One right-wing politician voiced his alarm that the election of more Muslims to high office could diminish American values. His solution was to severely limit immigration. This alarmism is not a political gaffe, but is rather a rabble-rousing way to stake out his corner of the right-wing circus.
Rep. Virgil Goode (R-VA) wrote a letter to select supporters opposing Muslim representative-elect Keith Ellison's (D-MN) choice to swear in on the Qur'an. He also warned that ignoring his immigration plan would result in "many more Muslims elected to office and demanding the use of the Qur'an." He wanted to end visas "allowing many persons from the Middle East to come to this country."
Ignoring FDR’s call to fear nothing but fear itself, he wrote: "I fear that in the next century we will have many more Muslims in the United States if we do not adopt the strict immigration policies that I believe are necessary to preserve the values and beliefs traditional to the United States of America and to prevent our resources from being swamped."
We may never have come across this insight into the art of religion-baiting if the letter was not accidentally sent to the chair of the local Sierra Club chapter. This letter was revealed by Charlottesville's alternative newspaper, the C-Ville Weekly.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) reported that Members of Congress came out against his statement. Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr. wrote him a letter saying he was "greatly disappointed and in fact startled" by the letter. Rep. Pascrell pointed out that they are both "committed to fighting extremism." However, this "’fight’ will not be confused or misdirected to discriminate against any race, religion or ethnicity."
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