Was Rep. Ellison’s Tearful Testimony Entirely True?
- Posted on March 10, 2011 at 11:01pm by
Meredith Jessup
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During his early morning testimony Thursday, Rep. Keith Ellison, D-Minn., recited the tragic story of 23-year-old Mohammed Salman Hamdani, a brave first responder and New York City Police cadet who rushed to aid his fellow countrymen as the Twin Towers burned on September 11, 2001. Breaking into tears, Ellison decried “some people”’ who “tried to smear [Hamdani's] character solely because of his Islamic faith.”
Some people spread false rumors and speculated that he was in league with the attackers only because he was Muslim. It was only when his remains were identified that these lies were fully exposed. Mohammed Salman Hamdani was a fellow American who gave his life for other Americans. His life should not be defined as a member of an ethnic group or a member of a religion, but as an American who gave everything for his fellow citizens.
Ellison is right: Hamdani died a hero and should be remembered as such. But in using Hamdani‘s story to make a statement condemning Thursday’s hearings on Muslim radicalization, National Review’s Matthew Shaffer points out how Ellison only viewed him as a political prop.
While Ellison expressed disgust over “rumors” about Hamdani being associated with terrorists following 9/11, these are the facts:
Web pages that do source the claim that Hamndani was “widely accused” of being a terrorist typically trace back to a single report from the New York Post, dated Oct. 12, 2001, and titled “Missing — or Hiding? Mystery of NYPD Cadet from Pakistan.” The piece has been taken offline, but its content is preserved elsewhere. Here’s what the New York Post wrote:
His family distributed missing-person fliers in the fear that the 23-year-old, who is trained as an emergency medical technician, went instead to the World Trade Center to help and was killed.
But investigators for the FBI and NYPD have since questioned the family about which Internet chat rooms he visited and if he was political.
Hamdani, a graduate of Queens College with a biochemistry degree, had been in the NYPD cadet program for three years. He became “inactive” because he needed to work full time, his mother said.
Police sources said he hadn’t been to work at the NYPD since April, but he still carried official identification.
One source told the Post: “That tells me they’re not looking for this guy at the bottom of the rubble. The thing that bothers me is, if he is up to some tricks, he can walk past anybody [using the ID card].”
Hamdani’s mother, who has been in the United States for two decades, denied her son was political or a religious fundamentalist. Cops at the Midtown Tunnel reported spotting someone who looked like Hamdani yesterday morning.
So the Post reported 1) that Hamdani’s family believed he died in the WTC attacks, 2) that the FBI asked Hamdani’s mother a few background questions after a mistaken sighting, and 3) that an unnamed source felt such questioning implied guilt. No doubt, that was hard on the grieving mother. But frankly, this — a mistaken sighting, and very preliminary investigations of many people, most of whom turn out to be innocent — is the kind of thing that inevitably happens after a major terrorist attack.
Contrary to Ellison’s account of bigoted Islamophobic hatred, a grateful nation honored Hamdani for his courageous spirit and unwavering patriotism. Just six weeks after the 9/11 attacks, he was singled out by the United States Congress and President George W. Bush as a hero memorialized in the text of the USA Patriot Act:
Many Arab Americans and Muslim Americans have acted heroically during the attacks on the United States, including Mohammed Salman Hamdani, a 23-year-old New Yorker of Pakistani descent, who is believed to have gone to the World Trade Center to offer rescue assistance and is now missing.
Additionally, as Shaffer notes, Hamdani “was eulogized by the New York Times, had scholarship funds named after him, was honored by Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Police Commissioner Ray Kelly (both of whom went barefoot to honor Muslim practice) at his funeral, and has been celebrated over and over again by the media.”
“If Hamdani was singled out for his faith, it would appear he was singled out for especially high honors,” Shaffer concludes. “Rather than suffering from apocryphal American anti-Muslim bigotry, Salman Hamdani appears to have benefited from America’s eager inclusiveness.
“Americans have long seen Mohammed Salman Hamdani as a hero. Too bad Representative Ellison saw him only as a prop.”
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Comments (230)
Taquoshi
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 11:41pmI must have been too worried about friends who were stuck in Europe when their flight was turned back on 9/11 to notice the guy was a Muslim.
Actually, it never occurred to me to question his religious beliefs, just like I didn’t wonder about the religious affiliations of hundred of others, or the seven who died from our community.
