Politics

Dem Rep Ellison: House Democrats Will Do Nothing But ‘Vote No’ Under Trump

(Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

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Minnesota Rep. Keith Ellison, widely considered a frontrunner to be the next Democratic National Committee chair, says House Democrats will do nothing but “vote no” in the coming years under the new Trump administration.

Ellison, who has faced questions over whether he can juggle both working in Congress and rebuilding a depleted Democratic Party, defended himself at a party meeting on Friday by suggesting that working as a Democratic congressman won’t require much effort.

“I’m in the process of deciding this issue of whether I can perform both roles,” Ellison said, according to the New York Times. Referring to his work in the House, he said that “All there is to do is to vote ‘no’.”

Ellison then promised that “every other moment” not spent voting “no” will be devoted to his work for the DNC.

Whether Ellison can efficiently work both jobs is just one of several concerns raised about the Minnesota Democrat.

Ellison’s past is littered with radical positions that he has since attempted to walk back. (RELATED: Keith Ellison Says Jews ‘Mobilized’ By Israel To ‘Do Its Bidding In America)

In 2009, Ellison campaigned on behalf of a Libyan-born Muslim who called for Palestinians to embrace “the jihad way.”

Ellison once advocated for American blacks to have their own nation and called the U.S. Constitution “best evidence of a white racist conspiracy to subjugate other peoples.” (RELATED: Black Congressman Refuse To Condemn Ellison’s Past Proposal For A ‘Black State’)

WASHINGTON - SEPTEMBER 09: Congressional Black Caucus members (R-L) Chair Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA); Rep. David Scott (D-GA), Sen. Roland Burris (D-IL), Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-NY) and Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN) hold a news conference about health care reform at the U.S. Capitol September 9, 2009 in Washington, DC. Lee said the caucus expects President Barack Obama to show support for a "robust" public option during his speech to Congress tonight. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON – SEPTEMBER 09: Congressional Black Caucus members (R-L) Chair Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA); Rep. David Scott (D-GA), Sen. Roland Burris (D-IL), Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-NY) and Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN) hold a news conference about health care reform at the U.S. Capitol September 9, 2009 in Washington, DC. Lee said the caucus expects President Barack Obama to show support for a “robust” public option during his speech to Congress tonight. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

While speaking to an atheist group in 2007, Ellison compared the September 11 terrorist attacks to the Reichstag fire in Germany and stopped just short of suggesting that George W. Bush played a role in the attacks.

Ellison has also tried to downplay his ties to radical anti-Semite and Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, whom he once defended against charges of anti-Semitism. (RELATED: Dem Congressman Wants Anyone But Straight White Men To Apply For Internships)

In an op-ed for the Washington Post, Ellison said he should have scrutinized Farrakhan’s positions more thoroughly, but blamed “an old right-wing smear campaign” for questions about his ties to radical figures. (RELATED: Keith Ellison Failed To Disclose Group Tied To Muslim Brotherhood Sponsored Mecca Pilgrimage)

The Anti-Defamation League recently said Ellison should be disqualified from serving as DNC chair because of past comments he made about Israel that ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt called “deeply disturbing and disqualifying.”

Follow Hasson on Twitter @PeterJHasson