A racist, bigoted Virginia congressman said Thursday that he will not retract a letter warning that unless immigration is tightened, "many more Muslims will be elected" and use the Quran to take the oath of office.
Republican Rep. Virgil Goode, a rabid right-winger who has embraced racism and even the Ku Klux Klan in the past, triggered angry responses from a civil rights group and some colleagues with a letter this month to constituents concerned about a decision by Rep.-elect Keith Ellison of Minnesota, the first Muslim elected to Congress, to use the Quran when he is sworn in.
"I will not be putting my hand on the Quran," Goode said at a news conference Thursday at the Franklin County Courthouse in Rocky Mount, Virginia. The most active and visible klavern of the Ku Klux Klan operates in Franklin County, holding a half-dozen public rallies a year in Burnt Chimney near the birthplace of Booker T. Washington.
Goode, who represents Virginia’s ultra-conservative 5th Congressional District, said he is receiving more positive comments from constituents than negative.
"One lady told me she thinks I’m doing the right thing on this," he told Fox News. "I wish more people would take a stand and stand up for the principles on which this country was founded."
Goode also told Fox News he wants to limit legal immigration and do away with "diversity visas," which he said let in people "not from European countries" and "some terrorist states."
In his letter, Goode wrote that strict immigration polices are necessary "to preserve the values and beliefs traditional to the United States of America."
"The Muslim representative from Minnesota was elected by the voters of that district and if American citizens don’t wake up and adopt the Virgil Goode position on immigration there will likely be many more Muslims elected to office and demanding the use of the Koran," he wrote.
Ellison said Thursday that Goode and others had nothing to fear about Muslims.
"They are our nurses, doctors, husbands, wives, kids, who just want to live and prosper in the American way," Ellison, a Democrat from Minneapolis, said Thursday on CNN when asked what he would say to Goode if they met. "All of us are steadfastly opposed to the same people he’s opposed to, which is terrorists, and so there’s nothing for him to be afraid of."
Asked whether he thought Goode was a bigot, Ellison said, "I don’t know the fellow, and I’d rather just say that he has a lot to learn about Islam. … I don’t want to start any name-calling."
Virginia’s senior senator, Republican John Warner, said in a statement Thursday that he respects the right of congressional members to freely "exercise the religion of their choice, including those of the Islamic faith utilizing the Quran."
Rep. Rahm Emanuel, an Illinois Democrat who is Jewish, said Thursday that he hoped Goode would meet with Ellison, saying he would "see what I saw: a good American with good values of a different faith who’s trying to do right by the people he represents."
The Council on American-Islamic Relations had asked Goode to apologize, saying the remarks sent "a message of intolerance that is unworthy of anyone elected to public office."
Ellison was born in Detroit and converted to Islam in college.
His decision to use the Quran at his ceremonial swearing-in next month prompted criticism from conservative talk radio host Dennis Prager. The American-Islamic relations council has called for Prager’s removal from the board of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum.
___
(Includes information from The Associated Press)
42 thoughts on “Racist congressman stands by anti-Muslim tirade”
Goode: “I wish more people would take a stand and stand up for the principles on which this country was founded.”
From the moment the white man stepped foot in the New World, he butchered its native inhabitants, stole their land, and destroyed the environment. Are these the principles to which Goode refers?
President bush should be tried for treason. He said in Nov. 2005, “The Constitution is just a goddamn piece of paper.” he is an idiot. Just because Virgil Goode stands up for the ideal and principles that this country was founded upon does not mean that he’s a bigot. some of the people that posted on this forum sound more bigoted than he does. Go Dave Sinclair
There is no such thing as racism, dummys. There is only one race, and that is the HUMAN race. The Muslims are dedicated to destroying the infidels, and you can quote the beginning chapters of the koran as much as you want. As you get towards the end, it gets much more blood-thirsty. Rights come from GOD. NOT from “allah.”
David Sinclair wrote: “Islam is a very dangerous socio-political cult intent on overthrowing the constitution of America.”
Not possible, Mr. Sinclair. Your president has already overthrown the Constitution of the U.S.
Why any minority or woman would be a part of the Repuglican party is beyond me.
They’d be better off being independent. Tacredo just referred to Miami as, “A third world country.” And the Cubans are said to vote majority Republican. Is it self-hatred or what?
This idiot should read Koran. Then he will see that there is hardly
difference between Koran
and Bible. And both are
bunch of gurbage
I’m sure the reaction to women running and getting elected to public office back during the early 20th century elicited the same reaction as Muslims do today. What’s ironic is Islam denies women the rights afforded exclusively to men. Maybe there is a little sense to what Goode maybe getting at; he just didn’t word it correctly.
