RE. ELLISON CALLING THE COPS ON TANCREDO: HIS PRESS SECRETARY CALLED

[DeepModem Mom]

The article's headline, and text, is misleading --

The Hill: Rep. Ellison calls the cops to snuff Tancredo’s cigar
By Betsy Rothstein

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....

***

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.”

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

[denverbill]

1. Good. I can't smoke in my workplace. Tancredo can go outside with all the other peons. n/t

[China_cat]

2. Aren't all federal buildings supposed to be smoke free?

It may seem like a small thing but if the law calls for the building to be smoke free, then it behooves the people who made that law to follow it.

[NYC Liberal]

3. Yes, Tom DeLay tried smoking on federal property and when a Capitol police officer

told him to PUT IT OUT, DeLay told him "I *AM* the federal government."

Heh. Remember ol' Tom? :)

[madrchsod]

4. nancy said they can smoke in their offices

since these two could`t figure out how to act like adults(?) then it`s up to nancy to slap their hands. i`m sure that the "hill" is hyping this story for all it`s worth.

[DeepModem Mom]

8. You're right -- The Hill is hyping this. Even begins with a Koran reference...

to make it a "better" story.

[Renew Deal]

5. Smokers should be beaten.

:hide:






:evilgrin:

[MiniMe]

6. As of January 1, 2007, it is illegal to smoke inside buildings in DC

Does the law apply to congressmen, or is it business as usual.

Just to add, I have that damn smoking habit, haven't been able to quit yet. I work in DC, and its OUTSIDE to smoke for everybody now.

[napi21]

7. Well, I'm a smoker, and I understand all Fed. buildings are to be smoke free!

I think the smae laws that apply to ME also apply to all the Congress idiots too! TS Tom! YOU were part of the Fed. that said make 'em all smoke free, so damn it, LIVE WITH IT!

[Bandit]

9. If you object to cigar smoke you embolden the enemy

Don't you folks want America to be safe???

[JAbuchan08]

10. Kudos to Rep. Ellison

couldn't happen to a better person than Tancredo.

[BurtWorm]

11. Maybe he can get Tancredo deported.

:think:

[hashibabba]

12. Yes, I heard that they ARE allowed to smoke, only in their

offices. I wondered about that because smoke does travel, so why should their neighbors have to be subjected to it.

I'm not at all opposed to people smoking, but I don't want to have to inhale it, either.

Still, wouldn't it have been nice if he'd just walked over and talked directly to Tancredo about it first?