MSNBC "The Ed Show" - Transcript

MSNBC "The Ed Show" Interview With Rep. Keith Ellison Interviewer: Ed Schultz

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MR. SCHULTZ: Joining me now is Minnesota Congressman Keith Ellison, who the president referred to in his speech today. Ellison, a good friend of mine, but he always gets this label -- he is the only Muslim who's elected to the United States Congress.

Now that we've got that out of the way, Keith -- but you know how this works -- a lot of people are going to wonder how you took this speech today from the perspective of the Muslim faith. What are your thoughts?

REP. ELLISON: I was so excited to hear it. I thought it was a great speech. It was a speech where he hit all the points. I think that he has rebranded this relationship between the United States and the rest of the world, including the Muslim world. I feel that this War on Terror rubric has been rejected. He didn't even use the term. He used the term violent extremism. So I'm glad to see that term go, because it hasn't served us well.

But I think it was a great speech. I think it spoke to youth. I think it was important that it was at a university, because I think that signals to young people all over the world that it is time for a new era to begin.

MR. SCHULTZ: Congressman Ellison, here's what President Obama had to say, referring to you today in his speech.

PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA: (From videotape.) Since our finding, American Muslims have enriched the United States. They have fought in our wars. They have served in our government. They have stood for civil rights. When the first Muslim-American was recently elected to Congress, he took the oath to defend our Constitution using the same holy Koran that one of our Founding Fathers, Thomas Jefferson, kept in his personal library. (Applause.)

MR. SCHULTZ: That's an excellent response from the people who were there. Congressman, did you know that he was going to refer to you today?

REP. ELLISON: You know, it caught me off-guard. And it was a pleasant surprise. This morning I started getting messages on my BlackBerry. It started blowing up and going crazy. And it was really an interesting moment. But I'm glad that I was able to, in some way, contribute to the president's ability to reach out and show a point of commonality with the audience that he was talking to.

I mean, the fact is that when I did swear in on the Koran -- and it seems like a long time ago; it was only about two and a half years ago -- it was sort of a big deal at the time. But now it's not that big of a deal at all. And here I am, having served, having won my re- election, and you know, the sky didn't fall. So, you know, it's been good so far, Ed.

And I think that the president is right. Seven thousand Muslims have served in the United States armed forces. In fact, Colin Powell mentioned one who lost his life as his mother was at his grave, and Colin Powell used that reference himself to point out that Muslim- Americans and all Americans have contributed to the security of America. I was glad to see the president make the point.

MR. SCHULTZ: Congressman, just weeks ago you came back from the Middle East. Are we being viewed differently over there?

REP. ELLISON: Days ago. In fact, this is my third trip to the Middle East this year. I would say for sure. You know, if you go to a market in the Middle East, known as a souq, you see Obama T-shirts there. You see people who are hopeful, who talk about a new way forward. You see people who are cautiously optimistic, but the hope is clearly there.

He has created an environment where we can really see people take a few risks. We can see people stretch out further than they have before. And, you know, we were in Bethlehem, Jericho and the Ramallah, and we were in Jerusalem, talking with both Israelis and Palestinians. It's important -- you know, one day you should get General Keith Dayton on. He's helping to train Palestinian security forces, who are doing a really good job offering safety and security in the West Bank. This is giving Israel enough confidence so they can really begin to deconstruct these checkpoints, illegal outposts, and expansion of settlement activity.

So what's going on there -- there is good work going on on the ground, and this is the kind of thing that really is going to help augment that. I think the president's message is going to help things that are happening now and get a little bit more wind in people's backs.

MR. SCHULTZ: Well, I think Americans are going to remember day number 136.

REP. ELLISON: I think so.

MR. SCHULTZ: Congressman Keith Ellison, always a pleasure. Great to have you with us tonight.

REP. ELLISON: You bet, Ed. Take care, buddy.

MR. SCHULTZ: You bet.

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