Andrew Walden, writing in Front Page Magazine, examines the deeply troubling candidacy of Keith Eillison, the Democrats' nominee for Congress in the Democrat—dominated district that includes the city of Minneapolis. Two blogs, Minnesota Democrats Exposed and Powerline did the job the local press (particularly the Star—Tribune, in a grave dereliction of journalistic duty) failed at: uncovering Ellison's ties with the Nation of Islam and his questionable attitudes toward Jews, not to mention his scofflaw behavior.

I grew up in this particular Congressional district, the Minnesota Fifth, and my family was quite close to former Representative Donald Fraser, who for many years held the very seat which Ellison seeks, prior to becoming Mayor of Minneapolis. My mother ran his district office, and Don was one of my mother's pallbearers, among many other kindnesses to our family.

The prospect of Ellison's election fills me with both dread and sadness, not least because it signifies the degeneration of the civility which characterized the Minneapolis of my youth.

Especially troubling to me is the prospect of reversion to an unsavory past.

Few people realize it today, but Minneapolis was considered the most anti—Semitic city in America in the pre—WW II decades. A lethal combination of prairie populism, angry at the low price of grain (which was blamed on "Jewish bankers"), and strong ethnic ties with Germany during the Nazi years, led to the rise of open anti—Semitism in Minneapolis.

Additionally, the local gangsters in Minnespolis were predominantly Jews, leading to extensive press coverage. The Minneapolis Star, a predecessor of today's Star—Tribune, was a newspaper regarded as appealing to prairie populists, and was loathed by many Jews in the community.

Sophisticated observers regard the prospect of a defeat for Ellison as highly unlikely. This is a shame. A shame on the city of Minneapolis and the Fifth Congressional District, and a shame on the Demoratic Party (technically, the Democratic—Farmer—Labor Party in Minnesota).

Some influential local Minnesota Jewish Democrats express no concern over Ellison. They are not only wrong, but if Ellison becomes the first NOI member of Congress, the trend away from the Democrats on the part of Jews will be reinforced.

Thomas Lifson   9 20 06