Rep. Ellison calls the cops to snuff Tancredo’s cigar

[sabra]

http://www.thehill.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/Frontpage/021407/tancredo.html

Rep. Ellison calls the cops to snuff Tancredo’s cigar

Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) believes it is his right as a Muslim to be sworn into Congress with the Quran. But apparently, the freshman lawmaker doesn’t believe it’s Rep. Tom Tancredo’s (R-Colo.) right to smoke a cigar in his congressional office.

Ellison’s office called the Capitol Hill Police on Tancredo last Wednesday night as Tancredo was in his office smoking a cigar. The lawmakers have neighboring offices on the first floor of the Longworth House Office Building.

Tancredo was still stunned a day later. “It’s very bizarre,” said Tancredo, who has never met Ellison. “Seemed to me not a good way to say hello.”

And let’s face it. Calling the cops on a colleague takes the cake for the nerviest behavior so far among members of this year’s freshman class of Congress.

[hobbit709]

1. Tancredo deserves to have the cops called on him

Just on GP's for his stands on everything. Let him know he's not the Grand Poobah that he thinks he is.

[Kerrytravelers]

2. Why do I get the feeling there is more to this story that we know...

[stillcool]

5. especially when it's from "The Hill"..

their little hatchet job on the "anarchists" was a little to contrived and co-ordinated for my senses.

[Norquist Nemesis]

6. Yes! It's suspicious that his religious freedom is highlighted

as comparison for Tancredo's cigar smoking. :shrug: I seem to recall something about smoking being allowed in designated areas only, but don't remember details whether private offices were included. Of course, Tancredo probably believes cigars aren't included.

[htuttle]

3. How does Ellison being a Muslim have anything to do with Tancredo's cigar?

Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) believes it is his right as a Muslim to be sworn into Congress with the Quran. But apparently, the freshman lawmaker doesn’t believe it’s Rep. Tom Tancredo’s (R-Colo.) right to smoke a cigar in his congressional office.

Do Muslims emit clouds of carcinogens when they pray or something??

[nuxvomica]

4. Poor Tom Tancredo

"Not a good way to say hello" though there had been complaints before and he never did anything about it. Why is The Hill trying to make Tancredo look like the victim?

[gratuitous]

22. It wasn't a good way to say hello

But then, where I come from, it's the duty and the pleasure of the person who was there first to seek out newcomers and introduce yourself. I wonder why Mr. Tancredo, more than a month into this Congress, hadn't yet found time to hoist his fat ass out of his chair, waddle next door, and introduce himself to his new neighbor?

Mr. Ellison's staffer may have been rude to call the cops, but the first rudeness I award to Mr. Tancredo.

[goodhue]

7. Press secretary made the call, not Ellison

Ellison’s press secretary, Rick Jauert, made the call to the Superintendent’s office when he noticed the smoke. “I called because the smoke was coming through the walls,” Jauert said, adding that the Superintendent’s office referred him to the Capitol Police.

[peacetalksforall]

8. The Hill - worthless

Why do I think that Tancredo will probably make things worse for them.

[Oreo]

9. Yes!

I despise that little slimey man. From my former homestate of MN to my current home with Tanc as my Rep this is funny as hell

If you're dealing with a sane man (unlike Tancredo) you go and talk to him. This will play against Ellison though I'm sure.
And if you read the article... his press secretary called not him. Remember that when BillO picks this up

[rodeodance]

10. I think Ellison should have walked over and talked with him first. I

always try resolving issures first by talking, not going around or up the ladder.

just going by what is printed.

[nuxvomica]

12. Even the biased article says there were previous complaints

Sounds like Ellison or his staff had tried to settle the issue short of calling the police.

[MidwestTransplant]

17. Didn't say there were previous complaints just that Ellison complained before

(likely to somebody in the office). He or they should have gone to Trancredos office. What they did, petty much a narc thing to do.

[nuxvomica]

23. “He’s complained of the smoke before.”

Yeah, you can read it either way. Not very specific. I thought in the context following Ellison saying "Fine." that the escalation to the authorities seemed reasonable because there had been previous complaints but I read more into it than was there.

[brentspeak]

11. Is this a legitimate LBN news source?

[LeftishBrit]

13. What has one to do with the other?

'Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) believes it is his right as a Muslim to be sworn into Congress with the Quran. But apparently, the freshman lawmaker doesn’t believe it’s Rep. Tom Tancredo’s (R-Colo.) right to smoke a cigar in his congressional office.'

So far as I know there are no rules about which book you can be sworn in on.

There are some rules in most public buildings about where you can smoke (both because of passive smoking concerns, and fire risks). Whether Tancredo actually broke any rule, I don't know.

Maybe Ellison and/or his staff member were being busybodies, or maybe they were just upholding common-sense rules. I don't know from here, but either way, it shouldn't be used to bring Ellison's or anyone's religious freedom into question. That is a totally separate issue.

[Selteri]

14. More than meets the eye here, but it's great to see the law being used

Against these 'super elite' like Tancredo. I personally feel people should have the right to smoke 'politely' in areas tht are set up so that the second hand smoke doesn't bother others around; but, the best way to work that out is to show just how stupid the law is.

[madrchsod]

15. he should have asked nancy

she ok`d smoking in ones office. must have been some really cheap cigar..white owls?

[Lance_Boyle]

21. smoking in offices is OK

Last month Nancy outlawed smoking in the Speaker's lobby, but made it abundantly clear that smoking is still allowed in Congresscritters' private offices. Ellison should be ashamed, and should apologize to the stinking pile of fecal matter from Colorado.

[TheBaldyMan]

16. Whoops, Ellison won't be getting any Tobacco Lobby money. n/t

[Moloch]

18. He called the cops?

What an arrogant asshat.

[Bake]

19. If true, calling the cops was a dickweed thing to do.

Really. CALLING THE POLICE? I don't really give a big rip about "bipartisanship" but this is maybe a bit extreme.

But hey, nothing's better around here than a smoking thread!!

:popcorn:

Bake

[hlthe2b]

20. Tancredo should be required to

pay the multiple $thousands cost of a state of the art HEPA filtration system for any effected neighboring offices if he wants to smoke in his office... Bottom line....

[MiniMe]

24. Smoking is now illegal in all DC buildings

That law took effect January 1 of this year. Its an interesting question as to if the law applies to congressmen. :sarcasm:

[DeepModem Mom]

25. READ THE WHOLE ARTICLE: ELLISON'S PRESS SECRETARY CALLED...

THEN INFORMED ELLISON:

Ellison’s press secretary, Rick Jauert, made the call to the Superintendent’s office when he noticed the smoke. “I called because the smoke was coming through the walls,” Jauert said, adding that the Superintendent’s office referred him to the Capitol Police.

Jauert said he then informed his boss what he had done. He said “fine,” Jauert said. “He’s complained of the smoke before.”

[Oreo]

26. It's started... RWers are going to love this one

The Rocky Mountain News directly says Ellison called (not his press secretary)and according to the Denver Post Drudge has it on his site (which I refuse to go to to see)

If smoking is illegal in all office environments around the country, Congress should do the same.