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Not So Goode Hate

Last month, right-wing talk show host Dennis Prager whipped up a fake scandal over Congressman-elect Keith Ellison's intention to be sworn in using a Koran come January. Prager has since been reprimanded by the Holocaust Memorial Council of which he is a member but it would seem we have another willing to stir the bigotry pot. And this one's a member of Congress.

Virginia Rep. Virgil Goode (R) has made headlines after sending out a letter to constituents in which he raised fears of an influx of Muslims into the US. He also criticized his soon to be fellow Congressman, in fact Muslims in general, saying that if Americans don't wake up on immigration there will be many more Muslims elected to Congress. Never mind that Ellison isn't an immigrant to begin with but hey when your on a roll, little things like facts just get in the way.

Mr. Ellison, for his part, took it all in stride, a fact for which his to be commended. For no doubt he has already received threats of violence against himself and his family because of these hate-filled comments.

Which makes such episodes all the more appalling. These men must be aware that there are some out there who may read or hear their words and be compelled to act upon them. Should that tragic day ever arrive, which I sincerely hope it does not, we should remember the hate preached by such individuals and hold them accountable for it.

More from The Heretik, Cenk Uygur, NY Times, and a scathing op-ed from WaPo.

(Filed at State of the Day)