Jim is worried about Islamization of America. Stupid beer drinker or he must be on weed. If Goode really wants to combat militant Islam he will not be demonizing the Hispanics a majority of whom are more Christian than white Americans (fewer Hispanics than white Americans have premarital sex). Instead he will welcome Hispanics with open arms and unite Christians under a banner. His action makes me to conclude that Mr. Goode is a pagan who is only interested in preserving white skin than dealing with sin…in other words he is a white skin worshipping racist just like the constituents who elected him.
Jim:
Mr. Goode is a racist for only one reason. He did not condemn David Duke cohroting with the enemy last week at a holocaust denial conference. But, when Keith Ellison who happens to be black wanted to take oath with a koran, he condemned him. To me it is very clear that the difference is race. It is not me who is a kool aid drinking liberal. It is you who might be totally blind, not just color blind. If Mr. Goode really feels worried about Islam, he should be calling for Duke to be tried for treason and sent to Gitmo. He did not but instead decided to pick on a black man for just taking oath with a koran. There is only one thing you call call this guy: A RACIST!!
For this site to label the congressman a racist shows ignorance about what a racist is. Islam is not a race. It’s a religion. But, I imagine, labeling it racism, just gives the haters another reason to hate. It would be nice to hear more from the free-thinking liberals and a whole lot less from the kool-aid drinkingt liberals who will buy into anything they read or are told just as long as it gives them reason to exercise their blind and ignorant hate of their opponents on the other side of the political aisle. Also, I agree with the above free-thinking poster who correctly identified that Islam comes with violent jihad and with peaceful jihad. The ignorant poster above who thought having a lot more Moslems in this country would lead to increased religious tolerance is stupid, naive, and just plain foolish beyond belief. One only has to observe what is going on in the “islamization of europe” to know that increased peace and tolerance will not come from having a significant number of Moslems here. If you want Sharia law to be imposed, if you (or your decendents) want forced Islam in this country, and the elimination of other religions, at the point of the threat of death, keep on thinking such naive and ignorant thoughts. Stupid “kool-aid” drinkers. C’mon, you “free thinkers” take back the podium from these ignorant blowhards.
that is just for a photo-op for the media
Posted by: joe
That is just the point! The media will have a field day showing the world how an American Rep. can take an oath of office on the Quor’an. By comparison, a Bible is not even allowed in Saudi Arabia.
I live twenty minutes North of Rocky Mount, and all I can say is “Heil Hitler Virgil Goode!”
Its a shame that I’ve got Goodlatte instead of Goode as a Congressman.
Bill White, Commander
American National Socialist Workers’ Party
Named, today, the seventh biggest danger facing Jews in 2006
😀
How long as this congress person been ignorant that the oath a congressman takes is not on a Bible or any other book – that is just for a photo-op for the media. So, whether the photo-op uses a Koran or a Bible or even a copy of Moby Dick – what’s the point? An oath to serve is an oath to serve. Too bad that we still have such ignorance in Washington – and the media for making an issue out of nothing.
By default, any army that fights for a false government, like Democracy, Secularism, Fascism, Communism etc. are disbelievers (Kafireen). They are the people who are fighting for Shaytaan (i.e., Satan); although they are not Satan worshippers, but all false governments, laws, etc. are Satanic and these ‘isms’ and false ways of life are only the evil plans of Shaytaan; the greatest enemy to the Muslims. Islam seeks to wipe out all these forms of Taghoot and dominate the entire earth; Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu ‘alayhe wassallam) said,
“Islam is meant to be dominant and not dominated.†(Sahih Muslim)
So America is fighting for Shaytaan and not Jesus or God, as they claim, because not only is their Religion false, but their Government is False (Taghoot).
And those who fight for the cause of Allah, to make His Word the Highest of the High and the word of the Kafireen the lowest of the low by making Jihad for His Path to eliminate the enemies of Allah and to establish the Shari’ah in the land, they are the ones who have true faith (Iman) and they are the true believers. All Praise and Thanks belongs to Allah for making it clear to us who is on the side of Shaytaan and who is on the side of Allah, Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala, today. Anyone who is against this – be it a Christian, Jew, Muslim, Atheist, Secularist or even a Government Agent – then know that you are against Allah ‘Azza wa Jall because this is what He clarified to His Ummah and this is how we are to understand it, whether it pleases you or not. Everything I have said regarding this has been explained and agreed upon by other ayaat of Qur’an, ahadith, sayings and actions of the Sahaba, and the consensus (Ijmaa‘) of the Scholars.
https://inshallahshaheed.wordpress.com/
Lesser Fool:
Great Post.
Oh, for Pete’s sake! Who gives a rat’s behind what holy book (or not) a politician swears upon? They’re all scoundrels and crooks. Placing their hand on a holy book is meant to pander to the idiot redneck bible humpers who are too stupid to realize it signifies nothing. Read your 6th Article!!!
