I defended his right to use the Quran at his ceremonial swearing-in, but I wonÂ’t cut him any slack here.

Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) believes it is his right as a Muslim to be sworn into Congress with the Quran. But apparently, the freshman lawmaker doesnÂ’t believe itÂ’s Rep. Tom TancredoÂ’s (R-Colo.) right to smoke a cigar in his congressional office.

EllisonÂ’s office called the Capitol Hill Police on Tancredo last Wednesday night as Tancredo was in his office smoking a cigar. The lawmakers have neighboring offices on the first floor of the Longworth House Office Building.

Tancredo was still stunned a day later. “It’s very bizarre,” said Tancredo, who has never met Ellison. “Seemed to me not a good way to say hello.”

And letÂ’s face it. Calling the cops on a colleague takes the cake for the nerviest behavior so far among members of this yearÂ’s freshman class of Congress.

* * *

Tancredo said he would not stop smoking in his office. “Heck, no!” he said. “If he [Ellison] would have [had] the courtesy to say something I’m sure I would have been more accommodating to his wishes.”

To help keep his office free of impurities, Tancredo has three air purifiers. And he has no plans to meet Ellison anytime soon. “I’m sure we will, but I’m not going to make a point [of it],” the presidential hopeful said, adding that he supported Ellison’s right to be sworn in with the Quran.

Ellison’s press secretary, Rick Jauert, made the call to the Superintendent’s office when he noticed the smoke. “I called because the smoke was coming through the walls,” Jauert said, adding that the Superintendent’s office referred him to the Capitol Police.

Jauert said he then informed his boss what he had done. He said “fine,” Jauert said. “He’s complained of the smoke before.”

What next? Will Ellison and his staff demand that Capitol Hill offices go dry in accordance with Islamic teachings? Will he act to have ham sandwiches banned from Capitol Hill? Will he insist that Speaker Pelosi wear a burqa (not that it wouldnÂ’t be an improvement)? At the risk for giving offense to the Muslim Congressman by using a Yiddish work, Ellison showed a lot of chutzpah here.

Posted by: Greg at 12:17 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 388 words, total size 3 kb.