‘Free Beacon’ Montage: Crazy About Keith Ellison

Crazy About Keith Ellison (The Washington Free Beacon)

Rep. Keith Ellison (D., Minn.) has announced that he is running to be the next chair of the Democratic National Committee, but his past comments might stand in his way.

Ellison gained early endorsements from party leaders like Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) and outgoing Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D., Nev.). But some Democrats are hesitant of supporting Ellison because they believe the DNC chair position requires full-time attention. Ellison answered Democrats’ concerns by saying he will give up his congressional seat if he is elected.

Other Democrats have reservations about Ellison because of his past. The Minnesota congressman has previously made controversial remarks about Israel and has ties to groups like the Nation of Islam and the Muslim Brotherhood. During his trip to Saudi Arabia in 2008, Ellison met with a radical cleric who endorsed killing U.S. soldiers and a president of a bank that funded suicide bombings against Israel. The Anti-Defamation League has issued a statement saying Ellison’s past comments about Israel are “deeply disturbing” and disqualify him from leading the DNC.