CNN the Situation Room - Transcript

CNN THE SITUATION ROOM - Transcript

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SCHNEIDER (voice-over): It's likely this year will see the first Muslim elected to Congress. He's Keith Ellison who just won the Democratic nomination in Minnesota's Fifth Congressional District.

KEITH ELLISON (D), MN CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE: In this election, we had people who say, "shalom," we have people who say "a salaam aleikum."

SCHNEIDER: Ellison's religion was not a big issue in the Democratic race.

ELLISON: Whether it be peace or veterans' benefits or health care, or the fact that we haven't had a minimum wage increase since 1997, those are really the driving issues.

SCHNEIDER: Ellison regards himself as a staunch progressive in the tradition of Paul Wellstone, his personal hero. Republicans are calling attention to divisive positions Ellison took in the past and his association with Louis Farrakhan's Nation of Islam.

ELLISON: I worked on the Million Man March and I was proud to do so.

SCHNEIDER: Republicans have little hope of defeating Ellison in a district that voted 71 percent for Democrat John Kerry in the last presidential election. They are trying to use Ellison's past associations to taint Minnesota Democrats as too extreme. OLSON BLOIS, POLITICAL ANALYST: I think the insinuation has been radicalism. Some insinuation of anti-Semitism. Though Representative Ellision had strong support from the Jewish community.

SCHNEIDER: Ellison says his views have changed.

ELLISON: As I've gotten older I've gotten much more sensitive to the needs of all community.

SCHNEIDER: His views on the Middle East.

ELLISON: I support Israel. I support a negotiated peace in the Middle East.

SCHNEIDER: Ellison will have to choose what role he wants to play.

BLOIS: The first Muslim elected to congress or the first black congressman from Minnesota. Or the shadow of Paul Wellstone coming through here too. And I think that depends on the issues he picks.

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SCHNEIDER (on camera): Ellison gave me every indication he intends to be a progressive voice. Not primarily a racial or a religious voice -- Wolf.

Bill Schneider, thanks very much.

And the candidate Keith Ellison is joining us now. He's in Minneapolis. Mr. Ellison, thanks very much for coming in. I know you are state representative. Congratulations on this win. You realize, of course, given the heavily Democratic nature of this district, this is your election to lose?

KEITH ELLISON, MINNESOTA CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE: Well, we are not taking anything for granted, Wolf. We are working very hard. The celebration ended last night. And we were on the ground working really hard today.

BLITZER: What does it mean to be the first -- it was hard for me to believe that there has never been a Muslim elected to the United States Congress. How does that feel to potentially make history in that regard?

ELLISON: You know, Wolf, I've been taking this whole history stuff day by day. I think the big history we made last night is that we have included more of the people of the district in all of the various different descriptions and religious faiths and colors and cultures than I've ever seen before. That for me was the history making event.

Of course I have my own personal profile as we all do. But that for me is just a fact. I've been focusing on how to unite and include and bring people in.

BLITZER: I know, have been reading a bit about your background. You converted to Islam while you were in college from Christianity?

ELLISON: That's right. Yes, sir.

BLITZER: What made you decide that you wanted to embrace Islam?

ELLISON: It was a personal religious choice.

BLITZER: And that was that. And you've obviously made some major changes over these many years in your attitude. What about this other issue that's come up? You are also going to make history by becoming the first African American to be elected to the U.S. Congress from the State of Minnesota assuming you win?

ELLISON: Well. That's another personal detail of my life. I mean, I'm proud to be who I am. But Wolf, in this day and age, we really need to focus on what we have in common. Not what sets us apart. We have to all say that we need our seniors to have a real drug benefit. We've got to make sure we support all of our veterans of whatever color. We have to come together as a community. And so today, points of difference are not nearly as important as points that we have together. We're one country, and we have to make sure that the common good is exalted and embraced by all.

BLITZER: As a practicing Muslim, how does it feel when you hear the president of the United States or other top officials here in Washington speak of Islamic fascists?

ELLISON: Well, you know, though I wouldn't use that terminology. I think it's improper to connect those two words, but the more important thing about the Bush administration is I think that it's economic policy. The way that it's pursued the war in Iraq. Two things that I think really do not serve best interests of the American people.

BLITZER: As you take a look at the challenges you face right now. As the first potentially African American member from the state of Minnesota. Hard for me to believe you are making history on that. Also that there's never been a Muslim elected to the United States Congress, what's a bigger thrill for you in terms of that element of making history?

ELLISON: You know, it's all mixed up together. Wolf, I mean, again. I haven't put the emphasis on my own personal identity. The emphasis for me is on the people, how to mobilize the people, how to persuade them to vote in their own best interests, how to talk about peace as being the guiding principal of our nation, how to argue that we have to fix this broken health care system that we have. I mean, these are the things that we need to talk about, how we all come together around serious problems that are not being addressed by the Bush administration.

BLITZER: Keith Ellison, poised to make history here in Washington. Congratulations once again on the victory yesterday.

ELLISON: Real pleasure, Wolf. Thank you.

BLITZER: Appreciate your coming in.

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