I think Ellison is trying to stir things up. As for the hearings on Islamic terrorism, come on now. When was the last time he read the paper?
He should be weeping, for all his fellow believers that are dying daily in Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Egypt, Libya, and all the other Muslim countries where Islamic fundamentalists are busy killing their fellow countrymen for not being as religious as they themselves are. He should be grieving that so many are dying over trivial matters, like walking down the street. It‘s an all out war over there and he’s crying over a hearing. A hearing!!!! Get a grip, man.
Report Post »Gold Coin & Economic News
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 11:38pm@Darmok Ha! Winning!
Report Post »banjarmon
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 11:38pmEllison’s lips are moving and he a dem….need I say more??
Report Post »completehorsesense
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 11:36pmAs it is written in the KJV AMOS Chapter 5 Verse 16, and such as are skillfull of lamentations to wailing. In other words,( professionals ) May our FATHER in Heaven tend to them.
Report Post »completehorsesense.com
touch
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 11:35pmWhen it comes to the majority of Muslims, the ends justify the means. They will look you in the face and make you believe they are sympathetic and understanding to your cause while plotting behind your back. Do all Muslims obey Sharia Law? If so, where is moderate Muslim in Sharia Law?
Is Zuhdi Jasser a so-called moderate Muslim?
Report Post »GrannyATL
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 11:35pm“Americans have long seen Mohammed Salman Hamdani as a hero. Too bad Representative Ellison saw him only as a prop.”
That says it all.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 11:33pmDon’t let a “little” thing like the truth get in the way of a good story .. and some fake tears.
Report Post »teddie888
Posted on March 11, 2011 at 12:42pmAgree. Fake? I didn’t see 1 tear…watch it again, not 1.
Report Post »spirited
Posted on March 11, 2011 at 2:17pmOh…, there were tears!
After squinting, they fell; with whining voice and breath.
>Hollywood child stars used to compete for –who could be the best crier.
Report Post »SilentReader
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 11:31pmI would say he was given “special treatment” because he was a Muslim.
For this man to sit up there and single him out is the height of hypocrisy. Would he show the same tears for the 3000 other Americans who died that day? Or is it just his “Muslim” brothers that he cries for?
We the people cry for ALL of the people who died on 9/11 irregardless.
Report Post »Rational Man
Posted on March 11, 2011 at 12:00amWell said READER!
Report Post »AmeriCat
Posted on March 11, 2011 at 12:22amIndeed, Politically Correct “special treatment”
Report Post »for Muslim Ellison,
for the 9 Muslims who caused a ruckus aboard that airliner,
for the Fort Hood Jihad Shooter,
for the Underpants Christmas Bomber,
just for starters…
billindallas
Posted on March 11, 2011 at 12:34pmI cry for the three 11 year-olds on the plane that hit the Pentagon. They were on the way to California on a field trip for school. There were 300 international citizens killed that day. The silence from the Muslim community in the wake of 9/11 was deafening. No marching in the street, no protests, no Imams calling for their flocks to assist in denouncing this act of cowardice.
Report Post »tinydd
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 11:30pmOne muslim hero vs. 19 muslim terrorists, hmm. Makes you want to embrace Islam, no?
Report Post »F-BROKER
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 11:30pmThere’s no crying in baseball!
Report Post »AzDebi
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 11:28pmI want to know where the REAL MEN are in our government? I want to know where the TRUE PATRIOTS are in our government?…So we threw out 100 of the commies in November and just how are we any better off? Could someone please explain this to me? AND…why is Rep King standing ALONE in this HEARING? WHY? I‘m so tired of the same ol’ same ol‘ same ol’ same ol’ SH*T!
Report Post »The Third Archon
Posted on March 12, 2011 at 3:56amBecause Rep. King is a crazy d-bag. The idea that a globally dispersed faith is capable of not only coordinating a global coup amongst its followers, but also keeping it a secret, is utterly ludicrous and the stuff of conspiracy theories, which seek the most convoluted and remote explanation possible for an observed phenomena, which defies every basic operative principle of logical formation and reasoning (the causal explanation with the fewest links has the fewest points of potential failure and, absent empirical knowledge to weigh the theories, has the highest preponderance of being true amongst all other possible causal explanations). If this were even true, we should fear Christianity more 1) because its larger (and larger here, by FAR–Muslims are less than a full percentage point of the U.S. population), and 2) because it is growing faster (well Mormonism is, and so Mormonism is more of a threat to overtaking “mainstream” Christianity than Islam). Besides that, Christianity also, like the 12th Imam prophecy (a subsect of Shii’te Islam, which is a minority amongst Muslims, the majority being Sunni and having no messianic prophecy), has a messianic prophecy in which Jesus (read “the Mahdi”) returns to Earth to establish is global Kingdom of God (read “caliphate”) for a thousand years. I don’t see how one can justify feeling threatened by Islam, especially in America,when there are far more Christians, their religion is growing faster, and they essentially believe in the EXACT SAME THING called different names, that the subsect (not even the entirety) of the Muslim population that has been the greatest concern to Beck (i.e. the 12th Imam Shii’te) , believe–the Christians are in a FAR better position than the Muslims to execute their vision.
