that," Mr Ellison said. "After the Reichstag was burned, they blamed the Communists for it, and it put the leader [Hitler] of that country in a position where he could basically have authority to do whatever he wanted."
To applause from his audience of 300 members of Atheists for Human Rights, Mr Ellison said he would not accuse the Bush administration of planning 9/11 because "you know, that's how they put you in the nut-ball box - dismiss you".
Vice-President Dick Cheney's stance of refusing to answer some questions from Congress was "the very definition of totalitarianism, authoritarianism and dictatorship", he added.
Mr Ellison also raised eyebrows by telling his audience: "You'll always find this Muslim standing up for your right to be atheists all you want."
A convert to Islam who was previously linked to the extremist Nation of Islam, Mr Ellison, 42, has cultivated a moderate image since being elected last November, concentrating on issues such as health and education.
He is an outspoken critic of the war in Iraq. But he angered his own anti-war supporters by voting for a budget bill that aims to end the war over the next 18 months. His followers want an immediate withdrawal of US troops from Iraq.
After his speech was reported, Mr Ellison said he accepted that Osama bin Laden was responsible for 9/11. But his demagogic comments threaten to plunge him in controversy.
Mark Drake, of the Republican party in Minnesota, said: "To compare the democratically elected leader of the United States of America to Hitler is an absolute moral outrage which trivialises the horrors of Nazi Germany."

America desperately needs some middle ground in politics. It would seem that you are either to the right or to the left with very little room in the middle for reason and common sense. The Nuts who are responsible for going into Iraq are as stupid as the people who think you can just leave. Nievity knows no bounds. So we suddenly pull out of Iraq.....then what??
The art of predicting the result of your actions seems to be redundant in the Democrat party. Do they honestly believe this war against Islamic extremist would stop if the US pulled out of Iraq?

To be fair, politics of most countries are pretty bad, but the US politics are just horrible now. Its like a package deal situation now. Some people want out, some people think that they have an obligation to stay. You want out? Vote for left wingers. Want to stay? Vote right wingers.

It doesn't help that people are pandering to specific groups. Hear about the gay debate, where Clinton and Obama ONLY discussed gay issues. Then there's religious right, but in truth there isn't much of a religious right. Just some right winged people who say god and republican in the same party that paint an image that christians support republicans, though many have moved to democratic party.

Ok here goes at the middle ground..........

We are where we are

We went in with enough troops to invade Iraq, but not enough to bridge the security gap once we had disbanded the Iraqi security infrastructure.
We are now in a situation where car bombs and roadside bombs are a daily occurence in Iraq claiming Iraqi, US and UK lives. It has become very difficult to see where we are making headway. We're told the Iraqi's have 3 Brigades to tackle the insurgency. This clearly isn't enough. We're told that reconstruction is happening but where, they certainly don't show much on TV. A withdrawl can only be justified if we can leave the place in some kind of order......A time line by the democrats of April 2008 is dumb. Its not time lines that are needed it real things happening on the ground that are required. If we left tomorrow the place would imploded. Dragging Iran, Syria and Turkey into fray. It sickens me every time I hear of another allied soldier dying but do we have an alternative. I don't think we do.

I haven't heard one statement from the democrats addressing the result of a withdrawl. They just say US troops should withdraw. How about coming up with some idea's Mr Kerry and stop trying to draw parallels with Vietnam. Iraq is not Vietnam. A withdrawl would not be the end of it. It would be a victory for Muslim extremists and enbolden them to take the fight to America and Europe.

Well Said Tex.. and very true...

I dont know this Muslim Convert Chappie, but he sounds like a buffon.. Nothing more really needs to be said on that chap...

__________________
"Barrel High, Powder Dry!"

"Illic est haud effrego ex Veneratio"

Bush is just a very bad president that all...

__________________
L'avantage d'être intelligent, c'est qu'on peut toujours faire l'imbécile, alors que l'inverse est totalement impossible.

No real arguement from me on that one Jimbo.. whats the story on your avatar.. you a Ninja too.. just like WiseGuy... lol.....

__________________
"Barrel High, Powder Dry!"

"Illic est haud effrego ex Veneratio"

Lol Bush like Hitler?

You must be the most Conservative person in France. O_O

__________________
We view ourselves on the eve of battle. We are nerved for the contest, and must conquer or perish. It is vain to look for present aid. We must now act or abandon all hope! Rally to the standard, and be no longer the scoff of mercenary tongues! Be men, be free men, that your children may bless their father's name. - Sam Houston

Duty is the most sublime word in our language. Do your duty in all things. You cannot do more. You should never wish to do less. - Robert E. Lee

lol.... what he is saying is that Bush is nothing like Hitler, he just sux at his job!..

__________________
"Barrel High, Powder Dry!"

"Illic est haud effrego ex Veneratio"

I know.

__________________
We view ourselves on the eve of battle. We are nerved for the contest, and must conquer or perish. It is vain to look for present aid. We must now act or abandon all hope! Rally to the standard, and be no longer the scoff of mercenary tongues! Be men, be free men, that your children may bless their father's name. - Sam Houston

Duty is the most sublime word in our language. Do your duty in all things. You cannot do more. You should never wish to do less. - Robert E. Lee