Glen Beck Tells Congressman He is working With the Al Qaeda

Media
Matters

Thursday, November 16, 2006

On the November 14 edition of his CNN Headline
News program, Glenn Beck interviewed Rep.-elect Keith Ellison (D-MN),
who became the first Muslim ever elected to Congress on November 7,
and asked Ellison if he could "have five minutes here where we're
just politically incorrect and I play the cards up on the table."
After Ellison agreed, Beck said: "I have been nervous about this
interview with you, because what I feel like saying is, 'Sir, prove
to me that you are not working with our enemies.' " Beck added:
"I'm not accusing you of being an enemy, but that's the way I feel,
and I think a lot of Americans will feel that way."

As Media Matters for America has noted, Beck previously warned that
if "Muslims and Arabs" don't "act now" by "step[ping]
to the plate" to condemn terrorism, they "will be looking
through a razor wire fence at the West" and declared that "Muslims
who have sat on your frickin' hands the whole time" rather than
"lining up to shoot the bad Muslims in the head" will face
dire consequences.

From the November 14 edition of CNN Headline News' Glenn Beck:

BECK: History was made last Tuesday when Democrat Keith Ellison got
elected to Congress, representing the great state of Minnesota. Well,
not really unusual that Minnesota would elect a Democrat. What is noteworthy
is that Keith is the first Muslim in history to be elected to the House
of Representatives. He joins us now.

Congratulations, sir.

ELLISON: How you doing, Glenn? Glad to be here.

BECK: Thank you. I will tell you, may I -- may we have five minutes
here where we're just politically incorrect and I play the cards face
up on the table?

ELLISON: Go there.

BECK: OK. No offense, and I know Muslims. I like Muslims. I've been
to mosques. I really don't believe that Islam is a religion of evil.
I -- you know, I think it's being hijacked, quite frankly.

With that being said, you are a Democrat. You are saying, "Let's
cut and run." And I have to tell you, I have been nervous about
this interview with you, because what I feel like saying is, "Sir,
prove to me that you are not working with our enemies."

And I know you're not. I'm not accusing you of being an enemy, but
that's the way I feel, and I think a lot of Americans will feel that
way.

ELLISON: Well, let me tell you, the people of the Fifth Congressional
District know that I have a deep love and affection for my country.
There's no one who is more patriotic than I am. And so, you know, I
don't need to -- need to prove my patriotic stripes.

BECK: I understand that. And I'm not asking you to. I'm wondering if
you see that. You come from a district that is heavily immigrant with
Somalians. And I think it's wonderful, honestly, I think it is really
a good sign that you are a -- you could be an icon to show Europe, this
is the way you integrate into a country. I think the Somalians coming
out and voting is a very good thing. With that --

ELLISON: I'd agree with you.