Report Post »cheezwhiz
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 11:26pmThe gist of his yapping :
Report Post »” A muslim died on 9/11 who may not have been one of the islamic terrorists, so don’t you all try to expose the jihad being waged from the mosques inside America …..waaaaa…waaaaa…”
neverending
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 11:26pmI doubt that very seriously – if it is true it will be the first time a demorat did not lie!
Report Post »RetUSAFVet
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 11:23pmIt is my understanding that when you testify before any congressional comittee, you are under oath. This representative should be charged with perjury and sanctioned or expelled.
Report Post »felina g
Posted on March 11, 2011 at 9:15amTry to tell that to Sheila Lee and Max Waters and Jesse James….er…..Jackson.
Report Post »mill
Posted on March 11, 2011 at 9:57amWe need to turn Megan kelly loose on his lying butt
Report Post »SomaliVet
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 11:22pmGet this. He was born and raised catholic (his mother is hispanic) and he has a brother that is a minister in I believe the baptist church. Seems he likes to go with what is faishonable. Another pretender.
Report Post »Dale
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 11:56pmDo you mean he was radicalized?
Report Post »riseandshine
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 11:22pmprobably fake…he is a demolib commie pinko afterall….that was bad, wasn’t it
Report Post »BIGJAYINPA
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 11:21pmI will give Rep Ellison the benefit of the doubt, for now. Keep in mind he is a politician which means when he is not kissing babies, he is stealing their candy. When it comes to politicians, especially those with a D after their names I defer to The Gipper “Trust but verify” in other words- Don’t tell me show me.
Report Post »cheezwhiz
Posted on March 11, 2011 at 12:11amLets see some of things we know about him.
Report Post »He used to be FairyKhan’s follower.
He changed his name from Christian to muslim and then back to Christian to fool MN, when he wanted to get to DC.
He was part of Pelosi’s foreign policy team which flew to Syria immediately after taking over Congress in 2007.
He performed hajj while as Congressman which was paid for by a suspicious muslim organization.
He has been a shills for sharia , in MN Univ
He is supportive of every anti-American activity by jihadies in America .
He has been hoping for some kind of 9/11 type tragedy so that Obama can play the role of a leader again
He is solidly behind the gazwa-rabat which muslims want @ G-0 on top of hallowed ground where American dead bodies fell on 9/11
He never condemns islamic terrorism, is hostile to American people, uses his race and religion to vilify this country and its people.
He is divisive and never misses any opportunity to be anti-American and anti-White when he is in front of a camera
He is the epitome of the worst a black muslim politician has to offer
SO NO ..he doesn’t get ANY benefit .
We know too much about him to give him any more benefit of the doubt. Lets judge him by his own words and actions.
Venom
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 11:21pmGood Charlie Sheen referance..
Report Post »cheezwhiz
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 11:20pmThis Ellison dude, wasn’t he called EL-Hakim when he was in the Nation of islam ?
Report Post »You know before he decided to become a congressman ?
ilovetheusa1
Posted on March 11, 2011 at 10:58amLast month Keith (Hakim Mohammad) Ellison of Minnesota became the first Muslim elected to serve .aluah ackbar
Report Post »commonsenseguy
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 11:20pmwith the left,they would throw they’re mothers under the bus just to make their points . also,they just like jesse jackson use double standards for they agendas, the ends justify the means,no matter who gets hurt or used,this man should have done his home work and stood up for a hero instead of using his death to shut down radical muslim hearings,people you must vote this guy out as soon as possible.