All of you attacking the Qur’an, here are some verses that Christian fundamentalists never mention:
The Qur’an says “Fight those who fight you, but DO NOT COMMIT AGGRESSION.” (2:190) All of you who talk about Qur’anic verses about fighting the infidel never mention that one. Or the verse that says: “Do not let hatred for a people lead you to injustice” (5:8). Or with regard to those who claim that Islam teaches that innocents should die for the crimes of their leaders: “No soul shall bear the burden of another” (6:164)
These are the verses that establish Islamic laws of war, which both Al-Qaeda terrorists and Christian Islamaphobes ignore. Islam has always prohibted the killing of innocents and committing aggression, and has prophibited forced conversion: “There is no compulsion in religion.” (2:256)
Sounds pretty moderate and and wise to me.
Now, have any of you read the Bible? It is far, far more violent and cruel than the Qur’an is. Take a quick look at the Book of Joshua, where God tells the Hebrews to commit genocide in conquering Palestine. Kill women and children, no problem. It is right there. Read it.
People have used the Bible to justify far worse atrocities than anyone has ever used the Qur’an for. Don’t believe me? How about the Crusades — where Christains used CANNIBALISM to terrorize Muslims and Jews because they were “infidels”. Look it up — type “Ma’arra” into Google and you’ll read all about the town where children were grilled and eaten by Christians in the name of the Bible.
Or read about the Spanish Inquisition, where Jews and Muslims were killed or forcibly converted en masse by people citing the Bible. Or the genocide against the native populations of America that was justified by the Bible. Or slavery… or the KKK…
Islam has always been a more peaceful religion than Christianity. Christians talk the talk of peace and the Golden Rule, but they have historically been the worst murderers and oppressors. That is why when Saladin conquered Jerusalem, he let Jews return and the Christians live in peace. When Christains conquered Jerusalem, they killed every man, woman and child of all religions, including other Christians. And they held the Bible while they did it.
If any book should be banned from swearing in ceremonies, it should be the Bible.
When people start living according to Biblical teachings and start fully implementing Biblical codes such as no sex before or outside marriage, instead of just doing what is popular (gay marriage ban, etc.) they should be allowed to take oath on the Bible. People who have engaged in premarital sex should be banned from taking oath on the Bible.
When Islam conforms to “The Golden Rule” – Do unto others as you would have them do to you, then the Quor’an can be used for oath taking.
Much hulabaloo about a non-event. Members of Congress take the official oath in their respective chambers en-masse, without any religious book or document. Many, in a separate, unofficial photo op enact a private swearing in for PR purposes. Geez, give it a rest.
Faux News et al. love to step on pissants while the elephants keep coming over the wall.
brtex:
What part of convert or kill the infidels that David Duke did not understand when he went to Iran to join the holocaust deniers? And why did Goode and the GOP keep their mouths shut instead of arresting him when he returned and sending him to Gitmo? Why is Wilson Goode only picking on Mr. Ellison? Darker skin color perhaps? Wanted to target a black man perhaps? If you dont understand this simple analysis you are the one who is not very smart.
“GR” has the only sane post on this thread. I just do not understand some of the above comments. Do you read edited versions of the Quran? What part of convert or kill the infidels don’t you understand?
Bill Jonke:
Dont think Goode will fall. Most of his constituents think he is a liberal, and are generally more bigoted than he is. I met this young white woman Sue who refers to Asians and Asian Americans as darkies and I believe she is the one who posts on blogs supporting him. However, this should badly reflect on the GOP and the Dems may be able to nail people like Susan Collins, Norm Coleman and John Sununu in 2008…in that regard more the merrier.
Well, if I have anything to say on the matter, I sincerely hope that Mr. Goode(his name obviously a study in irony) politically falls on his face with his little bigoted maneuver. He can stand by it all he wants, but it’ll negatively stick itself to him throughout the rest of his political career, as it should.
The surge, big time, of racism and bigotry seems to have been fostered by the Republican party as of late, and I’m sick of it!
MMJerry:
Unfortunately I live in Virgina, northern Virginia to be precise. I pay taxes in this state, and most of my taxes go to the good for nothing white folks in Southern Virginia, many of whom live in Goode’s district…racist bigoted and some of them even belong to the KKK. They are among the biggest welfare recipients in this state. Basically the non-whites and professional whites from northern Virginia subsidize the lowlives who are represented by this bigot, Virgil Goode. However, I am glad that Northern Virginia woke up and help elect Kain and defeat George Allen.
If Mr. Goode was so opposed to Islam where was he when David Duke was parading in Iran last week? Did he ask that David Duke be tried for treason? No. The issue is indeed race and Goode is, well, a racist in the typical southern white tradition of “Harold Call me.” He is condemning Ellison because he is black, not because he is moslem. If religion was the issue Goode would be condemning David Duke for visiting Iran.
Comments are closed.