More "friends of Keith" Ellison come forward to tell the truth.

From comments at Minnesota Democrats Exposed:

I was the editor who published Keith’s articles and follow-up pieces. I’m also a moderate Democrat: I like Keith’s platform.

I KNEW Keith back then.

Keith didn’t “keep a distance” from the Nation of Islam: he was in chin-deep. He supported and encouraged their speakers and ideology and made no effort at balance. He even boycotted a Jewish-Black dialog group created in response to his speakers and writings, except to show up for five minutes and yell at me. Keith isn’t a healer, or at least he wasn’t back then.

I should add that it wasn’t only Jews Keith and his speakers railed about.

They also went off on whites, women, and gays. Stokley Carmichael (aka Kwame Ture) — a speaker Keith sponsored, stood with, and enthusiastically supported — was asked what position women should have in the black-right’s movement.

His answer: “prone.”

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Keith WAS an active member of a hate group. That’s not filth: that’s history. On second thought maybe it is “filth” but it’s also history. If David Duke was the front-runner in Minneapolis his past associations would be filthy, but also highly germane to his worthiness as a candidate. Keith’s in the same position.

Just like David Duke couldn’t say “ignore my past: concentrate on the positive” neither should Keith be able to.

Strangely, I think if there is any racist behavior being exhibited it’s by Keith’s supporters. Minnesota Democrats seem to be either infantalizing Keith or condoning his past behavior. Either position is indefensible and the former definitely stinks of the same bigoted charges Keith’s supporters are fast to throw around.

It is depressing as a moderate democrat to witness what is happening. I said in a prior post this will be a Democratic disaster in the ‘08 presidential race when my south Florida neighbors — that solid block of Jews who usually vote Democrat — realize who the Democrats have supported [Italics mine~Ed.].

I have written to the Star-Tribune: never heard from them. Didn’t bother with the Pioneer-Press. Yesterday I wrote Katherine Kersten but haven’t heard from her either [I'm guessing you might yet Mike].

The City Pages seems to be the worst basket case of all: I won’t waste my digital ink. I’ve also written to my editor way back when, who is now a staff reporter at the Washington Post: there’s no way he could believe Keith didn’t know about Farrakhan and what the Nation of Islam stood for.

Comment by Michael Olenick September 19, 2006

No word yet as to whether Keith X Hakim-Ellison has decided to issue a fatwah on Mr. Olenick. Minister FaraKKKhan is likewise silent.