Report Post »Gruug
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 11:19pmSomeone trying to make political “hay” out of someone else’s sacrifice. These hearings are not about people like Mohammed Salman Hamdani becaues he was abviously NOT working as a radical Muslim. Instead, this hearing is focused on groups that are overtly or covertly radical Muslim her in the USA supporting terrorism.
Report Post »TrueGrit
Posted on March 11, 2011 at 5:51amhe wasn‘t just making ’hay’ he was doing as the Koran allows…
lying to promote his agenda. Crying to adance his brotherhood.
(Not good crying anyway. No tears)
I’m not keen on a grown man whining and crying for show anyway.
Read the koran.
Understand Sharia, and you’ll get to the bottom line of reality in
Muslim thinking.
Wolverine
Report Post »natstew
Posted on March 11, 2011 at 10:43amPelosi is better at fake crying.
Report Post »GardenoftheGods
Posted on March 11, 2011 at 12:59pmKeith Ellison was following a part of his religion: Taqiyya. Check it out…Understanding Taqiyya ― Islamic Principle of Lying for the Sake of Allah
Report Post »http://www.islam-watch.org/Warner/Taqiyya-Islamic-Principle-Lying-for-Allah.htm
southernloyalty
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 11:19pmIf statistics show that pit bulls have bit or killed more people than any other breed of dog, would you make the assumption that pit bulls are more dangerous than other breeds or would you blindley and happily let pit bulls roam your neighborhood while your kids are outside playing?
Report Post »Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 11:28pmDitto.
Report Post »Same relates to Monkeys. If 9 out of 10 monkeys throw poo, odds are if you see a monkey with poo, he will probably throw it at you.
So, would it be safe to profile any monkey carring poo or just those monkeys that threw poo?
Dale
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 11:52pmEarly last century Pit Bulls were called Nanny Dogs – because they are good with children. I’m sorry you chose to propagate the false view that Pit Bulls are dangerous.
Report Post »freedomofspeech
Posted on March 11, 2011 at 2:00ampit bulls are good for hog hunting too, jaw clamp down and don’t let go. Love the breed, however I don’t love irresponsible pit bull owners. Anyhow small dogs bite more often and not reported.
Report Post »RebelSon
Posted on March 11, 2011 at 9:52am@Freedomofspeech: So true. Every-other-day I read about a roving pack of chihuahua’s mauling someone. It’s outrageous that this is allowed to continue!
Report Post »natstew
Posted on March 11, 2011 at 10:39amit’s only the radical pit bulls that are dangerous. (sarcasm intended)
Report Post »natstew
Posted on March 11, 2011 at 10:42amDale
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 11:52pm
Early last century Pit Bulls were called Nanny Dogs – because they are good with children. I’m sorry you chose to propagate the false view that Pit Bulls are dangerous.
Report Post »
Dale, Pit Bulls are only good at eating children. Read the news.
Report Post »White Ninja
Posted on March 11, 2011 at 1:23pm@Dale
If. IF they were. Please tell me we’re not getting PC with dogs now.
Report Post »Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Posted on March 11, 2011 at 1:36pmOr Monkeys.
Report Post »Bluebonnet
Posted on March 11, 2011 at 2:06pmOK! Not a pit bull owner, but I do NOT believe the breed is dangerous. I believe the owners make the pit bulls mean for their own pleasure. I’ve been around sweet pits and they are so sweet & gentle and wonderful with kids. I owned a tiny poodle years ago who would bite anyone he thought didn’t belong around our car or house. He didn’t like little kids, but we had visitors with a little girl who wasn’t afraid of dogs. She picked him up and carried him around like a baby and he was so astounded, he never tried to bite her because she became the aggressor over him. He was more show of the teeth with a snarl than he was a real bite, but he acted mean if they messed around our car.
Report Post »aLinedog
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 11:18pmI wanted to comment, but I‘m listening to this guy on O’Reilly right now. “let’s call Eric Holder, Let’s call (unintelligible) from the FBI..” Yeah, Eric will be ALL over this… right after he finishes on sorting this Black Panther Voter Intimidation ‘matter’ (thanks Janet).
Report Post »He’s a pinhead, I have no further comment.
-Line
felina g
Posted on March 11, 2011 at 9:12amI think Clapper will be available to read a talking point. Lib`s don`t know what to think so they have to wait for the cheat sheet.
I have never seen so many totally incapable people making decisions.
Where is the bill to STOP CALLING THESE PEOPLE “CZAR`S” !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!??????????????
