Dennis Prager's Bigotted Hoax

A story has been making the rounds today that newly elected Rep. Keith Ellison, who is muslim, has 'refused' to be sworn in using a Bible and instead has opted to use the Q'uran. The story began with right wing talk radio ass Dennis Prager, who wrote a column making the claim.

Townhall:

Keith Ellison, D-Minn., the first Muslim elected to the United States Congress, has announced that he will not take his oath of office on the Bible, but on the bible of Islam, the Koran.

He should not be allowed to do so -- not because of any American hostility to the Koran, but because the act undermines American civilization.

First, it is an act of hubris that perfectly exemplifies multiculturalist activism -- my culture trumps America's culture. What Ellison and his Muslim and leftist supporters are saying is that it is of no consequence what America holds as its holiest book; all that matters is what any individual holds to be his holiest book.

OK, let me get my shovel... There's just so much bullshit here. First off, nowhere in the Constitution does it say that people have to swear on a Bible for anything. Whether or not Ellison should be 'allowed' to do so would be moot -- people are sworn in for testimony in court using whatever book is appropriate.

Later on in the piece, he writes, "Would they allow him to choose Hitler's "Mein Kampf," the Nazis' bible, for his oath?" Clearly, Prager's throwing red meat to the racist right and the rabid muslim haters. The irony of comparing the Q'uran to Mein Kampf to make a bigot's argument isn't lost on me, although I'm sure it's lost on Prager.

But it's even worse than that. The story's not even true:

Think Progress:

But Prager’s column is based on one other glaring error: the swearing-in ceremony for the House of Representatives never includes a religious book. The Office of the House Clerk confirmed to ThinkProgress that the swearing-in ceremony consists only of the Members raising their right hands and swearing to uphold the Constitution. The Clerk spokesperson said neither the Christian Bible, nor any other religious text, had ever been used in an official capacity during the ceremony. (Occassionally, Members pose for symbolic photo-ops with their hand on a Bible.)

Things get weird here. "Of course, Ellison's defenders argue that Ellison is merely being honest,"Prager writes, "Since he believes in the Koran and not in the Bible, he should be allowed, even encouraged, to put his hand on the book he believes in."

What defenders? Not only has he pulled this story out of his ass, he's pulled strawman defenders of Ellison's 'decision' out of his ass, too. Anyone missing their car keys? They're probably up Dennis Prager's ass -- apparently there's a lot of room in there.

Tags: news politics religious right conservative republican religion constitution morons Keith Ellison Dennis Prager