Report Post »teddie888
Posted on March 11, 2011 at 12:45pmYea, he doesn’t want real people testifying, he’s adament on only political people
Report Post »vennoye
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 11:16pmGuess we are to the point that anyone or anything can be used as political props..dead heros, school students. Aren’t you just tired of being lied to and deceived? I sure am.
Report Post »teddie888
Posted on March 11, 2011 at 12:44pmDitto
Report Post »Ironmaan
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 11:14pmCry all you like. Sensable people realize where the risk lies, and it is with Islam.
Report Post »http://guerillatics.com
CatB
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 11:31pmand that’s the TRUTH
Report Post »dmforman
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 11:38pmI would say that it’s radical Islam. The problem that I have is that I never hear Muslim’s condone the radicals and extremists. Radicals and Extremists are the problem and their numbers are growing in the Muslim religion.
Report Post »Toastery
Posted on March 11, 2011 at 8:00amExactly! Crying on a world stage is, well, Staged! The American hero was honored for heroic deeds. The one who looks like the unamerican muslim is the one crying and lying!
Report Post »tifosa
Posted on March 11, 2011 at 8:37am@DMFORMAN, “The problem that I have is that I never hear Muslim’s condone the radicals and extremists.” Of course you never hear that, because the large population of peaceful Muslims DO NOT “condone the radicals and extremists!” If you don’t see anything about moderate, peaceful Muslims DENOUNCING the radical extremists, you need only use Google, er, bing, and read how they DO SO and don‘t feel they’re being heard.
Report Post »natstew
Posted on March 11, 2011 at 10:37amTo say radical islam is redundant. islam is radical.
Report Post »sWampy
Posted on March 11, 2011 at 10:39amSure you are going to have a few thousand out of billions that do condone, but the overwhelming majority aren’t peaceful, if they were peaceful, they wouldn’t follow the religion of hate and violence. Islam is the polar opposite of Christianity, created as a weapon to destroy Christianity, so you have millions of radical muslims and a few who don’t understand islam and denounce the violence, while in Christianity you have millions of peaceful loving people striving to make the world a better place and a very, very few Timothy McVeighs that don’t understand what Christianity is about.
Report Post »1959
Posted on March 11, 2011 at 10:44amHis oscar-craving performance of tears was covering his knowledge of http://undergroundnotes.com/islamic.htm and the fact that he is helping implement # eight
Report Post »VegasGuy
Posted on March 11, 2011 at 11:15amThe people who scream the loudest when someone tries to look in their closet are usually those who have the most to hide. I find Muslims to be pretty big screamers.
Report Post »restorehope
Posted on March 11, 2011 at 1:51pmIf libs were risking only their own lives with this out-of-control political correctness, it would be their business. However, they are risking the safety and well-being of ALL Americans when they refuse to accept the possibility of radical Muslims among us. This is our lives on the line, not just their little progressive bleeding hearts. To hinder any discussion of wolves among the sheep in America is not only short-sighted, but could eventually be a lethal mistake.
Report Post »Bluebonnet
Posted on March 11, 2011 at 1:57pmOMG! Can we include him as one of our national crybabies? Somehow, I didn’t feel his tears were sincere.
Report Post »Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Posted on March 11, 2011 at 2:33pmDoes anyone remember WKRP in Cincinnati? Johnny Fever had been fired because he said BOOGER on the air. Well it seems my post was removed because of??? Maybe it was mentioning Nipple Rings chaffing. Well come on Moderator NIPPLE RINGS CHAFFING.
Report Post »1TrueOne55
Posted on March 11, 2011 at 3:06pmI am one who believes that even his tears are manufactured, with the camera showing the Picture of the burning tower for at least what seems like 5 mins he could have put something in his right hand that could cause tears. Most Soap Opera actors know how to do that, and his tears came after some hard and I mean hard forced blinks.
But this will be between him and God. And God don’t lie.
Report Post »cosette
Posted on March 11, 2011 at 8:29pmGutter religion!
Report Post »Jim from Maine
Posted on March 11, 2011 at 10:26pmAs far as I can determine, there are no moderate muslims at all. Their “religion” orders them ALL, to kill, lie and do anything they need to do to convert unbelievers to their faith. They seem to have forgotten that it is the 21st century now, not the 6th.
Report Post »indy1
Posted on March 12, 2011 at 1:06pmLike most Democrats, Ellison thinks he can lie about something because it happened 9 years ago.
Report Post »